Parahumanity - Yay for more seriousness!

[Elurindel]

I'm all for transhumanism myself. Hell, I'd mess with my own genes if I could, and get some of the theoretical augmentations that cybernetics students are talking about. Augmenting the bloodstream with nanoscopic machines that hold oxygen far more efficiently, a programmable immune system...I'd take whatever I could get to enhance myself further.

 

[James Raynor]

It worked out great in, "Island of Dr Moreau" But really I think the science behind something like this is and wont be possible, I mean we haven't even gotten fully to point of our own Genomes yet to the point we cant alter our finger length and bone structure, Yet some people think were ready to start putting wings and cat ears on us now?

We got jelly-fish monkeys and goat-spiders, why can't human-animal happen?

 

[GothmogII]

More on the Cybernetic side of things:

http://www.touchbionics.com/professionals.php?section=4

Now, it's awesome to hear about new inventions like this, I guess the main against for further advancement in -this- area, is that:

What measure is a non-human?

It's been mentioned a bit further up in the topic, that is, at what point does a human become not human? I mean, replace all your limbs with synthetic ones, you're still quite obviously human right?

What if your brain was removed and put in a jar? Well, there's still that bit of flesh, and indeed probably the only piece of flesh that makes you you. What if your conciousness is digitised? Now, there's nothing physical left, only data, although it may be said, that's all our own conciousness is anyway, streams of electrical impulses going off. But, maybe, that digitised copy of your mind would be just that, a copy.

Hmm, as far as I can see, with regards to personal bodily enhancement, if one is -born- a human, then that is what one stays, however, does it get tricky, with genetic enhancement within' the womb, or even before those cells take hold? Maybe, such people would just be called 'enhanced humans'.

 

[Aries_Split]

A human can love.

 

[Bertinan]

Well, think about it more this way. Lets say more and more research is done in this field, particularly in mind enhancement. You think someone out there isn't going to simply find a way to control human beings? Don't even try saying that no one would do that, or else you'll simply show you are a naive fool. And if you think that a scientist wouldn't do it, you'd be wrong there too. A scientist would do it simply to see if it could be done...

That being said, do you want to be known as "Cybernetic Human Machine" (Chum for short number 4315912?

And if you support the idea of humans who have been designed genetically to do only hard labor, and can't think for themselves...then you probably should never be in any position of power...

 

[Elurindel]

More on the Cybernetic side of things:

http://www.touchbionics.com/professionals.php?section=4

Now, it's awesome to hear about new inventions like this, I guess the main against for further advancement in -this- area, is that:

What measure is a non-human?

So you're saying that is one is born as a human, and retains a human mindset, that they stay human, even if they were to replace all their flesh with metal, and have their brain in a jar inside their new metal skull? I'm not sure I agree. A lot of the things that make us human are all those hormones and squishy bits that make us feel different things. If we get rid of those, we're no longer human, I think.
It's been mentioned a bit further up in the topic, that is, at what point does a human become not human? I mean, replace all your limbs with synthetic ones, you're still quite obviously human right?

What if your brain was removed and put in a jar? Well, there's still that bit of flesh, and indeed probably the only piece of flesh that makes you you. What if your conciousness is digitised? Now, there's nothing physical left, only data, although it may be said, that's all our own conciousness is anyway, streams of electrical impulses going off. But, maybe, that digitised copy of your mind would be just that, a copy.

Hmm, as far as I can see, with regards to personal bodily enhancement, if one is -born- a human, then that is what one stays, however, does it get tricky, with genetic enhancement within' the womb, or even before those cells take hold? Maybe, such people would just be called 'enhanced humans'.

A lot of what makes us human is determined by all those squishy organs and hormones that would be taken out if the body were replaced entirely with mechanical parts. (My quotes don't seem to be working properly).

 

[Scorched_Cascade]

I'm unsure where I stand here a lot of attention has been given to things that could potentially go wrong with these ideas. (see for example bioshock, Uglys/Prettys/Specials by scott westerfield http://www.amazon.co.uk/Uglies-Quartet-Scott-Westerfeld/dp/1416911049/ref=pd_sim_b_2 and midnight by Dean Koontz http://www.amazon.co.uk/Midnight-Dean-Koontz/dp/0747232725/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226068688&sr=1-3 )

The last example raises a fairly valid point a lot of humans are by nature escapists (be it videogames/tv/movies/adrenaline hobbies) so whats to say this won't be seen as a new form of escape from the drudgery of life? Also theres the problem of regulation-should this technology be government or privately controlled? Whats to stop a slightly looser governed country from using it to make killing machines etc?

 

[Canadianwookie]

We must drive the beast back into the sea!!!

I just love saying that.