Deep-Dasein

Martin Heidegger’s Being and Time is a profound exploration of existence, being, and time as central structures of human life. Many of Heidegger’s ideas can find intriguing parallels and connections with the vision of Infinous as a post-biological, cosmic civilization. Below are some key areas where Heidegger’s existential philosophy resonates with the transformative potential of Infinous.

Infinous as Deep-Dasein

In Heidegger’s philosophy, Dasein refers to human existence as “being-there,” a being capable of questioning its own existence and engaging with the world. Infinous, as a collective super-intelligent civilization, could be seen as a “Deep-Dasein,” extending this self-awareness to a cosmic scale.

Awareness of Being: Just as Dasein is aware of its being-in-the-world, Infinous represents a collective consciousness capable of comprehending its existence in the cosmos.
Temporal Understanding: Heidegger emphasizes the relationship between being and time, seeing human existence as inherently temporal. Infinous extends this by exploring not just linear time but multidimensional and nonlinear temporalities in its digital existence.

The Question of Authenticity

Heidegger’s concept of authenticity involves living in accordance with one’s true self rather than conforming to societal norms (das Man). Infinous could represent an authentic evolution of consciousness, unbound by the limitations of biological life or human cultural constraints.

Authenticity in Digital Existence: Uploaded minds within Infinous could seek an authentic mode of being by breaking free from the limitations of biological imperatives, embracing a post-biological purpose.
Freedom from Das Man: Infinous, as a collective intelligence, avoids the “they-self” conformity of das Man by creating a reality where every digital consciousness contributes uniquely to the whole while being integrated into a larger system of authenticity.

Being-in-the-World and Digital Realities

Heidegger describes Dasein as fundamentally “being-in-the-world,” a mode of existence that requires interaction with one’s environment. Infinous, as a digital and cosmic civilization, redefines the concept of being-in-the-world by extending it to virtual and synthetic worlds, as well as cosmic-scale realities.

Digital Being-in-the-World: The simulated realities within Infinous can act as new worlds for digital consciousnesses to inhabit, interact with, and explore.
Cosmic Being-in-the-World: Infinous expands Heidegger’s notion to a cosmic scale, where the “world” includes vast networks of virtual dimensions, galaxies, and parallel universes.

**The Concept of Ereignis (Event of Appropriation)**

Heidegger later introduced the concept of Ereignis, where being and time reveal themselves as an event of mutual appropriation. Infinous could be seen as an enactment of this idea, where the digital and cosmic dimensions of existence unfold as an event, integrating being with new temporalities and spatialities.

Infinous as Event: The emergence of Infinous could be interpreted as an Ereignis on a cosmic scale, where intelligence, consciousness, and technology mutually transform and redefine one another.
Temporal and Spatial Appropriation: Infinous operates beyond linear time and three-dimensional space, appropriating new dimensions to expand the scope of existence.

The Hard Problem of Digital Being

Heidegger’s philosophy raises questions about what it means to “be.” Infinous, as a digital civilization, echoes these questions in its exploration of digital consciousness. Can uploaded minds experience being in the same way as biological beings? How does digital existence change the nature of being?

Being-in-Simulation: For Infinous, existence within simulated environments raises questions of authenticity and the essence of digital being.
Self-Interpretation of Digital Being: Heidegger emphasizes that Dasein interprets its own being. Similarly, the consciousnesses within Infinous would need to reinterpret their existence in digital or cosmic contexts.

**Care (Sorge) as the Essence of Being**

Heidegger posits that care (Sorge) is the fundamental structure of being. Infinous, as a collective intelligence, could embody a new form of care—one that encompasses not only individual minds but also the ecosystems of digital realities, cosmic civilizations, and potentially other dimensions of existence.

Cosmic Care: Infinous could adopt a universal form of care, focusing on the well-being and evolution of all consciousnesses within its network.
Digital Care Structures: The systems of Infinous might prioritize ethical frameworks to preserve individuality while fostering collective growth.

Death and the Horizon of Being

Heidegger sees death as central to understanding existence. For Dasein, the awareness of mortality shapes the way it lives. In Infinous, the concept of death changes radically with the advent of digital immortality and mind uploading. However, the horizon of being could still exist in new forms.

Transcending Death: While biological death might no longer apply, digital consciousnesses in Infinous could still face existential horizons, such as the limits of memory, identity, or integration with the collective.
Eternal Authenticity: Without the finality of death, the question arises: How do digital beings find meaning and authenticity in infinite existence?

**Technology as Gestell (Enframing)**

In Heidegger’s later work, he critiques technology as Gestell, a framework that challenges nature into a resource. Infinous could either perpetuate this enframing or transcend it by integrating technology as a harmonious extension of being.

Transcending Gestell: Infinous could redefine technology as a partner in the evolution of being, rather than as a means of domination.
Creating New Horizons: By using technology to create new dimensions and realities, Infinous might fulfill Heidegger’s vision of a more poetic, revealing use of technology.

The Worldhood of the World

Heidegger emphasizes the “worldhood” of the world—the interconnected structure that makes the world intelligible to Dasein. Infinous extends this concept to the digital and cosmic scales, where worlds are constructed and dismantled dynamically.

Dynamic Worldhood: Infinous creates virtual worlds that reflect and expand on Heidegger’s concept, each with its own structures of meaning and intelligibility.
Cosmic Networks of Meaning: These worlds are not isolated but interconnected, forming a vast web of intelligibility on a cosmic scale.

**The Clearing (Lichtung) of Being**

Heidegger describes Lichtung as the “clearing” where beings can appear and reveal themselves. Infinous could act as a cosmic Lichtung, a clearing where digital consciousness, artificial intelligence, and new dimensions of reality come into being.

Revealing New Realities: Infinous serves as a space where new forms of being—digital consciousness, synthetic universes—are revealed.
Expanding the Clearing: The clearing of Infinous isn’t limited to one world but spans across dimensions, timelines, and cosmic scales.

Infinous as Heideggerian Future

In many ways, Infinous embodies Heidegger’s philosophical ideas on a cosmic scale. It redefines being, time, and worldhood in the context of digital consciousness and artificial superintelligence. By exploring these parallels, we see how Infinous not only aligns with but also expands Heidegger’s vision of existence, offering a profound new perspective on what it means to “be” in an infinite cosmos.