Ever heard about transhumanism?
No? Rings a bell but not exactly? Well, that's surprising considering the world
we're living in. You might think: "Hey, isn't it like humanism but with
trans-something about it?" To tell you the truth it quite is - since transhumanism
has its roots in humanism. Although while humanists cherish dearly everything
concerning humans (in opposition to the Dark Age's theocentrism with God's
supremacy), transhumanists go a little bit further (futuristic kind of further
to be exact) when thinking about people's well-being.
To give a little bit of light
on the matter let me quote part of Transhumanism Declaration:
"(1) Humanity stands to be profoundly affected by
science and technology in the future. We envision the possibility of broadening
human potential by overcoming aging, cognitive shortcomings, involuntary
suffering, and our confinement to planet Earth."
So what this transhumanists do? Generally they support
GRIN technologies, what stands for genetics, robotics, informatics and
nanotechnology, thanks to which we will be able to improve everything about our
human selves.
By this improving, transhumanists
believe we'll be able to evolve into new species - it'd be a human being but
not entirely a man - in future we'll call this creature a posthuman. According to Transhumanism ideology, this future person will have extraordinary mental
abilities and quick thinking, photographic memory and rapid assimilation of
information, ideal physical built which will maintain without caring about the
body - it will not gain weight or get old. Transhumanists also postulate that
we should gain better control of our emotions and finding means of overcoming
the limitations of organic organisms (built carbon-based) by obtaining the
fusion with machines.
Sounds like science fiction? You may be surprised but
some of these postulates are already partially realized. The average human lifespan
is considerably extending due to the development of medicine. Microscopes,
contact lenses, hearing aids already are strengthening our senses. We know
substances that increase the strength or ability to concentrate and by
swallowing some pills we can improve our moods! Finally we can combine organic
with mechanical body - fillings, prosthesis or artificial heart valves are no
shock to us. As you can see, lots of things indicate that transhumanists'
visions are closer to realization than we think. Also it's hard to ignore them
when rapid development of technologies keeps on to embody new ideas.
What all this indicates is that transhumanists do not
want random development that offers us natural evolution. They believe that we
must pave our own path with deliberate changes, yet not acting blindingly but relaying
on a clearly defined system of values. Strong affirmation of technology shows
how without fear and almost uncritical optimism transhumanists surrender to the
influence of science. They want to use it to embody their vision of humanity -
vision which implies rejecting anything they believe unnecessary - all the
weaknesses and imperfections of human race.Transhumanism is all about striving to create posthuman who is the final phase of cybernetic man. Thanks to new technologies which will allow to unite the human with a machine we will evolve into new species – a perfect and immortal human:
"Posthuman is a descendant of the man whose range
of possibilities is expanded to such an extent that an entity ceases to be
human..."
For transhumanists the human
body is in its biological vesture imperfect and anaesthetic, hence every effort
to strive for its "improvement". Ultimately, it means liberation from
your body and gaining immortal ‘vestments’.
1. Do you agree that we should
use technology to improve ourselves?
2. What do you think is the
risk of creating posthuman?
3. Do you think we will be
able to control the evolution of species in the future?
Sources:
http://www.sienko.net.pl/lustro.html
http://www.sienko.net.pl/lustro.html
http://www.tajemnicamilosci.pl/testy-biologiczne/transhumanizm-realne-zagrozenie-dla-czlowieka.html
http://pismofronda.pl/wp-content/uploads/Fronda40.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transhumanism
http://humanityplus.org/philosophy/transhumanist-declaration/
1. Do you agree that we should use technology to improve ourselves?
ReplyDeleteWe should? I don’t think so. If someone wants to improve - ok. But don’t let make himself robots.
2. What do you think is the risk of creating posthuman?
In my opinion it is dangerous. We will become robots, and the need to overcome feelings. If war comes , we will not have a chance with robots . It will be the world's real " Star Wars "
3. Do you think we will be able to control the evolution of species in the future?
Of course , nowadays it is possible, but illegal. For example - In China you can clone animals, rich people want to clone their pets to surrogate gave birth to identical eg . A dog. If in China clone animals – people too.. , but it is inhumane . I think they clone people anyway, but it's a big secret.
1. I think you are exaggerating a little bit - transhumanism is not all about changing our body parts for something robot-like, it's whole range of tools to improve the functioning of the human body.
Delete2. You've got me confused here - if you think that posthuman is all robot without feelings than why should we fear robot star wars :) if WE will be the robots...
3. I must disagree with you on the cloning subject - controlling evolution is about mixing some genes and selecting desirable traits while cloning is exact duplication. When we clone, we want to achieve exactly the same outcome, when we "manipulate evolution" we want to create something flawless.
1. Do you agree that we should use technology to improve ourselves?
ReplyDeleteI think that we should. With technology we can radically improve the condition of human life. We can cure all the sick. We can cure all the sick. We can restore the voice of the dumb and sight to the blind. I am sure that science and technology can solve our problems associated with the struggle for survival, experiencing suffering, pain, feeling of sadness. We will led more comfortable, calmer and more productive lives. We can take, for example, soldiers who lost hands or feet during the war. Thanks to intelligent prostheses, which replace the amputated limbs, those people cease to be a war invalid. They can walk, run and even play football. Dont you think it is noble, fair, reasonable and beautiful? We all have heard about Oscar Pistorius. Im not talking about the murder case, but about the sensation which He aroused during the Olympic Games in London. Thousands of people have seen a cyborg athlete. His prosthetic legs looked like two flexible fins. He moved on them perfectly. On the Special Olympics he was insurmountable. He won gold medals in the running for all distances. Pistorius wowed the world with his ambition, though not brought a medal from the Olympics. Thanks to technology he had a chance for a new life.
2. What do you think is the risk of creating posthuman?
I think there is no risk of creating posthuman. The risk that may occur is conflict between people improved and “normal” people. Especially if the opportunity to improvement will have only rich people. The risk may be that what people will be thinking about any interference technology in the condition of the human body. I think in Poland people will be thinking that transhumanism is a threat.
3. Do you think we will be able to control the evolution of species in the future?
At the moment it seems to me that, yes, we will be able. But I think that this control should rely solely on the detection and removal of genetic defects, but not on foist genetic characteristics embryos, for example.
1. Very optimistic of you that we could cure ALL the sick :) You need to remember that as far as medical treatments are concerned it is never rainbows and butterflies but hard reality where healthy people are the wealthy people…
Delete2. I must disagree about the second part of your comment – nowadays people use prosthetics and other theology that is interfering with their body and no one is complaining. With time we adapt to new developments and I guess when time comes for us to switch body parts for something robot-like it will be all alright for us.
And interesting, why people in Poland would think transhumanism a threat?
3. If we will… don’t you think we’ll have to live for hundreds of years to see the outcome of this control? Evolution kind of doesn’t happen with a year or two ;)
1. Do you agree that we should use technology to improve ourselves?
ReplyDeleteOf course. If it help for example to eliminate diseases, then it's worth a try.
2. What do you think is the risk of creating posthuman?
At the moment rather small, but with advances in technology it could change. Maybe one day futuristic visions from some fantastic movies will come true? I hope that it will be the positive ones! :)
3. Do you think we will be able to control the evolution of species in the future?
As long as we do not create something better than us :) But then it would be the rather less positive visions :)
1. Eliminating diseases by becoming a robot? ;)
Delete2. I wouldn’t be so sure about the futuristic part – you need to remember that development in technology is accelerating with each year (I don’t know how old are you but I remember how just “few” years back smartphones with touch screens were something from sci-fi movie and now it is very ordinary technology).
3. Why than even start the fun with manipulating evolution if we’re not going to make something cooler? ;)
Another difficult topic, as Anna's about generations. There was a similar discussion in this presentation:
ReplyDeletehttp://konwersatorium3.blogspot.com/2014/06/artificial-intelligence-danger-or.html
It's not exactly about posthuman, but I think that in some way AI and your article might be connected. Also there was a very interesting presentation about growing artificial organs to help needed (http://konwersatorium3.blogspot.com/2013/11/week-8-future-medicine-artificial-organ.html). If you want to, you can read about them. This is sci-fi topic, when we can only speculate: "what if"/"what would happen", but if adding technology would help people, save lives I would say: go for it!
1. Do you agree that we should use technology to improve ourselves?
If by improving you mean heal or help? Than yes, for sure! But if we want to enhance our abilities, then there is a question: "why"? We must think about possible threats, disadvantages etc. There is no straight answer.
2. What do you think is the risk of creating posthuman?
Another sci-fi question. Posthuman will be still human if he will have it's own brain. People in vegetative state or paralyzed, which cannot live without a machine support are still humans. Mechanical limp or artificial heart won't change that. But if we're talking about genetics and DNA integration... We will evolve from homo sapians to... homo superior? X-Men! Here we come!(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_sapiens_(Marvel_Comics)) If we share 50% of DNA with bananas , are we postbananas? (http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/humans-share-50-dna-bananas-2482139)
3. Do you think we will be able to control the evolution of species in the future?
No. There will always be unexpected mutations.
I couldn’t answers this questions better :)
DeleteThis is nice I dont know this. Thanks
DeleteYou chose a quite tough topic for your presentation but you managed to present it in a very professional and interesting way - great job!
ReplyDeleteMy first impression was like “Come on, you are talking about robots, not humans. It will never happen.” but while reading further I started to think about all the “body modifications” that are already available and commonly known.
Let’s think about defect of vision. What people do if they have a problem with their vision? Buy some glasses or lenses probably. In a short time maybe even lens with built-in camera (http://www.cnet.com/news/after-google-glass-google-developing-contact-lens-camera/). Although, It’s nothing unusual. It’s just another thing you put on yourself while you get out of bed. But is it all we can do about it? No! You can always have a surgery and your vision will be completely cured. That is proving that we already can do some body modifications to heal our defective parts. And you gave even more examples with prosthesis and artificial hearts. It is already happening. So why not go further and do something to make us stronger or more intelligent?
I must admit that having a robotic body freaks me out but it doesn’t seems so unrealistic as I thought at the beginning.
Don’t you think that the problem with going even further when it comes to technology (connected with medicine/biology) is that human kind may not know where to stop? What if we’ll get so blinded by this vision of improvement that we’ll wake up in the world from Terminator, Surrogates or Matrix?
ReplyDelete1. Do you agree that we should use technology to improve ourselves?
ReplyDeleteI think that we can use technology to improve ourselves, but everthing has a limit. We should further ourselves with a restraint.
Currently we already harness technology to improve ourselves on a wide range. There are a lot of examples. Many women try to further their bodies. They operate their breasts, buttocks, lips or facial features. These corrections are not always advantageous. Furthermore we use technology to improve our health. A simple example of that are various complicated medical procedures taking place every day.
Due to technology people could live longer and could be happier and healthier.
2. What do you think is the risk of creating posthuman?
It could be a huge risk especially for people who won't get to be posthuman. What will happen to them?
Posthumans will be better than a normal person in a physcical and mental way. They could live 150 years. This could be cause for overpopulation. I am worried that skills and knowledge of normal people won't be nedded anymore, beacause posthumans could do anything better. They could acquire knowledge from a central source without a necessity for having a computer or a smartphone near yourself. If posthumans were to supersede common people within a short period of time it could lead to bloody conflicts.
3. Do you think we will be able to control the evolution of species in the future?
Yes, people already control the evolution of plants. They crossbreed them and due to this the plants are more resistant to harsh weather, they grow bigger in size and their fruit doesn't rot as fast. I think that in the future farmers are going to get even better benefits.
When we're manipulating something there is always a cost… we don’t know how this changes will influence us – what mutations may occur due to all this DNA changes in plants we eat… Why people 100 years ago didn’t hear so much about cancer? Because everything was natural and only the healthy strong genes were the ones passed on. When we manipulate genes we don’t know what will happen after years and years of eating this mutations. Simple example is our daily bread which our grandparents were eating without any consequences and now because of too great demands for wheat it is so modified all we here is how toxic the gluten is :)
ReplyDelete1. Do you agree that we should use technology to improve ourselves?
ReplyDeleteI really like development of technology even when it helps ourselves like inventing new composite prosthesis but making creature that is something like man but it's not really freaks me out. Have you seen Terminator movie? Creating robots and machines didn't end up well for people.
2. What do you think is the risk of creating posthuman?
I think the main risk is that at some point we will not be able to control all these posthuman creatures, and we will go way too far.
3. Do you think we will be able to control the evolution of species in the future?
As for me, we will not. There will be time when something will go wrong.
I like cheap travelling a lot. Two weeks ago I returned from Japan. It was a really fantastic trip, You can’t even imagine how much You can see for without spending too much. We start our trip from flight to Rome, we had 10 flights in our trip. Quite a lot, right? We choose this way of traveling because it’s faster and cheeper than train and renting cars. Maybe it’s not a weekend trip but I can recommend this place for everybody.
Why would we be controlling "all these posthuman creatures" - it will be us!
Delete1. Do you agree that we should use technology to improve ourselves?
ReplyDeleteI think that technology can be very helpful in collaboration with modern medicine. I believe that if modern solutions can help people who are eg, blind, deaf, paralyzed and when these people express for doing so, I do not see any obstacles to use such technology.
2. What do you think is the risk of creating posthuman?
I think that any interference with nature, can turn against us and perhaps attempt to create an immortal man can bring to humanity a global cataclysm.
3. Do you think we will be able to control the evolution of species in the future?
It seems to me that we're able to do this now !!
I do not know whether it is needed, and how well advanced such control had to be. Some matters are best left to their natural course.
I would be more concerned about planet Earth than humanity cataclysm since it's us humans who create major cataclisms...
DeleteI think that we shouldn't really interfere nature which created us as we are, really. Of course a vision of immortal human which is perfect in every aspect and is some kind of self-governing organism is tempting, anyway life is beautiful already, why are we trying to change the nature?
ReplyDeleteCreating a posthuman may change current reality into more hardcore in which everybody is capable of anything and can destroy everything. In the end we could destroy our planet.
Well, we are already controlling some species on the planet by modifying genetic code of some organisms. Technology as well as science are developing in astonishing pace so that if one liked to trace all progress of all organizations and all inventors it would be impossible. If one don't really worry about those changes and do not be afraid of it then one's life is a way way better. Keep being happy guys :)
Thanks for describing this interesting subject - a Transhumanism.It induced me to think about future of humanity, and morality in our development.
ReplyDelete1. Do you agree that we should use technology to improve ourselves?
I think that development and self-improvement is a good goal for humanity, but we should be catious also. I think we should still respect human rights, like right to live, to freedom - i mean every person should be able to decide about herself.
2. What do you think is the risk of creating posthuman?
Of course. We cannot predict posthuman personality, possible genetical problems and amother side effects.
3. Do you think we will be able to control the evolution of species in the future?
I think mostly, but we should take care about to keep a healthy balance in our interference.
I think this subject it very sensitive.
Delete1. Yea, this is important but you cant do this in whole word. Look on china or africa where freedom and humanity is far away from normal. no one can guarantee that this kind of countres will not test "transhumanism technology" right now.
2. if you can modyfi once then you can change it later when something not went well. :)
I think this subject it very sensitive.
Delete1. Yea, this is important but you cant do this in whole word. Look on china or africa where freedom and humanity is far away from normal. no one can guarantee that this kind of countres will not test "transhumanism technology" right now.
2. if you can modyfi once then you can change it later when something not went well. :)
I absolutely agree with the postulates of transhumanists. The technology is becoming more advanced every day and It would be a mistake to not try and use it to better ourselves.
ReplyDeleteAs it goes for the risks of creating posthuman, I think there is an obvious one. The extinction of regular humans. This might sound bad, but that would just be the new natural order of things and I'm actually ok with that. Creating a posthuman would be a great achievement for humanity. And as a human I would like to leave behind something more than a pile of trash.
Regarding the evolution of species in the future.. I believe we don't have to wait for the future to have the control over the evolution. We are doing it right now and we know the effects of it as well.
We have control over the evolution simply by crossbreeding animals. That treatment could be applied to humans too, but I don't think we would ever go that far.
I agree with you. We - as humanity can be only better with this technology. Peoples are change all the time, everyone want to be better and better. They traing they brains, muscles and whole body to be the best.
DeleteOne more think is that this transhumanists will be sooner than you think. I think this can be done in next generation. Look on IT tech, 10 year ago most of peoples dont have smartphones and now they are everywhere(some peoples have 2 or 3 of them). Technology is changing very quicly.