The "noosphere" is defined as "the sphere of human thought". It is supposed to be the next step in complexity beyond the biosphere, which is in turn the next step beyond the geosphere/lithosphere.
To me this is like defining the mind as "the collective activity of the cells in the brain". It entirely misses the point. The noosphere is the sphere of human *interactions*, including those interactions that take place through recordings and transmissions.
My interest in this topic comes from Paolo Soleri's idea of the Omega Seed. He believed that humans would eventually create/become God, and that the impulse to do this was what was drove us to create religion, as simulations of a hypothetical future God that we could create.
If some form of faster than light travel, communication, or cosmic-scale space warping is not possible, I don't think this could be possible. So one of these things must be possible, because I really like the Omega Seed :)
As a pantheist or panentheist I tend to see that noosphere all around us. If you just think of the information processing capability of every life form, the capacity of a biosphere as a whole is so stupendous even compared to "all humans + wireless links." The development of a separate human+machine noosphere separate from the cosmic all seems like maybe it happens but is it such a great idea? Maybe just become one with nature instead? Or do humans have a purpose?
@hhardy01 @Shamar Paolo Soleri was Catholic, so it seems like Catholic teaching may be somewhat compatible with the idea of the Omega Seed. Perhaps due to its strange blend of polytheism and monotheism; Catholics are already primed to believe in multiple aspects of God.
I think pantheism and... teleotheism? are compatible with one another. As a pantheist, I imagine you view God as evolving, no?
@hhardy01 @Shamar As for information processing, it's not the raw processing capability that matters but the end toward which it is directed. Bacteria may end up accidentally being blasted into space and landing on other rocks, but it is unlikely they will ever create a compact carrier of vast quantities of information storage & processing and send it to a particular star.
But, if the panspermia hypothesis is true, that's what happening on Earth. That's actually along the lines I'm speculating on, are humans like dandelion seeds for the ecosphere? A means of propagation?
Why have we named our planet, "dirt?" Doesn't that seem weird to you?
Of course we creatively call our moon, "Moon." :D
@hhardy01 @Shamar From his wikipedia page: "Soleri's philosophy and works were strongly influenced by the Jesuit paleontologist and philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin."
From reading that page I also learn that last year his daughter accused him of persistent sexual assault against her. So awful. It's too bad he didn't live to face justice.
Yes it's always disconcerting when someone you have admired the work of turns out to be a villain. Soleri's daughter Daniela's article on Medium where she revealed Soleri's abuse is thoughtful and interesting.
@Shamar @seanl
I mean do humans have a purpose in a more ecological and less teleological sense. But yeah, that too.