Transhumanism

[Fluffy]

This is a philosophy which I have encountered only recently but I have found that it fits with my belief system incredibly closely and is one of the most optimistic and foward reaching systems that I have ever seen. Here is a brief overview of it for those who haven't heard of it:

Essentially it is the use of modern and future (but concievable) technology to improve the human condition with the eventual aim of transcending onto a new plane of existance. Like secular humanism, transhumanism is firmly rooted in logic, reason, science and empirical observation whilst denying the existence of a supernatural force that either created or is currently guiding the universe.

Another goal of transhumanism would be to not just stop evolution (has we have already done to a limited extent) but also to control and shape it. Humanity would stay humanity but in a shape that would be unrecognisable today.

Some of the more interesting projects which could play an integral part of transhumanism in the future include:

Artificial Intelligence. At the top because transhumanists predict that with the creation of AI, progress in science will increase exponentially. This is also known as a technological singularity.

Nanotechnology. Eliminate disease. Immortality. Improve all bodily functions. Provide better adaptions for environments, including, ideally, the ability to survive in a vacuum (as only one animal is currently able to do).

Mega engineering. This would involve such ideas such as a space elevator (we are already incredibly close on this one. Concievable by the end of the century certainly), Dyson spheres, terraforming etc.

So I just wanted to share that with you . You can tell what I am going to be looking into over the next few years .

 

[michel]

This is a philosophy which I have encountered only recently but I have found that it fits with my belief system incredibly closely and is one of the most optimistic and foward reaching systems that I have ever seen. Here is a brief overview of it for those who haven't heard of it:

Essentially it is the use of modern and future (but concievable) technology to improve the human condition with the eventual aim of transcending onto a new plane of existance. Like secular humanism, transhumanism is firmly rooted in logic, reason, science and empirical observation whilst denying the existence of a supernatural force that either created or is currently guiding the universe.

Another goal of transhumanism would be to not just stop evolution (has we have already done to a limited extent) but also to control and shape it. Humanity would stay humanity but in a shape that would be unrecognisable today.

Some of the more interesting projects which could play an integral part of transhumanism in the future include:

Artificial Intelligence. At the top because transhumanists predict that with the creation of AI, progress in science will increase exponentially. This is also known as a technological singularity.

Nanotechnology. Eliminate disease. Immortality. Improve all bodily functions. Provide better adaptions for environments, including, ideally, the ability to survive in a vacuum (as only one animal is currently able to do).

Mega engineering. This would involve such ideas such as a space elevator (we are already incredibly close on this one. Concievable by the end of the century certainly), Dyson spheres, terraforming etc.

So I just wanted to share that with you . You can tell what I am going to be looking into over the next few years .

A new one on me, I must admit.

(wikepedia)Transhumanism (sometimes abbreviated >H or H+) is an emergent philosophy analysing or favouring the use of science and technology, especially neurotechnology, biotechnology, and nanotechnology, to overcome human limitations and improve the human condition

According to the above, this first reared it's head in 1957!

"Dyson spheres" we have a Dyson vacuum cleaner, does that count?
Seriously, it sounds interesting Fluffy..........

 

[Quiddity]

Interesting, but how exactly to you "stop" evolution?

~Victor

 

[Engyo]

A new one on me, I must admit.


According to the above, this first reared it's head in 1957!

"Dyson spheres" we have a Dyson vacuum cleaner, does that count?
Seriously, it sounds interesting Fluffy..........

Freeman Dyson, the originator of the Dyson Sphere concept, is also the inventor of the vacuum (which, strangely [or maybe not], is only rated as middling by Consumer Reports).

BTW, Victor -

You stop (or prevent) evolution by controlling mutations; mutations are the way that evolution occurs. When a mutation occurs that optimizes the species' survivability, then that mutation will eventually come to dominate the species. If we control or prevent most mutations (whether through surgery, medicine, or what have you), then we basically stop evolution.

The interesting thing, though, is that because the evolutionary process is generally a long-term proposition; one doesn't think generally about even observing it in action per se, let alone stopping or hindering it.

 

[Quiddity]

BTW, Victor -

You stop (or prevent) evolution by controlling mutations; mutations are the way that evolution occurs. When a mutation occurs that optimizes the species' survivability, then that mutation will eventually come to dominate the species. If we control or prevent most mutations (whether through surgery, medicine, or what have you), then we basically stop evolution.

The interesting thing, though, is that because the evolutionary process is generally a long-term proposition; one doesn't think generally about even observing it in action per se, let alone stopping or hindering it.

And that's why I had difficulty in seeing HOW it will be done if evolution doesn't warn you of it's presence.

~Victor

 

[Fluffy]

And that's why I had difficulty in seeing HOW it will be done if evolution doesn't warn you of it's presence.

Well the result of using medicine is to prevent natural selection by a large amount which in turns brings evolution to a near grinding halt. Controlling evolution would be to say "I'm not going to wait around for a mutation to occur that will let me exist in a vacuum, I'm going to genetically engineer it right now".

The interesting thing, though, is that because the evolutionary process is generally a long-term proposition; one doesn't think generally about even observing it in action per se, let alone stopping or hindering it.

Stopping/hindering it is a necessary consequence of replacing it with our own "evolutionary process". The motive becomes more understandable when thinking of it has a neccesary byproduct to the goal as a opposed to the goal itself.

 

[Quiddity]

Well the result of using medicine is to prevent natural selection by a large amount which in turns brings evolution to a near grinding halt. Controlling evolution would be to say "I'm not going to wait around for a mutation to occur that will let me exist in a vacuum, I'm going to genetically engineer it right now".

This is only an attempt to stop those mutations that are not positive to the human race. I doubt they would put a halt on something labeled as a positive mutation [stops AIDS for example]. Besides, there are thousands of life forms that don't get medicinal attention.

``Victor

 

[Engyo]

And that's why I had difficulty in seeing HOW it will be done if evolution doesn't warn you of it's presence.

~Victor

I think the issue here is that we are controlling our environment. Many of the mutations are in response to environmental stimuli; because we control our environment, we remove a portion of these stimuli. We control it physically, through our housing and buildings; through food production and distribution and so on. We also control our environment medically; we may be preventing some mutations and removing the causes or triggers for others.

Environmental stimula often amount to disease and famine, not to mention natural disasters like predators, storms, floods, earthquakes, tsunami, volcanos, etc. As you can see, today these things affect us much less than they once did; therefore there is less environmental pressure for the organism to mutate in response.

 

[Quiddity]

I think the issue here is that we are controlling our environment. Many of the mutations are in response to environmental stimuli; because we control our environment, we remove a portion of these stimuli. We control it physically, through our housing and buildings; through food production and distribution and so on. We also control our environment medically; we may be preventing some mutations and removing the causes or triggers for others.

Environmental stimula often amount to disease and famine, not to mention natural disasters like predators, storms, floods, earthquakes, tsunami, volcanos, etc. As you can see, today these things affect us much less than they once did; therefore there is less environmental pressure for the organism to mutate in response.

Enviromental stimula only isolates those few that you managed to control. All others are subject to all sorts of changes.

~Victor

 

[Fluffy]

This is only an attempt to stop those mutations that are not positive to the human race. I doubt they would put a halt on something labeled as a positive mutation [stops AIDS for example]. Besides, there are thousands of life forms that don't get medicinal attention.

The term transhumanism should give you the buzzword human and therefore we are not talking about evolution of anything other than humanity. The goal of a transhumanist would be to stop positive mutation as well simply because they would replace it with more effective, efficient and faster mutations that can be manipulated and controlled so that they are perfect for their job rather than the roll of the dice we are living on at the moment.

 

[mr.guy]

I get the feeling someone just burned through the "transmetropolitan" series, no?

 

[Fluffy]

I get the feeling someone just burned through the "transmetropolitan" series, no?

Lol nope never heard of it . I came across the term when trying to come up with a better way of testing whether an AI was in fact an AI without putting it through the ultimately unsatisfactory Turing Test.