Transhumanism: a sci-fi geek's wet dream come true?

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flowerpower

flowerpower

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For those unfamiliar with the term, transhumanism is an international movement which promotes the use of technology to advance human capabilities. The movement consists of various scientists, academics and organizations who believe that technological advances in nanotechnology, genetic engineering, cybertronics and artificial intelligence will be used to enhance human physiology, psychology and biology sometime in the near future.

They talk of advanced prosthetics (cyborg technology), the implantation of microchips in the human brain, and genetic modification which, according to transhumanists, will all serve to free humanity of undesirable physical traits, cognitive deficiencies, and even mortality itself.

Proponents of the movement back up these harrowing predictions with the exponential rate of technological development according to Moore's Law. This exponential growth, they say, will lead us to the point in which artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence. At this point humanity will converge with technology completely and the human species as we know it will cease to exist. This state is called 'singularity'.

Wow, right?
Well, if you are familiar with the concept then you know just how seriously many at the forefront of technological development (and those funding their research)take it. If this is the first you're hearing about this, then I understand your disbelief. It took me a while too.
Here are some links with more info:
An article from Lifeboat.com which features some precursor technologies that currently exist:http://lifeboat.com/ex/transhumanist.technologies
Future of Humanity Institute http://www.fhi.ox.ac.uk/
Nick Bostrom http://www.nickbostrom.com/
HumanityPlus http://humanityplus.org/

How do you us feel about the idea of transhumanism and singularity? What are the inherent benefits and risks of these technologies? Would you enhance yourself or your children if such technologies were commonly available now?

Keep it civil and please review and respect the new terms of use.








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First, there are a lot of issues to work out just in transplants such as the brain. Second, will use of this tech extend or unnaturally save lives causing an even bigger population issue? Third, what are the chances that the first advancements will not be for the betterment of man, but the art of war?
 
Tend to follow Dragonfishe' s reasoning..

We are fiddling too much, already.

Probably unstoppable in any case...
 
@dragonfish, I'm no expert on neuroscience by any means. Breakthroughs are taking place all the time though.
First brain transplant, 1963!http://youtu.be/8On7rktFZME
http://youtu.be/Hfi0uR8kvZE
Poor rathttp://youtu.be/G-jTkqHSWlg
As for the unnatural extension of life and its effect on population, I think you pose an important question (actually the issue of population control and eugenics is at the core of this debate). Will this technology be available for all, or merely some?
If you think back on groundbreaking technologies of recent past, most were developed by the military before being passed down to the rest of us: the Internet, Windows and Google maps to name a few. One would have to assume that before we see cyber-people and the concurrent tech of the day, we will have cyber-soldiers and a control grid in place that would make the likes of Orwell and Huxley wet dream themselves.



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A dangerous subject for the lounge as there's quite a bit of emotional fueled debate that could be sparked by this query, despite the fact that I know it's not your intention. Hopefully though with the new rules in effect and the recent temporary close of the lounge people will be more careful and less emotional about their replies. As long as people keep in mind that everyone is entitled to their opinion and someone disagreeing with you doesn't mean they're attacking you and doesn't make them anymore right than the other this thread will be fine.

I've got to side with dragonfish and Miguel unfortunately power is a tempting mistress and the first advances will almost assuredly be used for war or other means of control. By the way anyone whose seen my posts knows I'm a bit of a conspiracy nut so I beg your indulgence if my logical reaches at times in your opinion. Just warning in advance and hoping to excuse myself a bit. :D
While I'm very intrigued by the ideas and concepts proposed(who wouldn't be if they're a Terminator, X men or any other slew of science fiction fan) at the same time I worry that perhaps we meddle with the natural order of things too often already, that we over step our bounds. Just because we have the capability to do something does not necessarily make such actions and advancements a natural progression or even morally appropriate. Might doesn't make right nor does knowledge necessarily make one wise.

Perhaps we should focus more on finding our role in the universe our place and harmony with all things. To find out why things are the way they are before we start trying to improve on a design we don't fully yet grasp. Our planet thrives on a delicate balance whether by design or not that balance is not without purpose and the fact that we already upset it so greatly is a testament to the fact that we don't fully understand it. Our technology grows in leaps and bounds causing more problems than it solves and we turn a blind eye assured by our own pride that our ingenuity will some how overcome that which we may wrought. Never really giving consideration to the fact that perhaps we are not as cunning as we think. That which we change when the balance is thrown we cannot ignore with thoughts of we will overcome the in-balance someday. It is the equivalent of child trying to run before they walk, if the child manages to run because he's a prodigy we all know that inevitably he is wielding a power he's not ready for and he will eventually fall or crash into something, unable to comprehend how that power needed to be tamed and refined before being carelessly wielded. Common knowledge that most would pass on to their children, but never do we look at all of humanity that way. Which we should because much like the child we do not fully understand the things that we change so effortlessly. Wielding great power to serve our curiosity and vanity never thinking it maybe our down fall.

That's my opinion on such advancements, perhaps I'm right perhaps I'm wrong but I do believe it's logical and beneficial to consider.
 
@flowerpower, just watched a show where they talked about the advances in organ transplant and growth. They are taking an empty skin, say of a liver, to use as a platform, pumping your blood into letting your dna create a new organ that would not theoretically be rejected. While admitting that a human brain may be possible, the technology to transplant it did not yet exist. The time needed to hook all the nerves and spinal column would be longer than the ability to keep the brain alive.

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@koltsix, you didn't sound conspiratorial at all. And btw, nothing wrong with a little informed cynicism. I actually think that so far we all echo the same concerns.
@sbuse, why are you offended. It is not the intent of this thread to discuss anything forbidden by the TOS. Flag inappropriate comments so we can keep this thread open and within bounds.
@dragonfish, you are too right but I do believe that the trends in medical science and technology indicate that new tech is emerging at an accelerating rate. http://www.kurzweilai.net/the-law-of-accelerating-returns


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I don't get the point of trans-humanism. It won't make us anymore happier than we already are. With all of these recent inventions like the internet, jets, Google are we any happier than before? No we are not. All these life extending is unnatural and Earth will reach its population capacity even faster. [video=youtube;Gdyc7BpKic0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdyc7BpKic0[/video] This is a good video for trans-humanism.
 
My favorite instructor in college was a former rocket scientist for NASA who left to get his PhD in cybertronics. Some of the things he was working on was absolutely fascinating including using what is essentially a webcam to help someone who lost his vision in an accident regain about 5% of his sight. That may not sound like much but when you go from normal sight to absolutely blackness any little thing is a miracle. This was about 7 years ago too so who knows where they're at now, but even back then he was able to recognize basic block shapes and distinguish light from dark and see walls and other objects in his way when walking. They were also working on using solid state memory to help people who lost their ability to store new memories. Once again this was for accident victims only though.
 
Accident victims and the long line of test animals that preceded them. Have a look at this macabre experiment. Poor kitty but truly fascinating.
http://youtu.be/piyY-UtyDZw
Who needs to hack a web cam when you can hack pair of eyes.



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