Origin
question
One thing is really bugging me....
Nishari
Oct 27, 2017 05:31PM
I thought the book was great but one thing that's really bugging me is that Kirsch showed the presentation to the religious clerics and stopped it at the apocalyptic ending. The version he showed the public was more hopeful since it didn't depict human extinction due to technology...but rather a fusion with technology.
I'm wondering why he didn't show them the true ending and knowingly put them in a state of panic and therefore wanting to stop him from revealing his discovery. It just seems counterintuitive if he initially went to them out of respect and to gauge their reactions.
Valdespino question’s this and speculates but it’s never answered or addressed afterwards. I can’t think of a real reasoning as to why Kirsch would do that. It makes me think that once Langdon put in the password, and Winston now had access to the presentation, he somehow added in the hopeful “happy” ending so that humans wouldn’t try to prevent the takeover of technology. They wouldn’t have anything to fear and therefore wouldn’t do anything about it.
I know that would technically go against Winston’s programming, but he was a super advanced computer constantly learning to the point where he killed his creator. Maybe he set out to become like his creator. Kirsch basically died to make his dream of a better world come true. Winston knew he would be terminated soon after Kirsch died, therefore maybe one of his final acts was to ensure the creation of what his take on a better world would be – human extinction leaving behind a world of only technology.
Lol, sorry for the long post, but like I said, it’s really bugging me that Kirsch made that choice…it just doesn’t make sense.
Thoughts?
I'm wondering why he didn't show them the true ending and knowingly put them in a state of panic and therefore wanting to stop him from revealing his discovery. It just seems counterintuitive if he initially went to them out of respect and to gauge their reactions.
Valdespino question’s this and speculates but it’s never answered or addressed afterwards. I can’t think of a real reasoning as to why Kirsch would do that. It makes me think that once Langdon put in the password, and Winston now had access to the presentation, he somehow added in the hopeful “happy” ending so that humans wouldn’t try to prevent the takeover of technology. They wouldn’t have anything to fear and therefore wouldn’t do anything about it.
I know that would technically go against Winston’s programming, but he was a super advanced computer constantly learning to the point where he killed his creator. Maybe he set out to become like his creator. Kirsch basically died to make his dream of a better world come true. Winston knew he would be terminated soon after Kirsch died, therefore maybe one of his final acts was to ensure the creation of what his take on a better world would be – human extinction leaving behind a world of only technology.
Lol, sorry for the long post, but like I said, it’s really bugging me that Kirsch made that choice…it just doesn’t make sense.
Thoughts?
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It was mentioned in the book itself (actually suggested).
Valdespino said he just tortured them, since he hate them as you know.
Valdespino said he just tortured them, since he hate them as you know.
Hi Nishari. I liked your post. I think you've got it just right. It's not at all far-fetched to think that Winston might want to adapt the presentation to produce a "happy ending". And, though it's possible that Winston has a secret pro-tech/anti-human agenda, its not necessary to assume this in order to make sense of his actions. Winston has interpreted his mission as being: to ensure maximum dissemination and acceptance of Kirsch's discoveries. Winston has also probably recognised that Kirsch's prophesies of doom for the human race at the hands of technology will undermine acceptance of his discoveries, with people either refusing to believe any of his modelling at all or violently rejecting technology and science and turning to religion instead. If Kirsch's discoveries are to be accepted and his insights applied, then the potential for catastrophic impact of technological advancement on the human race will need to be managed by those who are implementing new technologies. After all, Kirsch's modelling of the future was only a prediction. Winston provides a vision of how a technologically enhanced future can be 'done right' to inspire humans - to show them how high to aim - and to assure Kirsch's legacy as the ultimate futurist.
I would love to agree with you that Winston added the end so that the presentation is more accepted and technology remains. However, its more likely that Edmond Kiersch just wanted to poke at the religious leader with his religion, "Science".
There is something else that bugs me endlessly, why were the other two religious leaders eliminated? Why would Winston do that? Also, how was he so confident that the presentation would be made available to the world post killing off Edmond? Like if Langdon wouldn't have figured out his location, post the ipad fiasco, it would be done deal for him and the presentation his creator made.
Also, why would Winston direct the killer to Barcelona as the regent? He wanted to kill Langdon and Amara too?? My minds spins at that...its so counter intuative to the plot line where Winston direct Langdon post killing off Edmond to trigger presentation.
Plus, if ipad was broken, Landgon wouldnt figure out Winston's location, would he be able to trigger it off himself?
There is something else that bugs me endlessly, why were the other two religious leaders eliminated? Why would Winston do that? Also, how was he so confident that the presentation would be made available to the world post killing off Edmond? Like if Langdon wouldn't have figured out his location, post the ipad fiasco, it would be done deal for him and the presentation his creator made.
Also, why would Winston direct the killer to Barcelona as the regent? He wanted to kill Langdon and Amara too?? My minds spins at that...its so counter intuative to the plot line where Winston direct Langdon post killing off Edmond to trigger presentation.
Plus, if ipad was broken, Landgon wouldnt figure out Winston's location, would he be able to trigger it off himself?
I see it as a beginning to Winston learning to manipulate data and to influence the human race. The future of a "fusion" of technology and human existence and Winston is actually "the seed" of this shift in the timeline.
