Why ‘being HAL 9000’ is simply not good?

In ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ ( a film by Stanley Kubrick), the following interaction takes place between Dr. Dave Bowman (astronaut and scientist) and the BBC interviewer.

BBC Interviewer: In talking to the computer, one gets the sense that he is capable of emotional responses, for example, when I asked him about his abilities, I sensed a certain pride in his answer about his accuracy and perfection. Do you believe that Hal has genuine emotions?

Dave: Well, he acts like he has genuine emotions. Um, of course he's programmed that way to make it easier for us to talk to him, but as to whether or not he has real feelings is something I don't think anyone can truthfully answer.

At some point during the conversation when HAL 9000 (Heuristically Programmed ALgorithm computer) is asked if he is happy, says: ‘’I am putting myself to the fullest possible use, which is all I think that any conscious entity can ever hope to do.’’

In the book, ‘The Great Philosophers’ by Bryan Magee, the American philosopher, Hubert Dreyfus and  Magee discuss the philosophy of Heidegger. They touch upon the concept of ‘human predicament’ that existentialists talk about. To Heidegger and before him to Nietzsche, we have reached a stage of control for its own sake. To Heidegger, we don’t even seek the truth anymore but simply efficiency. The subject-object stage has passed. ‘But now we are ourselves becoming resources in a cybernetic society where to be real is to be used as efficiently as possible. We want to fit into the system so as to get the most out of our possibilities.’  

Such is our understanding of ‘being’. We have become part of the system which no one directs but which moves towards the total mobilisation of all beings for its own welfare.  To Dreyfus, Heidegger would say that ‘...there are no guidelines anymore. There are no goals. Why are we concerned with using our time more and more efficiently? To what end? Just to have time to organise our lives even more efficiently?

‘To what end?’ is the question. We don’t seek the truth anymore. We become conformists. We decide not to deviate from the public norms anymore.

By becoming conformists, we become inauthentic. That anxiety or urge that lies within each of us about the things we like to change for better is suppressed. Why? Is it because of the fear of being ostracised?  Is it because we cannot earn more money?  or Is it because of our fear of being ridiculed?

But if we continue tinker along the edges of the things that matter most to ourselves as beings like not doing enough to reduce health and educational inequality, upholding human rights, creating a socially just society…we fail to be authentic beings. We need deep conviction in the things we think and do. A true and skilled carpenter ensures that the finish on the inside of the cupboard is as good as the outside although some people may not give much attention to the inside. He also ensures that the finished cupboard is appealing, robust and serves the purpose well. Steve Jobs once said that ‘’Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.’’

Like HAL, putting oneself to the fullest possible use without understanding ‘why we are putting ourselves to fullest possible use?’ is a futile, shallow and superfluous attempt in being.