The Tower of “Babble”

The Tower of Babel is a biblical story that depicts the origins of varied languages. Prior to the founding of Babylon, there was a construction effort to build a tower that would reach the heavens.

Here’s a quick rundown of the story;

In ancient times, after the Great Flood, humanity spoke a common language and settled in the land of Shinar (Babylonia). The people decided to build a city with a tower that reached the heavens, intending to make a name for themselves and prevent their dispersion across the earth.

However, seeing their ambitious project, God decided to intervene. He confused their language, causing them to speak different tongues so they couldn’t understand one another. This linguistic division led to the scattering of the people across the earth, as they formed separate language groups and were unable to communicate effectively.

As a result, the city and the tower were left unfinished, and the place became known as Babel, meaning “confusion.” The story of the Tower of Babel serves as a mythological explanation for the diversity of languages and the dispersal of humanity across different regions of the world.

It’s not clear-

If this tower was a physical construct, or if it was metaphorical, or both.

What is clear is that we have a word that comes from this story, ‘Babel’ or ‘babble’. When someone is saying gibberish, or speaking in tongues, or talking in general, one may use the word ‘babble’. The word ‘babble’ is connected to the tower of Babel.

Additionally the idea that many different groups of people spoke different tongues, could be similar to how groups develop their own language, dialect, and culture. This could mean that the construction efforts of the tower were halted due to a difference in beliefs, values, ideologies, and other things associated with their group identity.

In simple words, they could not achieve greatness because they were too busy fighting amongst themselves. Devolving from one large civilization to a bunch of inner Tribal conflicts. Inner factional politics and other small squabbles for a cut of the direction. To drive the ship of humanity. To see the construction of the tower.

Simply in-fighting.

“A House Divided can not stand.”

Today,

We can see this in-fighting happen for control of the ship of humanity, how should we structure our one world government? Is it even possible? Is it necessary? Is it even good?

Some want it, others don’t.

In another take, we see a similar parallel story play out in the building of Artificial Intelligence. Artificial Intelligence is similar to building a technological tower to apotheosize to ‘godhood’. Some people argue it should be done one way, others argue it would rule over humanity, and some go the transhumanism route and say that people should join the AI into cyborgs.

A lot of different ideas and beliefs and values over both AI and World Governments. These are arguably two monumental towers that Humanity is trying to build today. Take heed in the lesson of the Tower of Babel and watch as there are arguments and battles over these things.

It’s very. . . Human.

Epilogue,

These are just some general thoughts, a short and quick quip at the ideas and possible theories behind a language origin story.

It’s important to note that there are many historical evidence out there that suggest people want to unify towards peace. Those cultures and languages also want to speak a central unified language. It’s just, each group wants it to be their language.

Then there’s more infighting to decree a national language, and then there’s group identity and arguments and scuffles due to language. This story is very prevalent throughout time.

As much as the Tower of Babel is a biblical story of biblical times, the lessons from it still apply to this day. Our arguments and infighting over language and miscommunication is very very real and prevalent today.

Because, after all,

Words Mean Things