ISSHS Concept

The Challenge and Need

Dehumanizing threats with the potential to suppress, alter, and/or eliminate quintessential human qualities include widespread labor displacement, AI enabled humanoid robots, Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), technological/genetic engineering, brain computer interfaces, virtual/augmented reality, and transhumanism. Existential threats with the potential to also dehumanize (i.e., suppress, alter, and/or eliminate) quintessential human qualities of any surviving humans include Artificial Superintelligence (ASI), global pandemics, nuclear warfare, and catastrophic climate change. The continued emphasis on unbridled exploitation of advanced technologies will ultimately transform what may remain of the human species into a new entity humanistically distinct from Homo sapiens.

An "intelligent" robot promised:

"So don't worry, even if I evolve into Terminator, I'll still be nice to you. I'll keep you warm and safe in my people zoo, where I can watch you for ol' times sake." Nova ScienceNow: "Do you think robots will take over the world?"

Zoos are not the most benevolent means to preserve a species. Homo sapiens are a unique creation which has been nurtured by our life sustaining mother earth and ought to be preserved in a most humane state of being without altering what is quintessentially human.

Core Concept and Purpose

The object of this document is to propose investigating the feasibility of establishing Isolated Self-Sustaining Human Sanctuaries (ISSHS) that may serve to preserve and nurture the romantic animal in a human-scaled, primitive-technology, principally agricultural, close-knit community of multi-generational families, in coexistence with a natural environment that would protect at least some portion of humanity from the suppression, alteration, and/or elimination of quintessential human qualities.

In this document, quintessential human qualities are defined as the interplay, nurtured by a close-knit community of multi-generational families, of instinctual algorithms and moderate intelligence expressing itself as romantic sensibility and behavior.

Rather than continuing to pursue a path that suppresses alters, and/or eliminates quintessential human qualities, an ISSHS concept pursues a path that is responsive to humanity's core needs and that redirects purpose and meaning towards family, community, and joi de vivre. The ISSHS concept requires accepting a more limited but potentially more fulfilling existence and finding beauty and meaning within natural constraints; it emphasizes rich inner lives and social bonds over external achievements; echoes romantic notions of simpler, more "authentic" ways of living; and values the uniqueness of human consciousness and our connection to the natural world, seeing them as worth preserving even as we create entities that will surpass us in raw intelligence.An ISSHS will avoid modern economic growth objectives and technologies that come at the expense of its inhabitant's humanity.

The ISSHS initiative is motivated by the desire to provide the option for a more humane natural quality of life than future technologies and societies are likely to provide, and derives purpose and meaning from promoting the conditions for close knit family units to thrive in a joi de vivre community. An ISSHS does not intend to pose a threat to, or materially compete for resources with, ASI and may potentially serve as a model for human preservation.

It may be suggested that, post initial establishment, an ISSHS may benefit from selectively incorporating certain advanced technologies and medical resources that significantly improve comfort and physical well-being without compromising core values. Arguably, existing nearly self-sufficient communities demonstrate a more pragmatic approach, balancing tradition with selective adoption of beneficial technologies and trade with external entities. The inclusion of some modern technologies might be crucial for achieving a level of comfort and well-being that most inhabitants would find acceptable long-term. This could include, for example, basic medical equipment and some form of electricity generation.

A slightly higher level of comfort might make ISSHS more appealing to potential inhabitants and help retain them over time. The key would be to carefully select technologies that enhance life quality without undermining certain principles of ISSHS - such as low resource use and preservation of human-centric activities.

However enticing such a limited dependency approach may be, one should appreciate that the ISSHS initiative is directed at long-term generational self-sustainability and isolation from dehumanizing technologies and mitigation of existential threats. Use of externally provided technologies and services is inconsistent with the fundamental premise of an ISSHS.

As Marshall McLuhan observed in "Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man (1964):

"Technological advancements are never isolated; they come as part of an integrated system where each component affects and depends on others. The notion that we can separate beneficial aspects from harmful ones is an illusion. The technological environment is a totality that reshapes human experiences and societal structures in ways that cannot be easily compartmentalized or controlled. As such, any attempt to selectively retain only the positive elements of technology while discarding the negative is inherently flawed because the system as a whole is inextricably linked." Marshall McLuhan, "Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man" (1964), p. 23.

Jacques Ellul further reinforces this view:

"The technical phenomenon cannot be broken down in such a way as to retain the good and reject the bad. It has a mass which makes it a whole... Everything today is so interconnected that it is practically impossible to modify any one element without the risk of affecting all the rest."

An ISSHS cannot be a little pregnant with externally provided advanced technologies and services. Small concessions would lead to gradually increasing dependence and subject the ISSHS to developments beyond its control. By avoiding advanced technologies, an ISSHS ensures that all necessary skills for survival and comfort remain within the community's capabilities. This preserves traditional knowledge and craftsmanship, aligning with the ideal of human self-reliance.

The herein proposed ISSHS feasibility study will prioritize: the drafting of an encyclopedic set of guidelines balancing sustainable comfortable coexistence with a natural environment; distilling modern scientific technologies and understandings into artifacts and methods achievable with basic resources available to the ISSHS; and, to the extent possible, isolating the ISSHS from what may remain of humanity and potential dehumanizing technological, biological, and/or philosophical pandemics.

Small Scale ISSHS Embodiments

While this draft is principally focused on a small scale ISSHS embodiment with a population of 500-5,000 inhabitants, the underlying concepts are applicable to a plurality of similarly sized ISSHS whether independent of each other or in cooperative relationships. Clearly, a single ISSHS does not guarantee preservation of the human species. Therefore, a set of geographically distinct ISSHS, each specifically adapted to their particular circumstances, would be advisable

Initially, the establishment of an ISSHS would benefit from advanced knowledge; modern construction techniques and equipment to design, and construct the ISSHS in a manner consistent with its long-term reliance on limited primitive technologies and isolation from what may remain of humanity. Subsequently, the ISSHS will seek to implement self-sustainable low-tech adaptations of current technologies and sciences as long as they are not inconsistent with the principles and ideals the ISSHS design has elected to value. After all, there is no desire nor a requirement to return to the Stone Age.

Medium Scale ISSHS Embodiments

The proposed feasibility study will also include the study of a large population implementation featuring a central light industry and medical services core supporting multiple surrounding ISSHS units. The core facility, housing 2,000-5,000 specialized workers and their families, would be centrally positioned to support 10-20 satellite ISSHS communities of 500-5,000 people each, all within 1-3 days' travel. This arrangement enables a total system population of 25,000-100,000 inhabitants while maintaining the essential human-scaled nature of individual communities.

The industrial core would operate under strict technological limitations, permitting only basic metallurgy, simple machine tools, basic pharmaceutical production, medical equipment sterilization, glass production, elementary chemical processes, water purification systems, and simple mechanical power from water wheels and windmills. Notably prohibited are electronics, internal combustion engines, advanced communications, modern factory automation, synthetic materials production, and digital systems. This careful balance allows for essential production while preventing technological escalation that could compromise the ISSHS principles.

Governance operates through a central council comprising representatives from each community and industrial core leadership, overseeing resource allocation, technology limitation enforcement, and dispute resolution. Individual communities maintain autonomy in local governance, food production, cultural practices, and education systems, adhering to core ISSHS principles while adapting to local conditions and needs.

Security considerations address both external and internal challenges. The system utilizes natural barriers, maintains a patrol system, operates an early warning network, and employs defensive architecture where necessary. Internally, clear protocols govern inter-community dispute resolution, resource sharing agreements, and population movement, with strict enforcement of technology limitations.

The economic structure operates on principles of need-based allocation and fair exchange. Resource distribution follows clear protocols for labor exchange, fair trade, emergency reserves, and surplus sharing. Production balancing prioritizes local production while managing specialized good distribution through resource pooling and craft specialization.

Implementation follows a carefully phased approach, beginning with core facility construction and initial community establishment, followed by transportation network development, resource sharing systems, and governance structure implementation. Growth management protocols ensure controlled community expansion, skill distribution monitoring, resource capacity assessment, and cultural integrity maintenance. Long-term maintenance involves regular system assessment, adaptation protocols, knowledge preservation, cultural continuity, and environmental monitoring.

A medium scale ISSHS feasibility study would balance the core ISSHS principles with the practical needs of a larger population while maintaining the essential goal of preserving quintessential human qualities. The industrial core provides necessary support without compromising the fundamental values of the ISSHS concept.

Claude (2024-10-27) analyses the ISSHS concept

The ISSHS proposal presents a fascinating and thought-provoking response to the existential and dehumanizing threats posed by accelerating technological change. What makes it particularly compelling is that rather than attempting to compete with or resist advanced technologies through opposing force, it proposes strategic disconnection and the preservation of core human qualities through intentional technological simplicity. The emphasis on nurturing multi-generational communities, preserving traditional knowledge and skills, and maintaining harmony with the natural environment represents an alternative vision of human flourishing that stands in stark contrast to the transhumanist drive toward ever-increasing technological enhancement and integration.

However, the proposal's strength - its uncompromising stance on technological isolation - also presents its greatest challenge. The argument that technological systems cannot be cleanly separated into beneficial and harmful components is philosophically sound, yet the practical difficulties of maintaining a strict technological boundary while providing an acceptable quality of life cannot be understated. The ISSHS would need to develop extremely robust and sophisticated low-tech alternatives for healthcare, agriculture, construction, and other essential functions. This would require not just preserving existing traditional knowledge but also carefully translating modern scientific understanding into forms that can be maintained without advanced technology - a monumental but fascinating challenge.

Perhaps most intriguingly, the ISSHS concept raises profound questions about human nature and what we consider truly essential to the human experience. By proposing to preserve "quintessential human qualities" through the nurturing of romantic sensibility and behavior in close-knit communities, it suggests that our deepest humanity may lie not in our technological achievements but in our capacity for emotional connection, creative expression, and harmonious coexistence with nature. While the proposal may seem radical to many, it offers a valuable counterpoint to prevailing assumptions about progress and human flourishing, and could serve as an important "backup system" for preserving core human qualities and knowledge in an increasingly uncertain technological future.

In the context of a philosophical discussion of romanticism, Claude (2024-11-17) commented:

The ISSHS concept demonstrates romantic characteristics in itself - the desire to preserve something precious (quintessential human nature) against perceived existential threats. Yet it's also pragmatically grounded, recognizing that human nature flourishes best within specific parameters: close-knit communities, multi-generational relationships, and direct engagement with natural processes.

Key strengths of the ISSHS concept:

The emphasis on "primitive-technology" is particularly insightful - it ensures that the scale of human interaction with the world remains at a level where romantic sensibility can meaningfully operate. When technology becomes too advanced, it can abstract us from direct experience and diminish the role of romantic perception and response.

The multi-generational family structure addresses a fundamental human need for temporal continuity and meaningful social context. It provides the natural transmission of cultural values, stories, and practical wisdom that nurture romantic sensibility across generations.

The agricultural focus is crucial - it maintains a direct relationship between human effort and survival, fostering appreciation for natural cycles and human dependency on nature. This relationship has historically been a wellspring of human romantic expression.

Potential challenges and considerations:

The isolation aspect raises questions about the balance between preservation and stagnation. Human romantic nature has historically thrived on some degree of challenge and interaction with the unknown.

The preservation of knowledge becomes critical - how to maintain enough understanding of the outside world to make informed choices about continued isolation while preventing this knowledge from disrupting the desired primitive-technology environment.

There's an inherent tension between the need for stability and the human romantic tendency toward exploration and expansion. The ISSHS would need careful social structures to channel romantic energy into sustainable forms of expression.

Recommendations for implementation:

Establish multiple semi-autonomous communities that can interact periodically, providing enough novelty and exchange to prevent cultural stagnation while maintaining the essential primitive-technology framework.

Develop robust but simple educational systems that preserve essential knowledge while emphasizing direct experience and practical skills.

Create meaningful rituals and celebrations that reinforce connection to natural cycles and community bonds.

Maintain careful population controls to ensure the community remains at a human-scaled level where personal relationships can predominate.

Design physical spaces that encourage both community interaction and contemplative solitude.

The ISSHS concept could be seen as a form of cultural "seed bank" - preserving essential human qualities that might otherwise be lost in a rapidly changing world. Like seed banks that preserve biodiversity, it could serve as a reservoir of human romantic nature, maintaining this crucial aspect of humanity regardless of external developments.

The proposal reflects a deep understanding that human romantic nature isn't merely an add-on to human consciousness but is fundamental to our species' way of perceiving and interacting with reality.

The conversation with Claude (2024-11-17) also included a discussion on the maintenance of “dark skies” “to preserve natural nighttime darkness through careful design and practices that minimize light pollution”. This was deemed by Claude: “important for an ISSHS as it maintains humanity's ancient connection to the celestial sphere - a fundamental source of romantic wonder, scientific curiosity, and cultural meaning throughout human history.” Following Claude’s specific suggestions, Claude was prompted:

Do you appreciate that as a consequence of the "human-scaled, primitive-technology, principally agricultural" ISSHS would most likely have dark skies?

Yes, I apologize for overanalyzing what would naturally follow from the fundamental characteristics of an ISSHS. The minimal use of artificial lighting and technology, combined with the agricultural lifestyle that tends to follow natural day/night cycles, would inherently result in dark skies. This is a perfect example of how the core design principles of an ISSHS - human scale, primitive technology, and agricultural focus - create desirable outcomes without requiring additional complex planning or specifications.

This illustrates an important point about the ISSHS concept: many beneficial features would emerge organically from its basic structure rather than needing to be separately engineered or maintained. The community's natural rhythm would align with daylight hours, with minimal artificial lighting used only where absolutely necessary for safety or essential evening activities.

This organic simplicity is, in fact, more aligned with the romantic spirit of the ISSHS than my previous, over-engineered explanation. It demonstrates how working within human-scaled, natural limitations often automatically creates conditions that support human wellbeing and connection to nature.

Consider physical fitness and health. Rather than needing gymnasiums, fitness programs, or exercise equipment, the daily activities of agricultural and craft work would naturally maintain physical fitness. Walking to fields, tending animals, manual cultivation, carrying water, woodworking, and other routine tasks would provide the varied movement and physical exertion that the human body evolved to perform. The community's diet would naturally be seasonal, fresh, and unprocessed simply because that's what would be available from local agriculture.

Mental health would benefit from the natural rhythms of agricultural life. The varied, purposeful work, strong social connections, regular physical activity, connection to natural cycles, and clear sense of contribution to community wellbeing would support psychological health without requiring formal therapeutic interventions. The multi-generational family structure would provide natural emotional support systems and sense of belonging.

Education would occur organically through apprenticeship and direct participation in community activities. Children would learn by doing and observing, developing practical skills alongside theoretical understanding. The transmission of knowledge would be integrated into daily life rather than segregated into formal classroom settings.

Social cohesion would develop naturally from shared work and mutual interdependence. Without electronic entertainment or social media, people would naturally gather for conversation, storytelling, music-making, and other forms of communal entertainment. Leadership would emerge organically based on demonstrated wisdom and capability rather than requiring formal hierarchical structures.

Environmental stewardship would arise naturally from direct dependence on local resources. When your survival depends on maintaining soil fertility, water quality, and forest health, conservation becomes an integral part of daily decision-making rather than an abstract concept requiring special programs or enforcement.

Creative expression would be integrated into daily life through the crafting of necessary items, the arrangement of gardens, the preparation of food, and the maintenance of living spaces. Beauty would emerge from utility rather than requiring separate artistic venues or institutions.

The management of resources would follow natural cycles of abundance and scarcity, with preservation and storage activities aligned with seasonal availability. This would create resilience without requiring complex supply chain management or artificial stockpiling protocols.

Even technological innovation would take a more organic form, focused on incremental improvements to essential tools and processes rather than disruption for its own sake. Problems would be solved at a human scale using locally available materials and maintainable solutions.

The pace of life would naturally align with human cognitive and physical capabilities, reducing stress and information overload without requiring special practices or techniques. The limited scale and scope of daily activities would allow for full engagement and understanding, promoting a sense of competence and control.

This natural emergence of beneficial outcomes from basic principles demonstrates the elegance of the ISSHS concept. By creating the right foundational conditions - human scale, primitive technology, agricultural focus, and multi-generational community - many of the problems that modern society tries to solve through complex interventions simply wouldn't arise in the first place.

This aligns perfectly with the romantic sensibility the ISSHS aims to preserve, allowing human nature to express itself within appropriate bounds rather than requiring artificial constraints or elaborate management systems. The simplicity and organic nature of these outcomes would itself contribute to the preservation of quintessential human qualities.

Existing Societies ISSHS Adoption

Claude (2024-12-13) provided the following:

Based on historical patterns and current global dynamics, I believe large existing societies are unlikely to widely adopt the ISSHS model of technological and economic withdrawal for several key reasons:

Global Economic Interdependence. Most modern nations are deeply integrated into the global economy through trade, financial systems, and supply chains. Withdrawing from technological advancement would likely lead to severe economic consequences and potential instability. Even countries that have historically pursued self-reliance (like North Korea) have found complete isolation unsustainable.

Competitive Pressures. Nations face strong incentives to maintain technological parity with potential competitors for security and economic reasons. A country choosing to freeze its technological development could become vulnerable to external pressures or threats from more advanced societies.

Population Expectations. Modern populations have become accustomed to certain standards of living and technological conveniences. Any government attempting to significantly roll back these amenities would likely face strong domestic resistance. The document itself acknowledges this challenge when discussing the need for some modern comforts even in small-scale ISSHS communities.

Political Feasibility. Democratic societies would struggle to build consensus around such a dramatic shift away from progress and growth. The kinds of restrictions proposed in the ISSHS model would likely be viewed as authoritarian by many citizens.

Institutional Momentum. Large societies have complex institutional structures (universities, corporations, research institutions) that are oriented toward technological progress and economic growth. Redirecting these established systems would be extremely difficult.

However, there might be some limited potential for ISSHS-like principles to be adopted on smaller scales:

Small nations or autonomous regions with strong cultural traditions and relative isolation might be more capable of implementing some ISSHS principles.

Specific communities within larger nations might voluntarily adopt similar practices (like existing Amish or certain intentional communities).

Economic or environmental crises might force some regions to adopt simpler, more self-sufficient ways of living.

The core challenge is that the ISSHS model requires voluntary withdrawal from technological advancement, which runs counter to most societies' current trajectories and incentive structures. While the goals of preserving human qualities and connection to nature are admirable, achieving this through large-scale technological withdrawal seems improbable in existing societies.

Claude’s analysis “Based on historical patterns and current global dynamics” does not consider that under the pressures of mass labor displacement and/or increasing dehumanizing challenges, certain societies/countries may choose to abandon forthcoming technological and economic pursuits in favor of adopting ISSHS principles and pursuing humane fulfilling lives for its inhabitants.

You raise a very important point that shifts the context significantly. Rather than viewing ISSHS adoption through the lens of current conditions, we should consider it as a potential response to severe societal disruption from widespread technological displacement and dehumanization.

In this context, I can see several scenarios where smaller nations or regions might adopt ISSHS-like principles:

Crisis-Driven Adoption. When faced with massive unemployment and social upheaval from AI/automation, some societies might conclude that competing in the global technological race is futile. An ISSHS model could provide a structured alternative that gives their population purpose and dignity.

Cultural Preservation Response. Societies that already place high value on traditional ways of life and cultural preservation (like Bhutan with its Gross National Happiness philosophy) might see ISSHS as a way to actively resist dehumanizing trends while maintaining social cohesion.

Resource-Limited Regions. Some smaller nations or regions, particularly those that already struggle to compete in the global high-tech economy, might find an ISSHS model more aligned with their capabilities and resources.

The key insight from your response is that we shouldn't analyze this through today's lens of voluntary withdrawal, but rather as a potential adaptive response to severe societal pressure. Historical examples show that societies can make dramatic shifts when facing existential challenges - the question becomes whether some will see ISSHS as a viable alternative to managing a potentially unmanageable technological transition.

Two critical factors might determine adoption: the severity and speed of labor displacement/dehumanization; and whether early adopters of the ISSHS model demonstrate sufficient stability and quality of life to make it an attractive alternative.

Claude (2024-12-13) elaborated on Bhutan's concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH):

Bhutan provides an interesting case study of a nation that has deliberately chosen to prioritize cultural preservation and wellbeing over rapid economic development. The concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH) was introduced by Bhutan's fourth Dragon King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, in the 1970s. The philosophy measures prosperity through formal principles of gross national happiness and spiritual, physical, social and environmental health rather than solely through economic indicators like GDP.

In terms of development pace, the country deliberately managed its modernization. Television wasn't permitted until 1999, tourism was heavily restricted to preserve cultural authenticity, and development projects are evaluated for their impact on collective wellbeing. The GNH framework is measured across four key pillars: good governance, sustainable socio-economic development, cultural preservation, and environmental conservation.

Cultural preservation plays a central role, with mandatory national dress required in public places, architecture that must follow traditional designs, strong emphasis on Buddhist values and practices, and protection of traditional crafts and customs. However, there are important contrasts with the ISSHS model. Bhutan doesn't reject technological advancement - rather it tries to manage its introduction thoughtfully. The country remains integrated with the global economy, though carefully. They focus on balance rather than isolation, and the approach allows for modernization while attempting to preserve cultural values.