Technological Determinism and Singularity in Clarke & Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey

Abstract

Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrick’s timeless work of science fiction, 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) offers a visionary insight on various philosophical issues. This article discusses that 2001’s central focus fundamentally relies on technological determinism, leading to technological singularity and, eventually, a posthuman existence of the human race. While outlining technological determinism, the article also sheds light on its relationship with associated key concepts such as normative phenomena, permissionless innovation and technocratic governing mentalities. These notions mainly reveal Clarke and Kubrick’s views of the universe, which are embedded in the subtext of the novel and the film. While comparing and contrasting the novel and the film, the study puts forward their similarities and differences. The theoretical framework explores technological determinism, singularity and posthumanism with references to various sources and the following section puts the novel/film in spotlight by demonstrating how and to what extent Clarke and Kubrick have manifested their ideas regarding technological determinism and singularity in this complex masterpiece contemplating the author’s and director’s unique extrapolations of humanity’s future. The article concludes that Clarke and Kubrick signal the coming of the posthuman era.

Keywords

• 2001: A Space Odyssey
• Arthur C. Clarke
• Stanley Kubrick
• technological determinism
• technological singularity

Clarke ve Kubrick’in 2001: Bir Uzay Destanı adlı eserinde Teknolojik Determinizm ve Tekillik

Abstract

Arthur C. Clarke ve Stanley Kubrick'in zamansız bilimkurgu eseri 2001: Bir Uzay Destanı (1968), çeşitli felsefi konulara ilişkin vizyoner bir bakış açısı sunar. Bu makale, 2001'in odak noktasının, teknolojik determinizme dayandığını, bunun da teknolojik tekilliğe ve nihayetinde insan ırkının insan sonrası bir varoluşuna yol açtığını tartışmaktadır. Teknolojik determinizmi özetlerken, makale aynı zamanda normatif fenomenler, izinsiz yenilik ve teknokratik yönetim zihniyetleri gibi ilgili temel kavramlarla olan ilişkisine de ışık tutar. Bu kavramlar, Clarke ve Kubrick'in roman ve filmin alt metnine yerleştirilen evren görüşlerini ortaya koyar. Roman ve filmi karşılaştırıp ele alırken, çalışma bu iki eserin benzerliklerini ve farklılıklarını ortaya koyar. Teorik çerçeve, teknolojik determinizm, tekillik ve posthümanizmi çeşitli kaynaklara referansla incelerken, bir sonraki bölüm romanı/filmi odak noktası haline getirerek Clarke ve Kubrick'in teknolojik determinizm ve tekillik konusundaki fikirlerini bu karmaşık başyapıtta nasıl ve ne ölçüde ortaya koyduklarını gösterir. Bu çalışma, yazar ve yönetmenin insanlığın geleceğine dair benzersiz öngörülerini ele alır. Makale, Clarke ve Kubrick'in insan sonrası dönemin gelişine işaret ettikleri sonucuna varır.

Keywords

• 2001: Bir Uzay Destanı
• Arthur C. Clarke
• Stanley Kubrick
• teknolojik determinizm
• teknolojik tekillik

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