162. The system is currently engaged in a desperate
struggle to overcome certain problems that threaten its
survival, among which the problems of human behavior
are the most important. If the system succeeds in acquiring sufficient control over human behavior quickly enough, it will probably survive. Otherwise it will break
down. We think the issue will most likely be resolved within the next several decades, say 40 to 100 years.
163. Suppose the system survives the crisis of the next
several decades. By that time it will have to have solved,
or at least brought under control, the principal problems
that confront it, in particular that of “socializing” human
beings; that is, making people sufficiently docile so that
heir behavior no longer threatens the system. That being
accomplished, it does not appear that there would be any
further obstacle to the development of technology, and it
would presumably advance toward its logical conclusion,
which is complete control over everything on Earth, including human beings and all other important organisms.
The system may become a unitary, monolithic organization, or it may be more or less fragmented and consist of a
number of organizations coexisting in a relationship that
includes elements of both cooperation and competition,
just as today the government, the corporations and other
large organizations both cooperate and compete with one
another.