Published on Nov 23, 2008:
Introduction
This story is the winning entry in the 2008 Scifi Contest. In this excellent story author Rinku Dutta explores rationality, free will, human penchant for narratives and the philosophical problems of self-awareness and consciousness. The story is set in the future when science and technology has advanced enough to record all our thoughts.
What are the consequences of having enhanced rational faculties assisted by autonomous agents embedded in the brain. Read on to find out.
About the author
Rinku Dutta is a biologist who also dabbles in the arts. She received her doctorate degree in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Last year she was engaged in post-doctoral research on the genomic analysis of Retinoblastoma at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, U.S.A. More about the author. During the period 2002-2006 Rinku explored South Asia, taking up various teaching assignments in Nepal, Pakistan and India. She received a Scholar of Peace Media Fellowship 2005 from Women in Security Conflict Management and Peace (WISCOMP) the Foundation for Universal Responsibility of his Holiness the Dalai Lama, India. "Exploring the Roots of Harmony: India and Pakistan" - a compendium of her essays was published by WISCOMP in July 2007. In 2006 she did a research consultancy at the Lahore Museum, working on a catalog for their Bengal School of Art watercolor paintings collection. In April-March 2008, 'Bending the Line' a solo exhibition of her photographs, was hosted by 'another subcontinent,' an online magazine. Rinku acknowledges Rabindranath Tagore as the chief guiding spirit in her life. Among science fiction writers, her favorite is Stanislaw Lem.
Vera
Aski has just finished reading Andre Gide's Journals, a fiercely honest Frenchman from an age now long forgotten. And Aski is intrigued. His own Daily Log is automatically recorded — every thought, every impulse, every decision — on a chip, that he can readily access on a biocompatibly integrated monitor implanted on his left wrist. For instance, he could find out precisely what he was thinking at 23:59:25 hours on New Year's Eve, 2302. Over a million nanoelectrodes implanted in his brain are continuously recording the minute action potentials emitted by individual nerve cells that constitute the electrochemical imprints of his thought processes. And the neural code of these imprints are being deciphered by a computer and transcribed into his Journal; all this without Aski's active participation.
So the deliberate, selective recordings of Gide's thoughts in his diaries has intrigued Aski: that one can choose to write about some things and not others, can rearrange the sequence of one's thoughts and actions, and possibly, even introduce new elements to craft a narrative; the creative possibilities offered by such freedom has fascinated him. He is envying Gide. He is envying pre—22nd Century humans this freedom, and the ignorance that made it possible.
People in Gide's times had access to only their conscious thoughts— and perhaps a faint inkling of the activities of their subconscious and unconscious minds. Aski, on the other hand, can view the whole spectrum of thoughts— not just the 2% that make up the conscious workings of his brain.
But a 24-hour film recording of the goings-on at a street corner is so dull! How much more interesting the snipped-and-spliced reel that tells a tale! Like Gide, Aski wants to view his life as a story. He is considering the 'authenticity override' option in his Journal settings that will allow him to manually edit the automatically generated first draft. He could also choose to not record his subconscious thoughts. Aski is facing a dilemma. For in his society, a society that is founded on the cornerstone of sincerity, Journals are in the public domain. Anyone viewing his profile would know at once that Aski is presenting an inauthentic history of himself. Aski will have to pay a social cost: he will almost surely be fired from his job; some members of his family might disown him; his friends circle will shrink. He could become an outcast.
Does he have other options? Aski has finished browsing through the Directory of Galactic Settlements. He has found a small community on the atmospherised moon he could apply for admittance. This society is committed to the preservation and production of mystery. A majority of their members have chosen to disable their automated Journals. People relate on the basis of how they present themselves, and the processes of getting acquainted with others have been restored to the pre-22nd Century levels of unknowing. Changing roles is encouraged. Their belief: faking is an art. The community calls themselves "The Counterfeiters".
Aski's application for immigration has just been accepted.
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