Chapter 50: Social Order in a Primary civilization

"What do people in Primary civilizations do every day? Do they spend their time reading to improve themselves?" I suddenly thought of the topic of studying, something that has always given me a headache.  

"Not really. All educational institutions have been eliminated. Knowledge is stored in nano-chips embedded in each person's body. As they age, the nano-chips transfer knowledge into brain neurons through quantum processes, gradually teaching them everything from basic to advanced knowledge and skills. By a young age, they are already capable of creating and innovating due to their extensive knowledge," Buweiro explained, making me envy life in Primary civilizations once again.  

"Although the species in Primary civilizations live carefree lives, receiving various benefits without needing to work, these are merely basic welfare provisions. To gain additional privileges, individuals must contribute by creating wealth. Accumulating wealth requires individuals to create value; if one chooses to do nothing, they won't gain any wealth.  

By utilizing their abilities to invent, innovate, or conduct scientific research, they can also travel in spacecraft to different parts of the universe to gather useful information and materials, which also contributes to wealth. In short, as long as they are willing to contribute and their applications are approved, they are free to act. With wealth accumulation, they can exchange it for many privileges on their planet."  

"What kind of privileges? Can you give me an example?" I asked curiously.  

"Sure. For example, if your family has lived on your home planet for many years and wishes to travel the universe in a self-sustaining, large spacecraft, you could apply for this if your family's wealth meets the requirements. Once approved, the global intelligent system would construct an interstellar smart spacecraft for your family using the best materials. The spacecraft would be equipped with all the necessary facilities for self-sustained living and research, with enough energy to last for many years. If the energy runs low, you could easily refuel by harnessing energy from a star or gas giant. Even if the spacecraft malfunctions, its intelligent system would quickly repair itself." Buweiro explained.  

This example made my heart stir with excitement. I thought of how, in the Earth's ancient times, before the planet was sealed off, humans often encountered extraterrestrial visitors for various reasons—interstellar exploration, perhaps? But such things are no longer possible now.  

"Speaking of transportation, I experienced the lifestyles of various extraterrestrials this afternoon and noticed that planets beyond Primary civilizations rarely have roads. There are only a few symbolic paths or squares left. Is this typical after reaching the Primary civilization stage?"  

"Exactly. Removing roads is a natural part of progress after reaching the Primary civilization level. Some ancient relics or symbolic pathways may remain for those who are interested in experiencing them," Buweiro continued. "After the Primary civilization stage, all transportation is handled by intelligent systems. You just issue a command, and the system will transport you through the air to your destination. There's no need for the complicated processes humans currently endure, like getting a driver's license.  

Moreover, species in Primary civilizations prefer spacecraft for transportation. The open expanse of the skies and the near-light speed of spacecraft allow them to travel anywhere on their home planet almost instantaneously. With routes designed by intelligent systems, there is no worry about mid-air collisions or traffic accidents.

 This is just the scenario when a civilization first enters the primary stage. As technology advances and mastery over magnetic fields, space, time, and gravity becomes practical, space-warping and wormhole-jumping tunnels can be established on the home planet. These tunnels allow for spatial jumps from one location to another, whether near or far. As long as the object isn't excessively large, both people and objects can achieve spatial jumps, much like the "teleportation arrays" 空间传送阵in your fantasy novels.

With the refinement of wormhole technology, wormhole-jumping tunnels can even be established between planets in the Solar system. For instance, in the future, if your relatives immigrate to Mars, you could visit each other using interstellar wormhole jumps.

Don't get too excited; this isn't even the most advanced technology yet." Buweiro said: "By the time a civilization is approaching the intermediate stage, at any location on the planet, a single thought will suffice to transport someone instantly to any other place. Roads will become completely obsolete by then."

"Wow, that sounds amazing! It's so convenient and time-saving, plus it would allow for sightseeing anywhere in the world. I love the idea of this technology, and I enjoy traveling during vacations. It's just that my wallet isn't as enthusiastic... I wonder if I'll ever experience such a life in my lifetime," I said wistfully.

After a moment of reflection, I asked Buweiro, "In a Primary civilization, have Manufacturing and Service Industries been fully replaced by robots? Do people just stay home enjoying life or creating wealth?"

"Exactly. It's similar to the principle behind your household smart robots. However, on the home planet, all manufacturing and other industries are operated by larger, more capable intelligent machines. These machines can perform tasks faster and more perfectly. Different types of intelligent robots are designed for different jobs, so there's no need for humans to work laboriously or clock in and out of jobs," Buweiro explained.

"You mentioned 'home planet' several times just now. Does that mean there are no nations after reaching the Primary civilization stage?" I picked up on this intriguing term.

"That's right. Religions also disappear into history, along with differences in language, culture, ideology, customs, and skin color. Both tangible and intangible distinctions gradually fade away."

Seeing my puzzled expression, Buweiro elaborated, "Think about it. After reaching the Primary civilization stage, with the perfection and maturity of spacecraft technology, the population of every nation becomes free from geographical restrictions. People can trade, interact, and intermarry freely. What happens after this continues for hundreds of years?

Global unification of currency becomes inevitable because constantly exchanging local currencies while traveling to different nations is a hassle. Language differences between countries will gradually disappear, and a new global common language will emerge. Intermarriage and reproduction among different populations will lead to a great coordination of genes and skin color, and everyone will become one type of people. Then the concept of country will gradually disappear, thus achieving great unification and forming new global customs.

 Even when humanity expands to other neighboring planets, the same principle of unification applies. It's an inevitable outcome of advancing civilizations."

"After global unification, how is the new leadership chosen? Is it through elections? If it's a democratic election, wouldn't the sheer number of people voting be overwhelming?" I couldn't help but laugh at the thought.

"You don't need to worry about that," Buweiro said with a chuckle. "After the Primary civilization stage, democracy becomes the standard. Without democratic systems, policies, no matter how well-intended, are prone to loopholes or injustices. Any hidden risks can hinder further progress in civilization, or worse, lead to the destruction of the planet.

By the time a civilization reaches the primary stage, its technological weapons are powerful enough to destroy entire worlds. If large-scale wars break out and things spiral out of control, the home planet could be obliterated, along with all its civilizations and species.

After all, as long as intelligent beings exist, some negative emotions will remain, regardless of how advanced they become. Whether someone is a national or global leader, it's inevitable for certain human flaws to manifest. If a leader's human weaknesses are exposed, it can create a chain reaction that disrupts the entire system. This is a common pattern in the historical development of many planets.  

As lower civilizations transition into Primary civilizations, choosing workers, technologists, artists, scientists, or sages as leaders allows a planet's civilization to progress smoothly. Take, for instance, the great figures from modern history in your country.

However, if supreme power is handed to individuals who lack competence or are selfish, manipulative, and prone to internal strife, the situation can become dire and dangerous. Therefore, upon entering a Primary civilization, all inhabitants reach a consensus: control of global power, both major and minor, is entrusted to intelligent systems without complex motives. 

This ensures true fairness, impartiality, and transparency. Policies are clear and straightforward, free from deceit or corruption. Only under such conditions can the golden era of prosperity and fairness that everyone longs for emerge."

"Are you saying that intelligent systems or robots will govern all positions of power worldwide? My goodness, what if these intelligent robots turn against humans? I've seen sci-fi movies where robots develop their own will and ultimately aim to destroy humanity and take over the Earth. Don't Primary civilizations worry about this?" I blurted out, suddenly concerned about this serious issue.

"This concern isn't unfounded," Buweiro replied. "Some civilizations have experienced similar situations in the past, though the probability is very low. Of course, the sci-fi movies you've seen exaggerate these scenarios for entertainment purposes. Remember this: intelligent machines are ultimately man-made creations, and their design codes are always in the hands of their inventors. Even as technology advances and intelligent systems become increasingly sophisticated, as long as control over their design codes is maintained, there's no need to worry."

Buweiro continued, "In the galaxies beyond, after civilizations reach the primary stage, many species advance to the point where they integrate with machines—what you might recognize as cyborgs from your sci-fi movies. The advantages of this are extended lifespans, enhanced strength, faster cognitive processing, and greater convenience in handling tasks.

In Intermediate civilizations, nano-robots are developed, and consciousness ions are transferred into them. Such a body, barring accidents, can last for thousands of years and comes with various extraordinary features."

"Nano-robots?" I said, recalling something. "I've seen them in the movie 'Transformers' —they're incredibly powerful and versatile, capable of adapting to any environment. " I realized I had slipped into a sci-fi mindset and noticed Buweiro smiling wryly, "But, such technology is far beyond our reach. Still, human researchers are making progress on nano-technology. Hopefully, scientists can achieve breakthroughs soon. Oh, and I've seen movies about cyborgs too. With such a body, does that mean you wouldn't need to eat, sleep, or deal with life's daily hassles?"

"That's right, it's much like what you've seen in sci-fi movies," Buweiro said. "The half-living, half-mechanical body can not only experience the various pleasures of a living body, but also avoid various troubles of a biological body. For example, when the body is low on energy, it does not need to eat and digest like humans to convert it into energy. The human-machine combination can directly absorb sunlight or space energy. The body energy is always at its peak. The appearance is a simple and powerful body, but the physical strength is many times that of ordinary people. Tasks that once seemed beyond human limits become effortless.

Additionally, most internal organs would be replaced or discarded, and the body could be customized according to personal preferences. Future modifications would also be possible. Meanwhile, the human-machine body is also the best choice for ideal planetary migration. For example, if you humans want to build a base on the Moon or Mars, in order to build a home suitable for humans, then using the human-machine body to create an alien base is the best choice."

Buweiro's explanation filled me with admiration, but the idea of removing my internal organs and replacing them with intelligent machinery still felt unsettling. While the enhanced power and intelligence of such a body sounded appealing, my current mindset found it hard to accept. Perhaps as I grow older, I might become more open to the idea. Who knows, one day I might embrace the transformation and serve as a pioneer on the Moon or Mars for the betterment of humanity.

Thinking about this, I began to mutter to myself, "Oh, a human-machine body would probably appeal more to the elderly. Imagine if someone could extract their genes, clone a younger version of their body, install intelligent machinery in it, and transfer their consciousness ions into the new body. They could live for thousands of years! That would essentially be immortality! It's a pity that even if scientists develop this technology decades later, I'm afraid ordinary people won't be able to enjoy it. Only the very rich can afford it."

Since I'm not rich, I continued, "Let's change the topic. As a poor person, I don't want to talk about the lifestyles of the rich, it would only bring bitterness. What I want to know is how alien buildings work. When I experienced alien life earlier today, I noticed that their architecture varies greatly in form, with many structures reaching hundreds or even thousands of meters tall, or even higher. Many species have such grand buildings. How are they able to achieve this? Don't the skyscrapers collapse under their own weight?"

"Hmm, how should I explain this?" Buweiro pondered for a moment. "After these three days of experience, you've probably learned about how virtual matter is formed into tangible objects. Using technology, countless atoms can be fused into various forms as desired, solidified when needed, and disintegrated when not. The alien buildings you saw are actually virtual structures solidified into physical form, which is why many of them defy the laws of physics. For instance, some buildings appear to float in mid-air or change shape entirely from one day to the next."

Buweiro's explanation left me astonished. So that's how it works! I hadn't expected such grand and massive buildings to be created through solidified virtual matter. No wonder they seemed to defy the laws of physics.

Seeing that I understood, Buweiro continued, "After reaching the Primary civilization stage, transitioning to virtual material living becomes an inevitable development, and it offers many benefits.

First, structures can change form and size as desired.

Second, it's environmentally friendly. When a structure is needed, it can be quickly solidified upon approval. When it's no longer needed, it disintegrates back into its basic components, leaving no waste behind. Unlike humans, who need to design blueprints, dig foundations, transport materials, and rely on machines or labor, all of which waste time and pollute the environment, virtual matter avoids these issues. Over time, it also eliminates the problem of construction waste.

Third, virtual matter allows precise control over the arrangement of atoms. You can customize the rigidity or flexibility of a virtual structure. For instance, some virtual buildings have atoms arranged so tightly that they are not only seamless but also incredibly sturdy. Even a meteor strike wouldn't damage them, and any impact would be immediately repaired like flowing water. Now do you understand?"

"Yes, yes, I get it now! Buildings in Primary civilizations truly exemplify extraordinary craftsmanship and ingenuity. I hope humanity can experience this kind of life soon. It would significantly reduce the financial pressure on young people to buy homes, making life easier and providing them the conditions to marry, have children, and fulfill their dreams." At this point, I couldn't help but laugh at my own musings. Realizing I had strayed off topic, I thought for a moment before asking Buweiro another question:

"If humanity has a bright future, does that mean mobile phones will also become obsolete?"

"Absolutely!" Buweiro replied decisively. "If technology continues to advance, humanity's future will revolve around quantum virtual information transmission, much like the sci-fi movies you've seen. If you want to communicate with someone, you could do so directly using the nano-chips in your body, transmitting thoughts and emotions. If you want to know or experience something, you just close your eyes, and your consciousness can simulate it for you.

If you want to view a 3D image, it's simple too. With a single command, the nano-chips in your body will project a quantum holographic display around you. You can also trade in the virtual world without the hassle of scanning codes with your mobile phone. No matter where you want to go, a fingerprint or an eye scan is a pass."