Posts tagged transhumanism
Articles and news from the latest research reports.
People plus: is transhumanism the next stage in our evolution?
Inviting artificial intelligence into our bodies has appeal – but it also carries certain risks.
I have often wondered what it would be like to rid myself of a keyboard for data entry, and a computer screen for display. Some of my greatest moments of reflection are when I am in the car driving long distances, cooking in my kitchen, watching the kids play at the park, waiting for a doctor’s appointment or on a plane thousands of metres above sea level.
I have always been great at multitasking but at these times it is often not practical or convenient to be head down typing on a laptop, tablet or smartphone.
It would be much easier if I could just make a mental note to record an idea and have it recorded, there and then. And who wouldn’t want the ability to “jack into” all the world’s knowledge sources in an instant via a network?
Who wouldn’t want instant access to their life-pages filled with all those memorable occasions? Or even the ability to slow down the process of ageing, as long as living longer equated to living with mind and body fully intact, as outlined in the video.
Transhumanists would have us believe that these things are not only possible but inevitable. In short: we Homo sapiens may dictate the next stage of our evolution through our use of technology.
![With the exception of low-level body-hacking, transhumanism is an expensive business. From genetic modification and cryonics to robo-prosthetics and smart drugs, it’s the playground of the privileged. But if a wealthy pioneer chooses to genetically engineer their perfect sproglet, who picks up the bill when it all goes wrong? And at what point does a perceived enhancement become so popular that it becomes the norm?
Steve Fuller believes that as people experiment with more enhancements, there is an impact on human identity as a whole, since the notion of enhancement relies on our understanding of what it means to be physically or mentally “normal”. This understanding, in turn, informs discussions about discrimination and justice. For example, according to the Equality Act 2010, businesses that provide a service to the public must make reasonable adjustments to their premises to give disabled access. What happens if bionic retinas with night vision or augmented reality becomes the norm? Should there be NHS provisions for the minority that don’t have access to the technology?
Furthermore, what happens if technological advances in prosthetics and exoskeletons mean that we no longer see what we currently perceive as disability in the same way? “At the moment construction issues around disability [disability parking spaces etc] presuppose that it’s an unfortunate thing.”
Fuller points out that it’s misguided to see transhumanism as a simple matter of individual choice since it has the potential to have a major impact on public policy and welfare provision. “We need to keep track of the kind of choices people are making. And if we are going to encourage it, we need to make it possible for everyone to have the opportunity to be involved.”](http://40.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ma6x5hauZB1rog5d1o1_500.jpg)
With the exception of low-level body-hacking, transhumanism is an expensive business. From genetic modification and cryonics to robo-prosthetics and smart drugs, it’s the playground of the privileged. But if a wealthy pioneer chooses to genetically engineer their perfect sproglet, who picks up the bill when it all goes wrong? And at what point does a perceived enhancement become so popular that it becomes the norm?
Steve Fuller believes that as people experiment with more enhancements, there is an impact on human identity as a whole, since the notion of enhancement relies on our understanding of what it means to be physically or mentally “normal”. This understanding, in turn, informs discussions about discrimination and justice. For example, according to the Equality Act 2010, businesses that provide a service to the public must make reasonable adjustments to their premises to give disabled access. What happens if bionic retinas with night vision or augmented reality becomes the norm? Should there be NHS provisions for the minority that don’t have access to the technology?
Furthermore, what happens if technological advances in prosthetics and exoskeletons mean that we no longer see what we currently perceive as disability in the same way? “At the moment construction issues around disability [disability parking spaces etc] presuppose that it’s an unfortunate thing.”
Fuller points out that it’s misguided to see transhumanism as a simple matter of individual choice since it has the potential to have a major impact on public policy and welfare provision. “We need to keep track of the kind of choices people are making. And if we are going to encourage it, we need to make it possible for everyone to have the opportunity to be involved.”