Discussion What are your thoughts about transhumanism?

[ijustwishtodie]

I'm curious as to what people here think about transhumanism. This is the idea of using technology to transform a person by improving their quality of life in various different ways such as using genetic technology or cybernetic enhancements or any other technology thing used to make human life better.

Do you think that transhumanism would ever come to fruition in the future? Though, the question as to what I'm more curious with... do you think that it'd be possible one day for transhumanism to eradicate suffering entirely?

 

[Dr Iron Arc]

I think humanity has a lot of growing up to do before we can ever even come close to scratching the surface of transhumanism. Maybe in another five hundred years or so we could start seeing early signs of this but I'm not optimistic we'll reach it at the current trajectory we're on. Once we do achieve this though I'm sure it could be completely possible to eliminate suffering while also continuing to exist but it will take a lot of collective suffering and effort to even get there.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I have mixed feelings really. Obviously say helping someone to walk again who was disabled would be great. What if people start getting body modifications to be better at their jobs though? Won't that force others to in order to be competetive?

How much will these modifications cost? Won't they simply serve to greater divide the poverty gap? Where the richest in our societies can afford the best modifications so they then get the best jobs and earn the most money?

I watched a really interesting documentary on these revolutionary trainers once. They had some sort of plate in the soul that would flex on the off step and give the runner a boost. It meant crazy fast finishing times for those athletes who had those shoes- so- everyone had to get them otherwise, it's kind of like performance enhancing drugs- it gave them an unfair edge. I think they ended up banning them in official races.

So- I see it in a similar way to that. No doubt it will happen though. I'm sure the likes of Elon Musk would like to stuff all our heads with performance enhancing chips. They'll probably also make us want to go out and buy new Tesla's...

Seriously? Isn't anyone worried about this kind of thing? Chips inplanted in the brain to control technology apparently. I wonder how much data collection they might be able to get from that... Will they be able to inplant suggestions even? You deserve a new car...

 

[ijustwishtodie]

I think humanity has a lot of growing up to do before we can ever even come close to scratching the surface of transhumanism. Maybe in another five hundred years or so we could start seeing early signs of this but I'm not optimistic we'll reach it at the current trajectory we're on. Once we do achieve this though I'm sure it could be completely possible to eliminate suffering while also continuing to exist but it will take a lot of collective suffering and effort to even get there.

Well said... especially with regards to your last part. One thing I don't see transhumanists talk about is the aspect of how so much suffering would be required for this to even be possible. For something as extreme as transhumanism, we would need to do experiments. We would basically be lab rats trying to determine if things like cybernetic enhancements and other stuff that people design works well or not.

I have mixed feelings really. Obviously say helping someone to walk again who was disabled would be great. What if people start getting body modifications to be better at their jobs though? Won't that force others to in order to be competetive?

How much will these modifications cost? Won't they simply serve to greater divide the poverty gap? Where the richest in our societies can afford the best modifications so they then get the best jobs and earn the most money?

I watched a really interesting documentary on these revolutionary trainers once. They had some sort of plate in the soul that would flex on the off step and give the runner a boost. It meant crazy fast finishing times for those athletes who had those shoes- so- everyone had to get them otherwise, it's kind of like performance enhancing drugs- it gave them an unfair edge. I think they ended up banning them in official races.

So- I see it in a similar way to that. No doubt it will happen though. I'm sure the likes of Elon Musk would like to stuff all our heads with performance enhancing chips. They'll probably also make us want to go out and buy new Tesla's...

Seriously? Isn't anyone worried about this kind of thing? Chips inplanted in the brain to control technology apparently. I wonder how much data collection they might be able to get from that... Will they be able to inplant suggestions even? You deserve a new car...

If everybody had modifications, we would all be on the same playing field so there would still be competition but the baseline for what would be considered as adequate would shift upwards dramatically. Although of course it depends on the modifications themselves and, like you say, the price and accessibility of it as well.

I thought about the whole brain chip technology thing too and it scares me as well. I honestly want my brain to be reserved for myself only. I don't want anybody else to tamper with myself brain. My thoughts are the most private and reserved things about me and I would be uncomfortable if people could access that with a brain chip