Transhumanism

[Chani07]

In the past few days, i've encountered a few topics about transhumanism. I'm talking about human enhancement, augmentations, cybernetic implants, mechanical limbs, and so on.

Here is an article about how the EU confronts this issue through a program called Technolife.
http://singularityhub.com/2010/09/28/eu-confronts-transhumanism-with-technolife-project-video/

But what i want to ask is: what do you think about it? How do you see the future from this point of view?

 

[SomeLameStuff]

I wouldn't mind a mechanical leg. Thanks to certain individuals of my past [sub][sub]THANKS you pricks[/sub][/sub] I am unable to run or walk long distances, or even stand for too long without excruciating pain in my right knee.

Of course though, we can't go too overboard with the upgrades, or we end up with Skynet.

 

[Dimitriov]

To a certain degree it would (will?) be fantastic but I have strong reservations about allowing it to go too far. Both body and mind, both are an important part of what it means to be human.

At some point if taken to the extreme you could end up being more machine than man, and I cannot think of that as a good thing.

As it fits into medical technology to help people with injuries and disease I believe it will be very worthwhile... but military applications? trying to extend human life indefinitely by slowly casting away the body piece by piece? Those would be tragic indeed.

 

[HapexIndustries]

It's happening all around us and I can't wait. Chances are you already hit up Google for information reflexively; eventually you'll tap into something like it just by thinking. I am totally all for transhumanism; we are all restricted by this primitive biology and leaving it behind or modifying it substantially will free us. I want to see in the electromagnetic spectrum, I want to feel the sensations of another body through an extended nervous system, I want to be healthy and fit without ever working for it, I want to tap my brain directly into the internet, I want to hear in the supersonic range, understand every language, and grow a third goddamn arm if I decide to. I want to create a new gender and then change my mind, to have multiple bodies and shark teeth and purple skin. Evolution is too slow, we need to take care of this shit ourselves.

 

[Xenetethrae]

Good luck limiting it. I say go for the gold!

Plus, when other kids wanted to be an astronaut/fireman/superhero, I wanted to be a robot when I grew up. [sub] *sniff* are you going to deny me my dream??? [/sub]

 

[Chani07]

I want to create a new gender

I like this idea. Sparks my imagination.

 

[Chani07]

Good luck limiting it. I say go for the gold!

Plus, when other kids wanted to be an astronaut/fireman/superhero, I wanted to be a robot when I grew up. [sub] *sniff* are you going to deny me my dream??? [/sub]

Never. Your dream isn't far from happening. *pats Xenetethrae*

 

[Dimitriov]

It's happening all around us and I can't wait. Chances are you already hit up Google for information reflexively; eventually you'll tap into something like it just by thinking. I am totally all for transhumanism; we are all restricted by this primitive biology and leaving it behind or modifying it substantially will free us. I want to see in the electromagnetic spectrum, I want to feel the sensations of another body through an extended nervous system, I want to be healthy and fit without ever working for it , I want to tap my brain directly into the internet, I want to hear in the supersonic range, understand every language, and grow a third goddamn arm if I decide to. I want to create a new gender and then change my mind, to have multiple bodies and shark teeth and purple skin. Evolution is too slow, we need to take care of this shit ourselves.

That is indicative of why I think it will have terrible repercussions if taken to the extreme. No I am not being a whiny hippie who wants everything to be pure and natural, man. I just would like to see our species survive the next few centuries...

A few million people with, what would have been to our ancestors, the power of gods and the emotional maturity and sense of entitlement of a three year old. Yeah that sounds like a pleasant future.

 

[Catchy Slogan]

It's happening all around us and I can't wait. Chances are you already hit up Google for information reflexively; eventually you'll tap into something like it just by thinking. I am totally all for transhumanism; we are all restricted by this primitive biology and leaving it behind or modifying it substantially will free us. I want to see in the electromagnetic spectrum, I want to feel the sensations of another body through an extended nervous system, I want to be healthy and fit without ever working for it , I want to tap my brain directly into the internet, I want to hear in the supersonic range, understand every language, and grow a third goddamn arm if I decide to. I want to create a new gender and then change my mind, to have multiple bodies and shark teeth and purple skin. Evolution is too slow, we need to take care of this shit ourselves.

That is indicative of why I think it will have terrible repercussions if taken to the extreme. No I am not being a whiny hippie who wants everything to be pure and natural, man. I just would like to see our species survive the next few centuries...

A few million people with, what would have been to our ancestors, the power of gods and the emotional maturity and sense of entitlement of a three year old. Yeah that sounds like a pleasant future.

I agree with you, While all this would be good for replacing lost limbs, repairing eyesight etc... that the moment we start getting things without having to work for them, people will start taking them for granted, and people will start to abuse them because there is always someone out there that will.

 

[HapexIndustries]

I don't think replacing human parts is really what transhumanism is all about. The question is this: when are you no longer human, and then what are you?

Say you lose a leg. Alright, here's a bionic leg. Let's say you lose the other. Ok, two robot legs. You're still a human, right? What if you have two robot arms too? And a new heart to handle these robot limbs? Still human? Alright, we have to put something in your brain to control them? Still human? Your liver fails and its replaced, your eyes are replaced with better bionic versions, we grow you a larger penis from your own modified DNA and your hair is now the exact shade of neon green you wanted. Still human? I'd say yes, though the super eyes and robot-limb control device push it.

Transhumanism is about becoming MORE than human. The extra tentacle finger you grow so you can do your job better, the brain modification that allows you to instantly process mathematics, the organ implanted to remove the necessity of eating, the new sensory organs that detect vibration, the hole in your skull that shoots out little bee things that can impregnate modified women, the way when you gesture a particular way the skin of your finger glows like a torch and can write in the air.

 

[Dimitriov]

More than human is an interesting notion, especially if one considers that we have hardly plumbed the depths of just what it is to be human now and what we are truly capable of already.

As I said before though the concern for me lies in what people will do with these things, nearly 3000 years of recorded history show that people don't do very well when they are given too much knowledge or power without earning it. Remember intelligence is knowing how to build a nuclear bomb, wisdom is not destroying yourself with it. Unfortunately the two don't always go hand in hand.

 

[HapexIndustries]

I'm not saying it's going to be smooth, and I'm not saying that it's going to work well without some extreme changes to current philosophies and values, I'm just saying that I don't care. Probably billions of people will die, horribly. At the very least cultural and political upheaval will claim hundreds of thousands of lives. Unless we are able to approach the possibilities that transhumanism presents with a compassionate mindset there will be disaster. However, that can be said of every technological advance ever. I'll admit the last 3000 years haven't been one smooth ride but no one was surfing the internet and talking on cellphones in 800 BC. We have nuclear weapons that could destroy the world a hundred times over right now, we don't need transhumanism to do it.

Sure the human mind and body can do amazing things but certain aspects of it are a given. I'll never have a tail. I'll never be able to see in the dark. I'll never sprout rainbow wings from my back and know every Shakespeare play word for word (I guess maybe I could do the last one but seriously, who has the time). I will eventually die whether I'm ready for it or not, possibly painfully.

I just want to be able to make some damn choices. I didn't choose this soft pink carbon-based form on purpose (as far as I know) and I'd really like to make some suggestions into helping improve it. Like being able to download my consciousness into a computer and going into deep space to find alien life. Or making my muscles look like a specific mountain range in Siberia. Or having opposable thumbs on my feet. All human development from the beginning has been limited by the biology of our form, from the size of our buildings to the style of our art and music we make. I want to live in a universe of no limits other than imagination and transhumanism is the best bet for that.

 

[nintenfan231]

I don't think replacing human parts is really what transhumanism is all about. The question is this: when are you no longer human, and then what are you?

What you're referring to is called the Ship of Theseus paradox - when you replace the parts to a ship, one at a time over several years, to the point that every single piece has been replaced, is it still the same ship? And if not, at what point did it become a different ship?

This question has had several answers over the years, but the one I am inclined to agree with stems from Aristotle's idea of "final causes". In the case of the ship, the final cause (it's design intent, or overall purpose) does not change, even though the physical makeup of the ship does. I'll admit this gets a little squishy when applied to humans though - what is the "final cause" of a human? - but the general idea still applies.

So what I'm saying is, the physical appearance of humans can change all it wants, but as long as we still "act human" (whatever that means), then we're still humans.

 

[HapexIndustries]

So what I'm saying is, the physical appearance of humans can change all it wants, but as long as we still "act human" (whatever that means), then we're still humans.

I'm inclined to agree. I think it is exciting, though, to think about no longer acting human. Being better than human, on every level, not just physically but emotionally, psychologically, spiritually.

Obviously the problem is that "better" is wholly subjective and certainly not obvious. It is the exploration of these ideas, though, that can help lead humanity in a positive direction. In a way it's like the whole "free energy saves humanity" idea espoused by Star Trek (and Asimov, to a degree). Instead of free energy this is even more primal. When you can never die or even need anything, what is the point of conflict? How will we act towards each other? I don't have the answers, I just want to find out.

 

[DJDarque]

To a certain degree it would (will?) be fantastic but I have strong reservations about allowing it to go too far. Both body and mind, both are an important part of what it means to be human.

At some point if taken to the extreme you could end up being more machine than man, and I cannot think of that as a good thing.

As it fits into medical technology to help people with injuries and disease I believe it will be very worthwhile... but military applications? trying to extend human life indefinitely by slowly casting away the body piece by piece? Those would be tragic indeed.

This is exactly how I feel about the whole deal. I'm all for its use in helping people with injuries, disease, and other areas like that, but complete body customization is not where it should be taken.

 

[HapexIndustries]

I'm all for its use in helping people with injuries, disease, and other areas like that, but complete body customization is not where it should be taken.

Who is to say I can't have an extra arm and wings? You? You are willing to legislate my freedom of choice? On what grounds? That it "shouldn't be done?" What value system are you using? What if I have a different one? How would you justify imposing your values over mine?

I'm not attacking you, just pointing out one of the trickier aspects of transhumanism. Who decides what is acceptable when something has no obvious negative repercussions (I'm assuming, for the sake of argument, that we are talking about meaningless cosmetic changes like skin color, eye color, muscle definition, etc)? In modern Western society we don't legislate things (in general) based on arbitrary definitions. Except for pornography. And art. And stem cell research. Ha, and some other stuff. But you can get a tattoo on your eyeball tomorrow and have the bone of your skull shaved off to make your chin look bigger. How is bright blue skin any different?

 

[Gordon_4_v1legacy]

If it means a concept like the Major's cybernetic body from Ghost in the Shell, that is to say very strong, durable and far more repairable than my own body. I'd go for it, wouldn't even change what I look like, just what I can do