Technological Evolution

[Dapper Dan Man]

Well, it has been quite awhile since I started a post on NMA, but this is a question I am curious to see how people respond to. I have for several years been keenly interested in the development of a movement known as 'transhumanism'. Thus novement among other things seeks to advocate for the use of technology in extending human capabilities and in some ways defining the nature of what it means to be 'human'.

Anyways, given how things such as nanotechnology and genetic engineering have come to the forefront it seems helpful to at least open up discussion. We see tentative examples of the coming future of 'biopolitics' as we argue over stem cell research and fetuses...as well as the critical lack of debate among politicians of where these might lead to. We see machines, especially computers and the Internet, become embedded all around us in our everyday life. People are able to enjoy goods and services from all over the world, and 'globalization' has become a topic of serious concern for every country. We even concern ourselves over what sort of 'world government' we might envision, and how some of us might enact it.

Stating all this, I am curious as to where members here stand on these issues. Is it right/ethical that we use some/all technologies available to modify who and what we are? Is genetic engineering of children morally questionable or do you feel that NOT improving a child is even more morally objectionable? Does cybernetics infringe on the human condition, or is being 'human' more a philosophical outlook? What about sentient AI? These are all questions I pose to you, oh NMA members. Maybe you might choose to answer some or all of them, but I feel it might be something enjoyable to discuss.

 

[Brother None]

Methinks at this point our technological knowhow has already outpaced our cultural evolution.

We need to develop quite a bit more to be capable of not self-destroying upon expansion of technology.

 

[Dapper Dan Man]

Methinks at this point our technological knowhow has already outpaced our cultural evolution.

We need to develop quite a bit more to be capable of not self-destroying upon expansion of technology.

Well, I believe that technology does not precisely work that way. You cannot really 'restrain' technology in any sense without becoming that which you despise. Once it exists, it WILL continue to be developed to be viable both for military and economic purposes...regardless of our ability to utilize it.

Even if we were to restrict it outright, the only ones who really lose are those citizens who are denied it, not the government itself (the greatest danger and utilizer of 'dangerous' technology). How do you restrict scientific progress and, if so, how do you perform 'social engineering' and is THAT ethical?

 

[Tannhauser]

Methinks at this point our technological knowhow has already outpaced our cultural evolution.

We need to develop quite a bit more to be capable of not self-destroying upon expansion of technology.

If we can.

Of course, my preferred solution is for the human race to spread out. So even if we destroy good old Terra, humanity will be self-sufficient elsewhere (also works for natural disasters, such as a large asteroid collision). I happen to be a hopeless romantic though.

 

[Brother None]

Well, I believe that technology does not precisely work that way. You cannot really 'restrain' technology in any sense without becoming that which you despise.

That which I whatnow? What does despising anything have to do with it?

Once it exists, it WILL continue to be developed to be viable both for military and economic purposes...regardless of our ability to utilize it.

That just makes all kind of no sense.

Technology isn't a seperate entity that develops on its own, it is a result of humanity's evolution and one which pushes that evolution itself.

Anything can change regarding its forward momentum. It is not in the hands of individuals or governments nor did I say it was or that it should be, but a good sturdy cultural revolution to follow on the technological revolution would solve a lot of issues.

Because as of right now, the cultural evolution is so far outpaced by the technological evolution that the disbalance has created a situation in which humanity is inevitably doomed to destruction (or expansion, which considering our results over the past century doesn't seem that likely).

 

[Paladin Solo]

Terra

Haha, that's the first time I've heard EARTH called Terra outside of a game. Me likes it, kinda. But Earth still pwnz Terra. Terra sounds too much like a girl I know, and Terra Firma.

I happen to be a hopeless romantic though.

It happens...

 

[Roshambo]

Haha, that's the first time I've heard EARTH called Terra outside of a game. Me likes it, kinda. But Earth still pwnz Terra. Terra sounds too much like a girl I know, and Terra Firma.

Well, Terra is the original latin word for earth, and it seems to suit humanity, at least intelliectually, to call it a name than an element from when some people thought the Earth was the center of the universe. Kind of like "the Sun", when it's technically referred to as "Sol", which again comes from latin. Why these terms are used in sci-fi is mainly due to how it would be a curious matter to figure out which sun you are talking about. With language barriers, so too could the use of "Earth" be as confusing because it is synonymous with land, again why we use latin.

 

[Paladin Solo]

Meh, Humans/Terrans are pretty localized right now. And even when we will start calling our sun "Sol" on an exclusive level, I'll probably still refer to it as "the sun" when I'm talking locally. Plus, naming your planet after an element/description isn't that obscene.

 

[Jarno Mikkola]

which sun...

Sorry Roshambo, there is only one sun and it is the Sun, which is a star. :arrow: So the prepresumptive is, that it is the star that the Earth orbits, in every sci-fi movie, novel, etc.

 

[Hokian]

which sun...

Sorry Roshambo, there is only one sun and it is the Sun, which is a star. :arrow: So the prepresumptive is, that it is the star that the Earth orbits, in every sci-fi movie, novel, etc.

Other stars are suns in their own systems. If planets revolve around them that makes them a sun. To us they are stars same as the sun would be a star to them.


Using technology to advance the human race is only logical. If they are already using things like vaccines that we put into our bodies and drugs that we scientifically engineer then it only makes sense that in the future we will use other parts of technology on our bodies. Not to mention that people that have heart problems and other internal organ problems use pacemakers that are imbedded into their body. I won't say it will be in any of our lifetimes but from how i see it that will happen. I know of two people already that paid around $130,000 to have their head cut off and frozen after they were dead so that future technology would "revive" them. That is a hopeless romantic to an extreme.

 

[Elissar]

I'm all for genetic and mechanical enhancements to the human body, and would voulenteer to have these things tried out on me if i could find a place willing to do so...

 

[Paladin Solo]

You're such a Strogg. Psft... tool.

 

[Jarno Mikkola]

Damn, Hokian you should do your research or just take a look at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun]this[/url].

 

[Wooz]

Jarno, don't be an idiot.

sun
n.

1. often Sun A star that is the basis of the solar system and that sustains life on Earth, being the source of heat and light. It has a mean distance from Earth of about 150 million kilometers (93 million miles) a diameter of approximately 1,390,000 kilometers (864,000 miles) and a mass about 330,000 times that of Earth.
2. A star that is the center of a planetary system.
3. The radiant energy, especially heat and visible light, emitted by the sun; sunshine.
4. A sunlike object, representation, or design.

Really, some of you guys need to go back to elementary school. Sjeesj.

 

[Paladin Solo]

You dare defy EARTH's rights to be greater than alien scum?! BURN!

 

[alec]

Nanotechnology? Genetic engineering? Cybernetics?
Bwahahahahaha!
None of these things can guarantee us a better life.
To me, these so-called 'biopolitics' are nothing else than the most extreme examples of what I like to call 'the dictatorship of happiness'. They are on a par with plastic surgery, silicone tits, artificially whitened teeth, laser surgery for eye corrections and so on. These things do not matter one bit in everyman's pursuit of happiness, but society makes you feel like they will make all the difference. Participate and feel better. Yeah, right. How can I feel better with shiny snowwhite teeth if I know there is some geezer, probably just around the corner, who's heartbroken, unemployed, alcoholic and poor? How can I enjoy my girlfriend's new big titties when I know that whilst I suck her nipples some poor, hungry African girl is having her clitoris circumcised against her will?
Fuck it. All these bodymodifications are worth shit.

Stem cell research? Well, that's a diffrent thing alltogether, isn't it? I don't have any objections against looking for cures to treat really fucked up diseases. That's a good thing. Unless only the rich and prosperous will be able to afford these cures. But that goes without saying really.

As for the intergalactic expansion of humankind: keep on dreaming. I've said it before and I'll say it again: we're stuck here. We were born on this sad and lonely planet and this is were we'll go under as well - as a species. It serves us right.

Plus: we're not ready yet for all this technological crap. And I doubt we'll ever be.

 

[Paladin Solo]

Sure, our generation will wither and dust away on this rock. But the potential is out there.

 

[Jarno Mikkola]

Plus: we're not ready yet for all this technological crap. And I doubt we'll ever be.

If we don't do the research, we won't ever be ready, and we just as well might grovel back to to the trees and forget the evolution as a bad idea, cause none of the posterity of Earth will ever be able to reach for the stars, if none of them will do the research and we and all the hopes of humanity have died invane. Cause the Sun will burn the Earth and Mars.

The Jupiter might become a new sun/star for us(I mean for the aliens that haven't born yeat) and they will build a UFO and take it back in time, to tell us to try to do the research, but they meet an intergalactic space criminal called the Fargohead, that damages their rear-amplitude-stabilizor that explodes and the UFO crashes to Earth, near Roswell, New Mexico.
Now, we know, it's all connected.

 

[alec]

Who didn't take his little pink pill this morning?

 

[Hokian]

Nanotechnology? Genetic engineering? Cybernetics?
Bwahahahahaha!
None of these things can guarantee us a better life.

The term "better" is all in a person's perspective. If you think that having fake bodyparts will make your life better then thats your opinion and you can do as you wish with it. Using it for medicinal uses so that humans would have a healthier life is what will probably happen when/if we get around to it.

All these bodymodifications are worth shit.

People are...special and so they spend money how they see fit. If they want to spend their money on a new car it would be the same. Buying a state-of-the-art computer system for it to be replaced a week later would seem redundent unless you upgraded non-stop also. Happiness is something not attained from material possesions but only through people.