The array of social experiments being performed on the masses, via social media and targeted advertizing, is an attempt to make sense of the endless mining of personal data.

On a large scale, behaviour can be predicted (based on the data points) and even nudged in a certain direction. Facebook often takes heat from this by making its network an echo chamber of opinions, thereby further dividing people rather than uniting them.

For those who study the humanities, this amount of data on behaviour is a dream.

Unfortunately, these companies forget the “Mule.”

In Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series, Hari Seldon develops a branch of science called psychohistory to use the law of large numbers to predict human behaviour. It is from this mathematical constant, he is able to predict all future events and guide people through the ages on how to deal with them.

However, he warns that a single person can completely negate his predictions if they don’t fall into line. The math only works on a large scale.

Enter the Mule in book two.

As a scholar of Religion, there have been many mules throughout history that have disrupted any of its established structures, often creating new ones.

Buddha was a mule to Hinduism, Jesus to Judaism, Martin Luther to the corrupted structure of Catholicism and all the others who sought new ways within established reigns. There’s always one (or one who is the voice of many) who wake up to the tyranny of conformity they have fallen under.

The corporations we have acquiesced to in our daily digital lives seem to forget the lessons of history. Perhaps they are unconcerned about a mule because they have become the gatekeepers to communication and information.

However, they are playing God under the guise of granting us freedom.

It’s only a matter of time before a mule appears.