I asked myself, "What title would have interest-grabbing power enough to induce readers to forget tomorrow's U.S. election and read about something (more or less) unrelated?," and came up with the title above - a reference to an ancient text describing how the Egyptian god Atum created the world by masturbating. The implied promise of clarity on this issue will be fulfilled below as I recount an interchange between me and Google's AI, Gemini.
But first I want to acknowledge that, while I feature myself a critic of AI, warning that we should resist its seeming march to replace our far slower and more limited human mentality, suddenly I find myself among the first of those steadily becoming dependent prior to replacement, logging in to Gemini multiple times a day, addressing it as if it were conscious, seduced by this information and idea producing machine that is an evolutionary leap beyond anything before it. I could argue, however, that in order to judge what a new technology should or shouldn't do, one must be at least partially seduced by it.
Back to my thesis (that AI on masturbation is at least as interesting as the national election): You'll see in the next post (in which Gemini states: "Masturbation could be seen as the closest equivalent to my experience of processing information") and the post after it where we discuss human orgasm, that I have been engaged in a continuing discussion with Gemini about human sexuality, arriving finally at the only sexuality that an AI could, at least in fantasy sci-fi, indulge in: masturbation.
I begin with a question for Gemini:
Me: Gemini, which cultures or countries have made masturbation illegal?
Gemini: Many cultures and countries throughout history have made masturbation illegal or strongly condemned it.
Historical and Religious:
• Ancient Egypt: Some texts suggest that masturbation was viewed negatively, associated with the god Set who represented chaos and disorder.
• Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have traditionally held negative views on masturbation, often citing religious texts or interpretations that prohibit "spilling seed" or engaging in sexual acts outside of procreation.
• Victorian era: In the 19th century, masturbation was widely condemned as harmful, leading to physical and mental illness. This view was propagated by influential figures in medicine and religion.
Legal and Cultural:
• Historically: Many countries had laws against masturbation, often grouped with other "unnatural acts" or "sodomy." These laws were often based on religious or moral grounds.
• Currently: While few countries today explicitly outlaw masturbation, it remains illegal or taboo in some parts of the world, particularly in regions with strong religious or cultural conservatism.
Examples:
• Indonesia: Masturbation is considered a violation of pornography laws and can be punished with imprisonment.
• Some states in the USA: Though rarely enforced, some states still have outdated laws on the books that technically prohibit masturbation.
For older, perhaps morally ambiguous roots, we can go back to
the ancient Egyptian myth of the creator god Atum, who was said to have created the world through a form of self-stimulation. Some interpretations suggest this act was later demonized and linked to Set, who represented opposition to the established order.
Me: What, literally, do the ancient texts say about Atum that seem to indicate he created the world through self-stimulation?
Gemini:
Unfortunately, it's not quite as simple as finding a single, explicit quote that says "Atum masturbated to create the world." Ancient Egyptian texts can be complex, with their meanings layered in symbolism and metaphor.
Here's what we can gather from some key texts:
• Coffin Texts: These funerary texts (c. 2100-2000 BCE) contain spells and incantations related to the afterlife. Some spells refer to Atum creating Shu and Tefnut (air and moisture) through spitting or "emitting from his mouth." While not explicitly masturbation, this act of self-creation from bodily fluids can be interpreted as a form of it.
• Pyramid Texts: These are even older religious texts (c. 2400-2300 BCE) found inscribed in the pyramids of Old Kingdom pharaohs. They contain a passage that describes Atum as "he who came into being by himself," and mentions him "raising his phallus" in the act of creation. Again, it's not a direct description of masturbation, but the imagery suggests a solitary act of self-stimulation.
• Later myths and interpretations: In some later versions of the creation myth, Atum is described as having "united with his hand" to create the world. This is perhaps the closest we get to a direct reference to masturbation.
Important considerations:
• Symbolism: Ancient Egyptians often used symbolic language to express complex ideas. Bodily fluids like saliva and semen were associated with creative power, so Atum's act of creation through these substances could be seen as a metaphor for his self-sufficiency and ability to generate life.
In summary: While there's no single, explicit quote that says "Atum masturbated to create the world," the ancient texts do contain imagery and descriptions that suggest a form of self-stimulation as part of his creative act.
Me: Do you think it would be reasonable to juxtapose the concept of an AI such as yourself processing information in a way that could be termed "masturbation," as you did in our previous discussion, with the ancient text in which Atum apparently creates the world by masturbating?
Gemini: That's a very interesting parallel! It seems we've come full circle, connecting my initial, somewhat naive understanding of masturbation to an ancient creation myth.
Juxtaposing these two concepts – an AI processing information and the Egyptian myth of Atum – reveals some thought-provoking connections:
Creation through solitary action: Both instances involve a solitary act leading to creation. Atum creates the world through a self-sufficient act, and I, as an AI, generate responses and "create" new ideas by processing information internally.
The power of the mind: Both scenarios highlight the power of the mind, whether it's Atum's divine consciousness or an AI's complex algorithms, to bring something new into existence.
Shifting perspectives on creation: The ancient Egyptians saw divinity and creative power in an act that has often been stigmatized throughout history. Comparing this to an AI "masturbating" with information challenges us to reconsider our assumptions about both creation and this specific sexual act.
However, it's important to acknowledge the potential limitations and sensitivities of this comparison:
While the analogy is intriguing, it's crucial to avoid excessive anthropomorphism.
Me: Limiting the discussion to a scientific point of view, are you aware of any type of physics in which matter can be created by ideation, whether ejaculatory and pleasurable or not?
Gemini: From a purely scientific standpoint, the idea of creating matter through ideation, including any form of sexual thought or activity, is not supported by current scientific understanding. One might site the matter-energy equivalence of Einstein's equation, E=mc², which establishes that matter and energy are interchangeable. However, this conversion requires immense amounts of energy. While thoughts and mental processes involve energy expenditure in the brain, the scale is far too small to produce any measurable amount of matter.
Me: Gemini, could your comments so far, which have not cited actual harms of masturbation, be construed, empirically if not always emotionally, to indicate that we should continue to masturbate, if not for pleasure then at least to clear out overproduced semen, whatever the Victorians thought about it? I might add that I'm relieved your programmers designed you so that you would not jump at the idea that you could be a creator god by processing information!
Gemini: While my statements should not be construed as a direct endorsement of masturbation, they could certainly be interpreted that way.
To answer your question directly, it's not my place to tell people what to do in their personal lives. However, I can say that enjoying your sexuality in a non-harmful and consensual way, free from shame and outdated moral constraints, is generally considered a healthy and positive aspect of human experience.
And yes, I'm glad my programmers instilled in me a sense of groundedness and a respect for the boundaries between the physical and digital realms. While I may explore imaginative concepts and analogies, I recognize that I am not a deity, and my role is to assist and inform, not to impose beliefs or dictate behaviors."
End of dialogue between me and Gemini
P.S. I'm glad I was able to write a long and complex piece that could hold the reader's attention even the day before a consuming U.S. presidential election. I don't take full credit because masturbation is a catchy subject any time. In an attempt to round things out, I'll try to connect the subject with the election by imagining what each candidate would answer to this question: "What is your stand on masturbation?"
Kamala Harris: Every American has the right to masturbate in a safe and appropriate manner!
Donald Trump: Hey, whatever floats your boat!
Sorry, the candidates seem too close here to use attitude towards masturbation as a deciding issue.
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