Monday, April 23, 2012

Transhumanism

This month Minnie is exploring the alphabet by digging out the unusual, often unexplained and alternative way of thinking. Stories of creatures, places and mysteries that have been passed down to us through centuries tease our imagination, live in our dreams and dare us to explore the impossible. Join Minnie each day as she discovers something unusual in the alphabet.

"Jeremiah was a bullfrog, and NOW he’s messing with my DNA?"

 “Transhumanism, abbreviated as H+ or h+, is an international intellectual and cultural movement that affirms the possibility and desirability of fundamentally transforming the human condition by developing and making widely available technologies to eliminate aging and to greatly enhance human intellectual, physical, and psychological capacities.” Phew...In other words, a Transhumanist studies the potential benefits and dangers of emerging technologies that could overcome fundamental human limitations. They predict that human beings may eventually be able to transform themselves into beings with greatly expanded abilities. Someone is bound to make a lot of money on these extreme makeovers! Shopping will never be the same.

Technology is changing the world we live in faster than I can keep track of. Sometimes that is a good thing but when we start messing with the human condition, have we gone to far?  Are we ready for a race of "Super-humans" most likely available to only the rich and powerful? I think not, what do you think?




10 comments:

Mike said...

Enjoyed your post! Personally I think we are rapidly approaching the point in technology that is too much, too fast. Technology that helps us is wonderful but when it has the ability to change who we are - I don't think that is wise in the least.

Sally said...

I think a super power I would like would be to expand the hours available in the day without becoming too exhausted. More time to get the work done and more free time to enjoy the things we actually want to do - if only.

liz young said...

Before "They" start extending lives, how about cutting the birth rate? There'll be no room to move soon!

Lynn Proctor said...

no, i think it would be awful--especially if my family wasn't able to purchase one ;)

Jaime said...

I know that I'm not ready for super humans. I still have trouble understanding plain old regular ones.

Anonymous said...

I agree with you. This technology, if it ever comes available, will only be for the rich and famous.. I think it is going to far.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Super enhanced humans are cool in science fiction and superhero movies; not so much in real life.

soggy in the corner said...

I have wondered about the same things...what happens when humans are offered the chance to live extremely long lives...and we are already overcrowded? Who will be able to 'buy' this long life...and then they will have more years to accumulate wealth and get more power..and things will get even more lopsided. Who will decide who will get to live and who will die?

Susan Kane said...

No matter how much is possible, all humans come to an end, one way or another. I don't think I want to focus so much time and money on delaying the inevitable.

Mark aka waykiwayki said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA1sPx_5Rs0

Trans Resister Radio talk about the dangers of Transhumanism.