Transhumanism Exposes the Best and Worst in humanity
Robert Steven Thomas and I continue our conversation on his book Intelligent Intervention: The Missing Link in the History of Human Evolution.
Russell Scott – A big interest of yours is transhumanism (h+). H+ naturally sparks a great divide in its critics and supporters as man surges ever closer to artificially transforming the human species into, as you say “Gods”. The 2045 Initiative is a well-known project right now; where do you see man in 50 years, 100 years, 500 years, as it relates to transhumanism?
Robert Steven Thomas – Transhumanism does indeed expose both the best and worst in contemporary humanity Russell. While the division it creates may ultimately serve a useful purpose to mankind, much of it is unwarranted and simply the product of apathy and ignorance on the part of far too many people. In truth, transhumanism isn’t surging closer … we are already there! While it is likely many of the more remarkable and transformative H+ potentials are still decades away, the initial stages have already taken root and are here with us now.
Consider the Cochlear implant which allows the deaf to hear through an embedded computer chip … Mentally driven – computer responsive, artificial limbs which provide mobility to those who suffer from “locked-in syndrome”and new implant-devices which respond to your own brain waves and are currently providing three dimensional vision to individuals who have non-functioning eyes or have been blind from birth. These creations presently exist and are being tested and used at this time by real people. While they remain a work-in-progress at this stage, they do actually function. Improvements on these devices will most certainly advance dramatically in the near future … and by near future I mean as measured in years, not decades. How can any reasonable person deny the use of these remarkable devices and the benefit of improving the quality of life for those who are unfortunately afflicted? Cannot the same be said about computer enhanced individual intelligence? Why not? Do we still have one foot too securely in the Dark Ages?
