Respected audience, viewers, and esteemed judges, my name is Sare Ademoska, and today, it is my great honor and sizable privilege to present a speech that is particularly dear to me.
What is the human essence? What does it mean to be human? What is the true self of a mortal?
What is the true self of a mortal living in the century of today, in the era of technology, at a time where not one but all are immersed in the technological world and are blinded by what seems to be unreal?
What is the key component, the foundation of society? How is man a part of society? These are questions whose complexity does not allow man to determine the precise answer if there is one. However, one thing is explicit. What is clear is man’s role in society, and that is, first and foremost, to be human. And are you fulfilling your role? Are you a human or merely an alien?
The immortal philosopher, Aristotle, described the human as an animal who is by nature social. The human being depends on and is influenced by other humans who share innate characteristics. His survival is closely connected with the acts of the man who exists. In order for man to fulfill and live his true human potential, he must communicate; he must share his uniqueness with the other human but not make the other a replica of himself. Many sociological thinkers would surely, agree with me, some doing so from their graves, that human enjoys living in a society that is composed of similar beings who are, indeed, humans. You and I cannot exist in a society of aliens who are altering reality and are, perhaps, alienating us from the only thing that differentiates us from animals or Hobbes’ “brutish, nasty, and solitary” beings. We cannot exist in a society that is, by all means, virtual because then we no longer are humans! And to be human is to be social!
Our actions are directly expressed in our existence - our choices - mirrored reflections. Today, you and I are in the driver’s seat of life. We are in the driver’s seat of a life that is integrated with technology. What is the final destination of our drive? We currently are living in a virtual world that, for many, seems to be an arcadia, perhaps a utopia. In this virtual world, we exist. It is undemanding to fabricate a face that will be liked by all, followed by all, and in compliance with all. I must not fear the truthfulness of my character in this virtual realm of existence because I can mask my face with an equivocal facade. Man is happy in this virtual reality, but is a happy virtual reality better than a truthful reality?
This virtual reality can be a dystopia for humans. It can transform into a dark hole of nothingness that takes over what makes us human. Choosing to live solely in a technological world and virtual reality is denying what is fundamental for men. It denies the freedom to choose to be a human with virtues.
To become thyself is no longer a matter of choosing between Kierkegaard’s aesthetics and ethics but deciding whether you want to abandon your innate quality, that is, being social, and transcend into a virtual realm of existence.
The virtual world is dehumanizing you, and it is robotizing me. Life in a virtual world is the fuel for Marx’s alienation or separation between a self and the other that properly belong together. However useful, technology estranges us from our true reality. Yes, technology has allowed our societies to progress and enabled effective mass production and globalization, but beneath the surface of the positive implications of technology lay the deceit, destruction, and depression that have befallen on us. The initial purpose of technology was to help us survive as human beings; however, now, technology is detrimental to creating human misery. Living only in a technological world is like taking opium that kills humanity, destroys human relationships, and robs humans of the sense of belonging. Hour by hour, day by day, we share moments on the internet, but not in real life. How is it that in the 21st century, where the ability to connect is easily attainable, moment by moment, breath by breath, I feel more disconnected than ever?
As I am absorbed and enamored by technology, where everything is now a google search away, a g-mail away, or a zoom call away, I forget how to feel and be human. Instead of managing the machines, I feel as if I am becoming one. I feel like a blank page that does not have meaning. I feel as if I am developing into a superficial being who cannot acquire the details that could decorate the blank page. The details that are the relationships, and, most importantly, the humane emotions. I wish to express my love and sympathy to family members who live over vast bodies of water by hugging them and not by sending a heart emoji. I feel powerless because I wish to live surrounded by emotional beings and not mortals who are becoming mechanical robots like Sophia. I fear I will become schizophrenic or develop a psychological disorder because of the 15 hours that I spend on my laptop each and every day. I fear I will lose myself to technology. I am afraid that human-developed technology will be a tool to destroy humanity. I am afraid that I will never discover my true self because of the rapid influences of technology. Sitting in my room in the dark hours of the night, I feel powerless, isolated, and self-estranged. The weight of my ability to communicate freely increases day by day.
I hope that our final destination is not nothingness where life and existence are absent but a society of social animals where we all feel alive. The line between the virtual world and reality is getting thinner. We must dare to choose and question our existence. Indeed Bukowski, who put this brain inside of me? "It cries, it demands, it says there is a chance, it will not say no!" It will not say no to living in unity. Man is born free, but somehow it seems that we all are chained in this contemporary society. We are chained to the virtual world, to the world that I desire to abandon. I want to grow up into an individual who will be able to demonstrate compassion, who will be able to love. But will I be able to love if I am an alien?
Thank you.
