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Trans humanism
Transcript
Transhumanism: Our Future? Or
A Threat to Humanity?
Alex Yong
Transhumanism in Fiction
- Using Tech to upgrade the human condition a big theme in science fiction
- Some examples include the augments in Star Trek, major characters in Neuromancer and the Deus Ex Series
Actually an old concept
- Human beings have dreamed of developing past their physical limitations since the dawn of civilization.
- Epic of Gilgamesh has a quest for immortality
- Renaissance and Enlightenment thinkers believed that man should be able to re-shape themselves
- Marquis de Condorcet believed that one day, death would be optional
- Benjamin Franklin had writings that foreshadowed the cryonics movement.
But Alex, is everyone cool with this?
- Eh...Not Exactly...
- Opposition to pushing human limits is also an old concept.
- The Bible has the story of the Tower of Babel; which ended up with God punishing the civilization involved by creating different languages.
- The story of Prometheus has the titular character being punished by the god Zeus for giving humanity fire, which led to the rise of civilization.
- And the Greek story of Icarus and Daedalus has the character Icarus dying after his wings melt when he flew too high.
Alex, what the heck is
Transhumanism?
- Prosthesis that allows sprinting
Current Technologies
- Currently, no tech exists that is superior to natural human parts. (The word "parts" sound weird I know...)
- Limb prosthetics provide very basic functionality, cannot do nowhere near the same number of functions as real limbs.
- Visual prosthetics can only restore partial sight, cannot restore nature sight.
- Other devices, like the eyeborg help colorblind patients "hear" colors without the use of psychoactive drugs, but cannot replace real color.
- Eyeborg prosthesis and video
- Leg Prosthesis
Future
- Currently, we can replace organs, albeit like limbs they aren't as good.
- Artificial hearts, livers and lungs are three that currently exist.
- Eventually, could we create limbs or organs that are just as good, or even better than biological ones
- This would be the biggest step into transhumanism
- But what are the risks?
- Transhumanism is a movement that believes in improving the human condition through technology that can enhance physical,intellectual, and psychological capabilities.
How could this be bad?
- Plenty of reasons!
- Do we know what we are editing? We didn't design our own brains, removing and adding this, like removing aggression and adding intelligence could lead to unforeseen consequences
- Could everyone become transhuman? Does everyone *want* to be a transhuman?
- What happens to those who decide not to become transhuman? What will happen to them?
Final Question: Is This Already Happening?
- Already, technology is being used to change human functions
- Can't focus? Take a pill for that! Sick from a (possibly preventible disease) take these chemically created pills and your problem will go away (and be replaced by too many side effects.)
- And when the "exciting" parts of transhumanism happen, will we...
Will We Even Have a Choice?
- Earth is becoming more and more ecologically damaged
- All sorts of diseases are cropping up. Could they be from the environment, our increasingly processed food sources?
- Anti-civilization groups say to go back voluntarily, or be forced to once the planet can no longer sustain civilization. But could we continue to push forward with the cost of "natural" humanity?
- Could "natural" humanity go extinct? Those who could not, or would not "upgrade?" Evolution in action?