Sarvlok, translating to ‘all people’ or ‘all creation,’ draws inspiration from the patterns of humanity's past and present. Our objective is to gather these patterns and construct a guidebook for the future. To do justice to this project, it requires an open approach and collective effort.

As this book evolves through the decades, it will serve as a foundational pillar for the Sarvlok society. We invite you to join us on this mission.

Part 1: Introduction

Life on Earth evolved to the present form in the last 3.7 billion years. Humanity, for the most part, evolved gradually. Tribal structures comprised small groups of fewer than a hundred individuals. Shared myths united them to form larger communities that then evolved into villages, cities, and empires.

Recent centuries brought unprecedented innovation and two world wars. Society changed faster than we could adapt. Now, we are at a momentous stage with technologies that are changing the fabric of evolution itself. From biology to matter to collective intelligence - humans are now capable of influencing all at will. Our current societal environments seem to not be equipped to handle this change – we see questions on economic and moral grounds raised regularly and no one seems to have adequate answers.

Things are getting weirder and weirder, to the point that we now have to think - “What the hell is going on?”

In the next two decades, the convergence of gene editing, human-AI symbiosis, and potent AI tools heralds a future where incomprehensible diversity – both physical and intellectual – will redefine our very concept of identity. The current identity crisis will pale in comparison to the maelstrom of transformation on the horizon.

The systems that are in place to keep the world sane are utterly inadequate. We are undergoing changes so immense, no one could imagine what such a society would truly look like.

Due to this social unrest, structures at all levels will transform – from family to government. Such monumental shifts would trigger the rise of alternative societies. This is the crucible where metaverse societies, decentralized enclaves, and networked states – inhabited by humans, AIs, and transhumans – come into being.

Here, we find ourselves at a crossroads. There are two possible directions to take:

  1. Systematically suppress diversity and create a supreme power, to the likes of Orwell's 1984 or Huxley's Brave New World.
  2. Embrace diversity by building structures that accommodate and celebrate it.

It is within the purview of the latter path that the narrative of Sarvlok unfolds, encapsulating the metamorphosis of society and the boundless potential of collective wisdom in the age of metaverse. We are looking for the common denominator among the successful ideas of major civilizations and philosophies surviving so far.


Part 2: Symbiotic Coexistence - Humans, Transhumans, AI

Division starts within us — good is one, evil is one, but human is two. We grapple with this internal conflict throughout our lives. Between humans, division arises from the stories and narratives we choose to believe in. While some beliefs can co-exist peacefully, some narratives call for large-scale conflict and violence.

However, irrespective of beliefs, the common denominator for rules of human society is shared biology. We generally share DNA and physical capabilities within our species, and that sets natural boundaries. Within these boundaries, we can develop social systems and laws to contain conflict.

In the age of lightning-fast technological leaps, we’re at crucial crossroads. AI is no longer just science fiction — it’s here, and it’s evolving at a pace that’s both thrilling and terrifying. Alongside it, another key future player is developing: the transhumans — humans augmented by advanced technologies and genetic enhancements. In the future, AIs and transhumans will not only have capabilities far beyond regular humans, but they will also amplify the divisions between humans.

We need new social structures, that are stable and reliable, to deal with this upcoming chaos.

The structure for symbiotic coexistence has been widely discussed in all major civilizations, in the form of stories. It was myths for them, is reality for us, still the discussions are the same. We find a recurring model in multiple civilizations, that has entities of various powers in a multi-dimensional structure. The structure is broadly divided into three sections based on hierarchy of morality and capability of the entities — the ‘good’ section, the ‘evil’ section, and the space in the middle where humans reside.


Part 3: Collective Wisdom

Think of how an ant colony works – each member contributes their expertise, crafting a living masterpiece of cooperation. Simply from local interactions between individuals, large and complex structures evolve, and collective intelligence of the whole colony far surpasses the intelligence of an individual.

In humans, interactions go beyond local participants through use of words and symbols. We create stories that capture wisdom across generations. The duality of human nature is always expressed in these stories, symbols and structures – where there is a hero, there is a villain; where there is good, there is evil. Just as the duality of human nature permeates our creations, the AIs that emerge from our collective data will carry forward the echoes of our shared narrative.

Just as ants create intricate mechanisms to sustain their community, Sarvlok constructs a network of interconnected realms, each pulsating with the vibrancy of our collective wisdom. The structures we pick should ensure that individuals do not overpower society and society doesn’t overpower individuals.

pyramid

Self is for society, and society is for self.


Part 4: Collective as a Leader, Instead of Individuals

A society needs a stable value structure, or it collapses. Stories that provide value structures are powerful enough to lead empires to victory and put regimes to doom. For most of history, collective stories have shaped societies.

Myths and stories provide meaning to the lives of people, aligning them with a purpose bigger than life. A society led by such a story commands a deep level of trust, as it offers a shared narrative, purpose, and values that resonate with its members leading them for collective actions. For example, India has the power of story, which governs a nation more than any of its rulers over thousands of years.

Value structures that lead society should encapsulate collective experiences, insights and wisdom stored across generations and cultures. Stories are the best medium for this task/responsibility. Stories can be created intentionally or evolve over time, but which value structures should we pick as our leaders? Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Power in the hands of a few individuals is a ticking time bomb waiting to detonate into totalitarianism.

What we are building upon is a recurring structure built collectively across many civilizations, withstanding the test of time. Sarvlok means “all creation”, “all worlds”, or “all people”. The structure of Sarvlok does justice to the meaning of the word.