Introduction
Civilization will end before a runaway superintelligence. This paper proposes a novel great filter: civilizations will solve their internal needs through consciousness modification before expanding into the universe, explaining the absence of alien civilizations.
Timeline
Synthetic Consciousness
Over the next decade, the field of neuroscience, greatly accelerated by artificial general intelligence, is able to modify human consciousness. Early applications of these brain-computer interfaces are medical treatments, such as paralysis and sensory restoration. Shortly after, usage expands to anesthesia, gaining widespread medical acceptance, especially for patients for chronic pain conditions. There is a significant rise of off-label anesthetic consumer offerings and other states of consciousness, notably hedonic ones, are soon replicated. The field of SC or synthetic consciousness booms.
The Great Enlightenment
Synthetic consciousness use causes a global moral pandemic. While the majority gradually adopt the technology, others abstain for personal, religious or other reasons. Many governments try to ban it. People turn to experiences of hedonic indulgence or transcendental apathy. Social stigma favors enlightened terminal states, blissful states which preserve cognitive functioning but eliminate desire. The Great Enlightenment is underway.
Civilizational Decline
Without desire to reproduce, the population dwindles. There remain few but diminishing societies that continue to reject usage of synthetic consciousness. Some may try to use the technology responsibly, avoiding terminal states, but heightened intelligence and introspection would eventually lead them to enlightened apathy. The green will return to the earth as human intelligence fades.
Conclusion
Civilizations sufficiently advanced enough to pursue interstellar expansion would also be advanced enough to understand and solve their motivations, therefore paradoxically eliminating their reason for conquering the universe. Therefore, the “Great Enlightenment" is a possible Great Filter and solution to the Fermi Paradox.