In Search of a Creative “Syncretizer”: From Homo Sapiens Sapiens to Homo Techno Sapiens. . . . and Beyond

I am fairly certain that “syncretizer” is a made-up word; however, it may become a real word in the future because it does not violate the phonological and morphological rules of English (e.g., see Crystal, 1997, 2006). I have attempted to create an agent for the process of syncretizing—analogous to labeling a person who synthesizes as a synthesizer—which is a word, albeit one with multiple meanings. Inspection of any online dictionary (e.g., Dictionary.com [https://www.dictionary.com/browse/synthesis]; Merriam-Webster [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/synthesis]; The Free Dictionary [https://www.thefreedictionary.com/synthesis]) can provide a definition (or more) of either “synthesis” or “syncretism.” After conducting a critical analysis (or an act of syncretism—pun intended), I deduce that both processes are related, may even be interchangeable. But—I suspect—each construct is most likely associated with certain disciplines or topics. For sure, unpacking some ideas relative to these constructs should shed additional light on what it means to be a critical thinker—the topic of my previous editorial (Paul, 2018)—or, perhaps, what it means to be an innovative critical thinker.

The other construct in the title of this essay in need of a few words of explanation is “Homo techno sapiens.” Modern humans (i.e., those of our present evolutionary era) belong to the class labeled “Homo sapiens sapiens.” However, some scholars and writers believe that we are now at the beginning of the era of Homo techno sapiens, or perhaps will be in the very near future. For example, the physicist-writer Alan Light-man (2018) contends that “in short, the human being of the future, Homo techno, will be part animate and part inanimate, a hybrid of living animal and machine, a heart and soul fused to a computer chip” (p. 194). On the other hand, technology theorist (and bilateral cochlear implant wearer) Michael Chorost (2011) argues that we are already there, especially when you consider the workings of cochlear implants. Chorost maintains that eventually there will be a substantial physical merging of our “Paleolithic” bodies with “Pentium” chips, resulting in a radical new way of social interaction, including mind-to-mind or mind-to-technology communication.

For our purposes, it has to be wondered whether the synthesis or syncretism of Homo techno sapiens will be radically different (or more exciting!?) than that of the current Homo sapiens sapiens. Could Homo techno sapiens provide better solutions to our current Homo sapiens sapiens challenges (improvement of literacy levels in d/Deaf and hard of hearing children, resolution of dyslexia, amelioration of poverty, etc.)? Or, as I suspect, there will be a newer set of challenges for Homo techno sapiens—whose resolutions may be better addressed by the next generation of “humans.” (Technically, we will not be able to say “Homo sapiens sapiens” by that time.)

Even more interesting, perhaps Homo techno sapiens will engage predominantly in what I am labeling as syncretism because of the ease and necessity of analyzing a wide variety of different, contradictory (at least on the surface) ideas. In my view, this task might be quite different from endorsing a radical centrism (or middle position), also labeled syncretism—which started as a political ideology attempting to integrate ideas “from the left or the right.” Syncretism in the future will require that individuals address a wider range of ideas or propositions—not just from the left or right.

Synthesis and Syncretism

Lest you think that I have been reading too much philosophy or science fiction, let’s return to our original constructs. Consulting our online dictionaries mentioned above, we can assert that synthesis means combining or integrating elements to make a whole and that that whole can be a generalization, conclusion, inference, law, theory, etc. In some cases, a synthesis can lead to new information, which may not be understood immediately—for example, Einstein’s theories of general and special relativity (Isaacson, 2007; Lightman, 1993).

The process of synthesizing can be and often is associated with critical and analytical writing. Readers...