Transhumanism h+

[The Hammer]

What are your thoughts on the philosophy of transhumanism?

Transhumanism - Wikipedia

"Transhumanism is a philosophical and intellectual movement which advocates the enhancement of the human condition by developing and making widely available sophisticated technologies that can greatly enhance longevity and cognition....
Some transhumanists believe that human beings may eventually be able to transform themselves into beings with abilities so greatly expanded from the current condition as to merit the label of posthuman beings."

Do you think this is a good idea, or a dangerous endeavor? Using technology to fundamentally change oneself to something other than human?

 

[Heyo]

What are your thoughts on the philosophy of transhumanism?

Transhumanism - Wikipedia

"Transhumanism is a philosophical and intellectual movement which advocates the enhancement of the human condition by developing and making widely available sophisticated technologies that can greatly enhance longevity and cognition....
Some transhumanists believe that human beings may eventually be able to transform themselves into beings with abilities so greatly expanded from the current condition as to merit the label of posthuman beings."

Do you think this is a good idea, or a dangerous endeavor? Using technology to fundamentally change oneself to something other than human?

1. No matter how you or I feel about it, it will become reality.
2. I applaud the general idea of enhancement. Pacemakers and cochlea implants (implanted technology) have enhanced the lifespan and the quality of life of numerous people.
3. I fear that it may widen the gap between rich and poor and I fear that enhancements will become mandatory instead of optional.

In short, the technology is either good or at least neutral; what humans make of it has potential for some bad paths.

 

[The Hammer]

In short, the technology is either good or at least neutral; what humans make of it has potential for some bad paths.

Yeah there may be positives. But I'm typically rather pessimistic around these matters. I see more bad than good coming to pass.

 

[Heyo]

Yeah there may be positives. But I'm typically rather pessimistic around these matters. I see more bad than good coming to pass.

What is the evidence, where are the precedents for a bad outcome?
Do they outweigh what pacemakers, prosthetics and other tech have done?

 

[crossfire]

Care would have to be taken so that the biologically driven functions don't deteriorate--you need to have the functioning back up system in case the technological aspect gets hacked and or hijacked.

 

[The Hammer]

What is the evidence, where are the precedents for a bad outcome?
Do they outweigh what pacemakers, prosthetics and other tech have done?

The evidence is we've abused every other technology we have created (for good) to the detriment of ourselves or others/environment.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Yeah there may be positives. But I'm typically rather pessimistic around these matters. I see more bad than good coming to pass.

Hopefully one could always opt out if one felt that way. I am probably too old to see this. But if given a choice I could see continuing to live if I could keep up my standard of living. Not from a wealth perspective, but from a well being perspective.

 

[Heyo]

The evidence is we've abused every other technology we have created (for good) to the detriment of ourselves or others/environment.

... said the caveman when the spear, made for hunting was used to kill a rival.

 

[The Hammer]

... said the caveman when the spear, made for hunting was used to kill a rival.

Exactly.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Exactly.

I think that his point was that any invention can be abused but for the most part their uses are positive. The spear's ability to gather more food provided life for far more people its use as a weapon killed people.

If one only focuses on the negative we would still be starving savages wondering how to light a fire.

 

[Heyo]

I think that his point was that any invention can be abused but for the most part their uses are positive. The spear's ability to gather more food provided life for far more people its use as a weapon killed people.

If one only focuses on the negative we would still be starving savages wondering how to light a fire.

“Many were increasingly of the opinion that they’d all made a big mistake in coming down from the trees in the first place. And some said that even the trees had been a bad move, and that no one should ever have left the oceans.”

― Douglas Adams

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

What is the evidence, where are the precedents for a bad outcome?
Do they outweigh what pacemakers, prosthetics and other tech have done?

Well, right now if you accept the science, we are living in the negative of technology. We call it global warming and it has killed humans.

 

[stvdv]

Transhumanism is a philosophical and intellectual movement which advocates the enhancement of the human condition by developing and making widely available sophisticated technologies that can greatly enhance longevity and cognition....

A chain is as strong as its weakest link

Hence it ONLY might work if:
1) Eat pure food; NOT American diet
2) Think pure thoughts

Will give you a longer life and sharper mind

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

A chain is as strong as its weakest link

Hence it ONLY might work if:
1) Eat pure food; NOT American diet
2) Think pure thoughts

Will give you a longer life and sharper mind

But I still do that differently for both food and pure thoughts. And I don't do the model of the world as you do.

 

[stvdv]

But I still do that differently for both food and pure thoughts. And I don't do the model of the world as you do.

A donkey only stumbles once on the same rock; you 5 and counting

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

A donkey only stumbles once on the same rock; you 5 and counting

Please rephrase.

 

[Mock Turtle]

I must admit, this might just have the effect of making it clearer as to the gap between the wealthy and the poor, and keep this in place, rather than doing much for the vast majority of mankind. Unless of course we do become much more equal before this occurs, but I can't see that happening - not on current trends.

 

[PureX]

Unless humans gain wisdom at the same pace as they gain technological functionality, the species is doomed, and sooner rather than later.

You want to invent a machine to enhance the human experience? Invent a machine that eliminates greed, and willful ignorance. Invent a machine that endows humans with empathy and a collective vision. And with respect for the world we inhabit. Because our current lack of these is driving us to self-destruction.

 

[Erebus]

Do you think this is a good idea, or a dangerous endeavor?

Both.

Obviously there's a hell of a lot to unpack when it comes to transhumanism so I'm just going to give some thoughts on a few elements of it.

I think it would be difficult to argue against a child who lost her legs being given the opportunity to walk again via bionic limbs. Whether we should replace her existing limbs with more resilient bionic ones is a bit trickier. On the one hand, we could prevent a lot of future illnesses and injuries by simply upgrading our vulnerable parts. Doing so however would put us entirely at the mercy of whatever organisation provides those parts.

Can you imagine buying your eyes from Electronic Arts? You can guarantee they'd sell the ability to see the colour blue as a separate DLC.

It's still worth exploring the kinds of technology that can restore functionality to people and I'm genuinely excited by the possibilities that cybernetics and bionics could produce. I also think the concept of improving humanity itself can stray into utopian ideals and I just don't think humans are capable of achieving a utopia. There are too many people who view making a profit as sacrosanct for something to be adopted en masse purely for its benefit to humanity.


Finally, my biggest concern about transhumanism is when people start talking about artificial immortality. That opens up some truly horrifying possibilities and I would encourage anybody who likes the idea to think carefully about how truly evil humans can be. I guarantee there are people out there who would be perfectly willing to condemn others to eternal suffering.

 

[WalterTrull]

Unfortunately, apples taste good. We'll keep eatin' 'em.
Have you noticed that dying seems systemic? Everybody does it. Seems kinda like a plan.