/AI7h ago

Nathan Young argues Iain M. Banks' Culture series is stagnant because humans cannot transition into Minds

Herbie Bradley suggests series lore may allow human ascension

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Original post

I have moved from thinking that the Culture is a great world to thinking it's a bit suspect.

Why isn't there a way for people to become Minds? Why don't the Minds want that? All feels a bit static.. a bit controlled.

ht @tszzl, I think

1:19 PM 路 Jun 9, 2026 路 1.6K Views
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Negative users criticize the Culture series as implausible and morally flawed due to its lack of mind enhancement freedom and non-intervention policy even amid torture scenarios.

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Herbie Bradley@herbiebradley

@NathanpmYoung @tszzl Wait I thought there was? Maybe it's been too long since I read it

I have moved from thinking that the Culture is a great world to thinking it's a bit suspect.

Why isn't there a way for people to become Minds? Why don't the Minds want that? All feels a bit static.. a bit controlled.

ht @tszzl, I think

2hViews 142Likes 4Bookmarks 0
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jp@inflammateomnia

@NathanpmYoung @tszzl I have been beating this drum for years A total freedom to enhance one's mind and a total absence of transhumans? Just hedonists having five minutes orgasms?I'm not buying it iain something's fishy here

3hViews 108Likes 6

@NathanpmYoung @tszzl i will rant at anyone who will listen about how the cultures lack of intervention, including when people are building torture sims, is a moral atrocity

2hViews 51
ftlsid@ftlsid

@inflammateomnia @NathanpmYoung @tszzl It's been a while since I read it but I remember there being transhumans in Surface Detail. I could be wrong

3hViews 24Likes 2
James Barton@james_barton

@NathanpmYoung @tszzl Do we know that there isn't? They have neural laces for interfacing.

4hViews 71Likes 1

@NathanpmYoung @tszzl and that鈥檚 before you get into the division of contact who鈥檚 job is to stop people from doing economic growth too fast

2hViews 27Likes 1