Transhumanism

[Sun Ra]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transhumanism

"Transhumanist philosophers argue that there not only exists an ethical imperative for humans to strive for progress and improvement of the human condition but that it is possible and desirable for humanity to enter a post-Darwinian phase of existence, in which humans are in control of their own evolution. In such a phase, natural evolution would be replaced with deliberate change. To this end, transhumanists engage in interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and evaluating possibilities for overcoming biological limitations."

I think this is really really interesting, you guys should read that wiki. What do you think future political systems would be like if the Transhumanist goal was ever fully realized? Because I mean "post-Darwinian" doesn't really have a KKKapitalist ring to it...

I think that things like Transhumanism and debates about the ethics of genetic expirimentation are potential indicators of the impending evolution of society's political structure and how we think.


"The transhumanist vision of a profoundly transformed future humanity has attracted many supporters as well as critics from a wide range of perspectives. Transhumanism has been described by a proponent as the "movement that epitomizes the most daring, courageous, imaginative, and idealistic aspirations of humanity,"[2] while according to a prominent critic, it is the world's most dangerous idea.[3]"

"The majority of transhumanists are materialists who do not believe in a transcendent human soul. Transhumanist personhood theory also argues against the unique identification of moral actors and subjects with biological humans, judging as speciesist the exclusion of nonhuman and part-human animals, and sophisticated machines, from ethical consideration.[29] Many believe in the compatibility of human minds with computer hardware, with the theoretical implication that human consciousness may someday be transferred to alternative media.[30]"

This is something that comes across to me as a blatent disregard for religion, among other things, and the potential for people to finally concentrate on our progress as humans.

[Against Miik!]

Thats basically what genetic engineering using stem cells and other shit is.

[Sun Ra]

Originally Posted by Fat Al

Thats basically what genetic engineering using stem cells and other shit is.

Not quite, transhumanism emphasizes the enhancement of individuals as opposed to progress in medicines and what not for the masses, and it has social/phil implications.

[RNR]

Sounds like a good idea to me. Who wouldn't want to improve theirselves in that sense? (other than Christians). Despite some of the non-religious arguments, I don't see who has the right to restrict people from practicing transhumanism.

[Sun Ra]

I'm not arguing for or against it, but this is one step closer to all of us being machines (sounds funny I know) and to put it boldly: one step closer to true communism, good or bad Idk.

[PerpetualBurn]

The real question is: are humans smart enough to choose better than natural selection?

Could we deliberately breed our traits without f*cking up somewhere along the line?

[StreetlightRock]

Originally Posted by Sun Ra

I'm not arguing for or against it, but this is one step closer to all of us being machines (sounds funny I know) and to put it boldly: one step closer to true communism, good or bad Idk.

Ha. A Transhumanist society will be inevitably bound by money, and if anything, creating even further devides within the human race. That said, Transhumanism scares the living s'hits outta me, as does any vision of a utopic society.

[Hep Kat]

Just another reason for humanity to bolster its God complex.

[Chrizzle fo' Shizzle]

I was reading up on this. The [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posthuman_God"]"Posthuman God[/url]" idea is some neat shit

[sjada]

Sounds like a good way to give control of your own life to someone else.

[Sun Ra]

more like give your life to everyone else, and their life to you lol

[sjada]

But could we assume that we could make it that perfect?

[Sun Ra]

You mean allow the human race to reach its final destination in something like communism and do it perfectly? Idk maybe, we'd be genetically enhancing ourselves to deal with certain ideas (post-darwinian ideas) is what I think of.

[AA-12]

Darwinsm > Everything

Interesting read though.

[Sun Ra]

oh it is?

[AA-12]

Yes.

[Sun Ra]

how so?

[guitrguy]

Originally Posted by PerpetualBurn

The real question is: are humans smart enough to choose better than natural selection?

Could we deliberately breed our traits without f*cking up somewhere along the line?

I doubt it.

[Sun Ra]

Originally Posted by Diabolus in Musica

I doubt it.

what if we eliminated the traits that would f*ck us up somewhere along the line

[guitrguy]

Originally Posted by Sun Ra

what if we eliminated the traits that would f*ck us up somewhere along the line

How would that effect intelligence? People are dumb plain an simple, we don't know what the future hold in store for us, and how will it change. I guarantee that if we get to that point humans will change traits for the present rather think ahead. Natural Selction has done good job since our existence. I don't see a need to stop it.