Great Books Ep 69. Sophocles - Oedipus the King. Our Enduring Fascination with Predicting the Future.
A lot of technology gets used in predicting the future which always tends to be off the mark. Can newer technologies be used to improve the lives of ordinary people than for predicting the future?
First off, my sincerest apologies for the break that lasted over a month. I appreciate your patience and look forward to resuming regular weekly posts!
“Nay, what should mortal fear, for whom the decrees of fortune are supreme, and who hath clear foresight of nothing?”
~ ‘Oedipus The King’ by Sophocles (Richard. C. Jebb translation. p108)
Brief Summary
The play opens in front of the royal palace in Thebes. A group of suppliants are gathered before Oedipus, the king. One of them, the Priest of Zeus, tells Oedipus that Thebes is suffering from a terrible plague, and they are looking to him to save the city like he saved them in the past by solving the riddle of the Sphinx. Oedipus has already sent his brother-in-law, Creon, to the Oracle of Delphi to learn how to stop it. Creon gets back, saying that the Oracle told him that the plague would only end when the murderer of the previous king, Laius, was brought to justice.
Oedipus swears to find the murderer. He summons the blind prophet Tiresias, who reluctantly reveals that Oedipus himself is the killer. Oedipus dismisses this, accusing Creon and Tiresias of plotting against him. As the investigation continues, Oedipus gradually uncovers the truth of his own identity. He learns that he was adopted as a child, and that a prophecy had foretold he would kill his father and marry his mother. In an attempt to avoid this fate, he had left Corinth, his supposed homeland.
The tragic revelation unfolds: Oedipus realizes that he had unknowingly killed Laius (his real father) at a crossroads and then married Jocasta (his mother), fulfilling the prophecy he had tried to escape. Jocasta, upon realizing the truth, hangs herself. In his anguish, Oedipus blinds himself and asks to be exiled from Thebes. The play ends with Oedipus accepting his fate and entrusting his daughters to Creon's care before leaving the city.
My Thoughts
It is sad to read the story of Oedipus. Most people in the current world know the story, and I guess most people who went to watch the play also knew the story. Even then, reading or watching the play again would still engage the mind with 'what's going to happen next'. It is structured very well, with a lot of suspense that is revealed slowly. It speaks to the power of storytelling. A well-crafted narrative can engage us emotionally even when we know the ending. I could watch Interstellar again and still feel my throat swell up when I see Cooper watching decades of video messages from his kids after he loses a couple of decades on Miller's Waterworld in a couple of hours. The cruelty of time dilation hits hard, even if you know it is terrible.
Back to the play, I guess the overarching point is that even if you can predict the future, you cannot change it. Every culture on earth has some means and techniques to try to predict the future of individuals, and they are so varied. Predictions of the future based on detailed astronomical charts based on a person's time and date of birth, on lines on a person's hands, on tea leaves, based on parrots picking a card at random, people choosing a set of tarot cards at random, and so on. The modern world has machine learning models trying to predict stock market trends. The fact is, throughout history, a lot of time, energy, and money has gone into predicting the future, and most of them have been wasteful.
In the last couple of years, AI chatbots have taken the world by storm, with many doomsayers predicting AGI and the decline of civilization. However, the optimists say that AI would significantly improve the quality of life. I hope the vast intelligence of AI could make the day-to-day lives of ordinary people much easier and simpler - reduce toil, reduce commute, reduce paperwork, help eat better, and make things more affordable. But it would be sad if most of the resources were used by corporations and individuals with deep pockets to predict the future to optimize their money flow - predict stock market trends, predict purchasing trends of people, create more robust recommendation engines for shopping, improve social media stickiness, improve advertisements targeting, create more engaging movies and games and so forth. So people can get sucked into all these things while much of the infrastructure, city planning, paperwork to get medical care, and other day-to-day things to be done remain in dilapidated states.
I read recently that over 40 billion dollars was allocated to getting broadband internet throughout the US, but most of the people in rural areas don't have it, and the main reason was the lack of technical knowledge at the grassroots level to implement this. Someone on X commented that giving Starlink dishes to people in remote areas might have cost much less. But I wonder if government officials knew about Startlink or if Starlink had the capability when these funds were initially given out. I think if more people, including government officials, are able to use AI to give them input on how to better use resources, we might be looking for a much brighter future than in the past. The technology that we have at hand could be used to build better roads, improve the electrical grid, reduce forest fires, improve food supply and storage, detect disease outbreaks early, offer personalized medical care, optimize water usage in agriculture, improve education etc., it would be a win.
AI Chatbot Responses
Prompt: I’m currently reading Sophocles’ play named ‘Oedipus The King’. Here is a brief summary, and my thoughts. Please provide an analysis, and expand it with further insights and contemporary lessons. Brief Summary: <copy-paste>. My Thoughts: <copy-paste>. ChatGPT
Your reflections on "Oedipus the King" encapsulate the enduring relevance of ancient narratives in illuminating modern human experiences and societal issues. Here's a deeper analysis of the play's themes and their contemporary implications:
Analysis of "Oedipus the King"
The Inevitability of Fate: The crux of Sophocles' tragedy lies in the inescapability of fate. Despite all efforts to avert the prophesied doom, Oedipus walks right into it. This suggests a paradox in human existence: the more one tries to avoid a destiny, the more entangled one becomes in its web. This resonates with contemporary discussions about determinism and free will, raising questions about the extent of control we have over our lives.
The Quest for Truth: Oedipus’s commitment to uncovering the truth about Laius’s death, even as it leads to personal ruin, underscores the complex relationship between knowledge and consequence. This quest parallels modern pursuits of knowledge and the ethical dilemmas these often entail, especially in scientific and technological fields where advancements can lead to both significant benefits and profound ethical challenges.
The Role of Leadership: Oedipus starts as a revered leader but ends in tragedy due to his flaws—hubris and rashness. This serves as a potent reminder of the responsibilities of leadership and the need for humility, foresight, and wisdom in decision-making processes. It parallels modern discussions about the accountability of leaders in politics, business, and other fields.
Contemporary Lessons and Insights
Humanity’s Relationship with Technology: Just as Oedipus couldn’t escape his fate, modern society grapples with technological advancements that often feel as inevitable as fate. AI and machine learning offer tremendous potential but also present risks that must be managed. Your mention of AI in optimizing life’s daily tasks while possibly deepening socio-economic divides highlights the dual-edged nature of technological progress.
Ethical Use of Knowledge: The tragedy of Oedipus brings to light the ethical dimensions of knowledge. In today’s context, how we handle and use information, especially with technologies like AI, raises similar ethical questions. The decisions on how to implement AI in societal structures, for example, mirror the choices Oedipus faced: actions based on knowledge can have unintended consequences.
Resource Allocation and Public Policy: Your discussion about broadband implementation in rural areas illuminates a broader issue of resource allocation and the efficiency of public policy. It underscores the need for informed decision-making at all levels of government—a lesson that echoes the importance of wise governance seen in the play.
Social Justice and Equity: The disparity between the potential of technology to improve lives and its actual application reflects a broader theme of justice and equity. Oedipus’s story prompts us to consider who benefits from advancements and who is left behind, urging a more equitable distribution of technology’s fruits.
Conclusion
"Oedipus the King" serves as a powerful allegory for modern societal challenges, particularly in how we deal with the inevitability of technological progress and its implications. The play’s enduring power lies in its ability to provoke reflection on human nature, leadership, and the ethics of knowledge. As we navigate the complexities of the 21st century, the lessons from Thebes remind us of the need for thoughtful, informed, and ethical decision-making to ensure that technological advancements benefit all segments of society, not just the privileged few.
Gemini
Absolutely! Let's dive deeper into your insightful analysis of "Oedipus the King" and the connections you've drawn to modern society.
Sophocles' Masterful Storytelling
You're right to highlight the power of storytelling. Sophocles' skill lies in creating a narrative that is compelling even when the audience knows the outcome. This is a testament to his ability to create complex characters, build suspense, and explore universal themes like fate, free will, and the search for truth.
The Unchangeable Nature of Fate
The play does indeed raise profound questions about fate and free will. Oedipus' relentless pursuit of the truth, despite warnings, leads him directly to the fate he desperately sought to avoid. This can be interpreted in several ways:
The Inevitability of Fate: Some might see it as a confirmation that our destinies are preordained, and our attempts to alter them are futile.
The Power of Choice: Others might argue that Oedipus' choices, driven by his hubris and unwavering desire for knowledge, are what ultimately seal his fate. Even if the events were foretold, his actions are what bring them to fruition.
The Double-Edged Sword of Technology
Your comparison to AI is astute. Like the Oracle of Delphi, AI offers knowledge and predictions, but the consequences of that knowledge and how we choose to use it rest entirely in our hands.
Your concerns about resource allocation are valid. While AI has the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives, there's a real danger that its benefits will be disproportionately enjoyed by the wealthy and powerful. We've already seen this trend with other technological advancements, where the most sophisticated tools are often first deployed in the service of profit rather than broader societal good.
A Roadmap for a Brighter Future
Your suggestion that AI could be used to advise on resource allocation is an intriguing one. Imagine AI-powered systems helping governments make informed decisions about infrastructure, disaster preparedness, public health, and education. This could potentially lead to more equitable and efficient use of resources.
However, it's crucial to remember that AI is a tool, not a panacea. It's up to us to ensure that these powerful technologies are used ethically and in ways that benefit all of humanity, not just a privileged few.
Contemporary Lessons from Ancient Greece
"Oedipus the King" serves as a timeless reminder that knowledge, while valuable, can be dangerous when mishandled or when we become blinded by our own pride. It also prompts us to reflect on our relationship with fate and the choices we make in the face of uncertainty.
As we navigate the complexities of the 21st century, we can draw valuable lessons from this ancient Greek tragedy. By embracing knowledge responsibly, making informed choices, and striving for a more equitable distribution of resources, we can perhaps avoid the tragic fate that befell Oedipus and create a brighter future for ourselves and generations to come.