Neuromancer and God

Throughout the novel, it can be argued that the use of technology can be the Hubris of humanity, and the belief that they have transcended to the level of the Gods. Their producing of Artificial AIs can also be interpreted as Humanity creating their own Gods. I found an interesting conversation about Artificial Intelligences, and their connection to Deity status.

"Morpheus: "Human beings feel pleasure when they are watched. I have recorded their smiles as I tell them who they are."

JC Denton: "Some people just don't understand the dangers of indiscriminate surveillance."

Morpheus: "The need to be observed and understood was once satisfied by God. Now we can implement the same functionality with data-mining algorithms."

JC Denton: "Electronic surveillance hardly inspires reverence. Perhaps fear and obedience, but not reverence."

Morpheus: "God and the gods were apparitions of observation, judgment and punishment. Other sentiments towards them were secondary."

JC Denton: "No one will ever worship a software entity peering at them through a camera."

Morpheus: "The human organism always worships. First, it was the gods, then it was fame (the observation and judgment of others), next it will be self-aware systems you have built to realize truly omnipresent observation and judgment."

JC Denton: "You underestimate humankind's love of freedom."

Morpheus: "The individual desires judgment. Without that desire, the cohesion of groups is impossible, and so is civilization.""

 

 

Morpheus is an Artificial Intelligence, if it is not clear.