Let's talk about...transhumanism
5/25/2008 | 11:54 PM | Evolved Rationalist
I have always been a strong advocate of transhumanism, and if you recall, I once mentioned that the time has come to rethink eugenics in light of modern science. Despite the fact that the post has been misquoted by creationists to claim that I am a neo-Nazi eugenics supporter, I hope I managed to get more than a few people thinking. I believe that the modern application of eugenics would enable the transhumanist vision of the improvement of human capacities through science and modern techonlogy.
Although I am not claiming that all these ‘Top 10 Transhumanist Technologies’ are actually feasible, that post makes interesting reading. Go over there and check it out. I’m also interested in knowing how other people view transhumanism. A utopian fantasy or something scientifically feasible? A mockery of humanity or the improvement of the human condition?
What I have to say to the theistards would undoubtedly ramble about ’scientists playing god’ is this:
Remember the Luddites? Anti-science and anti-progress tendencies will die out in the end. Although this may be slow and people who cling to those tendencies would no doubt go out kicking, screaming and raving like the cavemen they are, history has shown us time and time again that cavemen attitudes will and should die in light of the march of the sciences.
Anti-science tendencies will lead to the inevitable cleansing of the gene pool, and those who resist progress would simply not be able to survive in a world where progress, while slow, is inevitable.
Comment away.
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Science
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Actually, most of it looks scientifically interesting - while some are not very plausible (space colonies come to mind).
My only theological objection is to the suggestion that we don't have a soul - yeah we'll settle that argument a second after we die at which point it will be too late.
To the nitwits who paid to have themselves cryogenically frozen I can only predict that not one will ever be brought back to life and you can quote me on that.
Playing with genes is anti-G-d, and the scientists will all burn in hell!
Repent, mad scientists!
As an asthmatic who suffers from serious year-round allergies, neither condition well-controlled by modern medicines, I've been answering "What do you want for your birthday/Christmas?" with "A new respiratory system" for years.
I know no one I dislike enough to wish my breathing problems on. If judicious replacement of body parts relieves some future person of my symptoms, DO IT!!!!!!
Eugenics is already happening. Think of all the stupid people fucking eachother, and, on rare ocasions, smart people meeting and fucking eachother (Silicon Valley)
Personally, I wouldn't mind living a couple thousand years or so. I think that sounds like a lovely time. So I'm more than ready for some of this tech to start happening.
Good to see transhumanism getting some press out and about.
I think there may still be some religious parents who opt to engineer their children to be super-fundies, completely and utterly faithful to the word of God. And certainly not gay.
However, they will be a definite minority. And with the advances in science, fundamental religiosity may turn out to be curable.
Shalini supports scientists that don't believe in God but want to play God!!!! This is blasphemy and a mockery of God!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shalini Sehkar EXPOSED!!!!!!!!!
I am a scientist at AiG!!!!!!!!!
OBTW: In regards to my post above the specific biblical reference would be:
"It is appointed unto man once to die and after this comes judgment" (Hebrews 9.27)
Good luck on that cryogenics stuff.
Murf, are you really so idiotic as to think that quoting scripture will actually change people's minds around here?
Why don't Christians take their preaching elsewhere instead of pissing all over a scientific discussion at a science blog?
Grow up.
Murf,
Why would space colonies not be plausible? Just curious why you think so since I think its one future project more likely to happen.
Christislord12,
By using genes scientists aren't playing God, they are simply rearranging what God created. Thats only playing God if building technology is playing God.
If this technology is helpful to humanity, then I'm all for it, it all sounds like an excellent prospect.
Playing with genes creates other creatures, and not the ones that G-d originally created. This is demonic, and Evolved Rationalist is talking about humans, how would scientists modify humans when we have a special soud? Scientists who do this deserve hellfire for mocking G-d!
You are truly a fake and terrible 'Christian' for supporting this atheist agenda!
Mike Huckabee for America!
Huckafuck is not even running anymore, idiot.
Try to keep up.
Christislord12, how is curing genetic diseases like Down Syndrome and Huntingtons disease evil? I believe that is what God would want us to do.
Also replacing lost limbs with cybernetic replacements isn't all that bad either.
Now if you mean genetically engineering the species for immoral purposes then of course I don't support it. I mainly support it for the medical benefit.
And also there are bigger problems Christians need to address then genetic engineering.
Christislord, is medicine anti-God?
It depends!
On what? Whether or not it has to do with the genes? What wrong with healing a degenerative genetic disease? I seems perfectly Christian to me
Christislord12,
You are out of your mind. Does that 12 after your blog name indicate your age ? Are you a home schooled idiot ? Why are you so incredibly dense ? I cannot believe that a rational adult of the 21st century could be so ignorant. Certainly there is no intelligent life on earth if you are a prime example lifeform. Let us all hope you seek to educate yourself someday.
Hey CIL12 I have something you should see on my blog
http://wwwcreatedrational.blogspot.com/2008/04/10-questions-every-intelligent.html
proof I am a Christian
Wow, two theistards bickering. Good going, Christians!
This post has been removed by the author.
Don't you know! Christianity is the source of truth. Christians just can't decide which truth it is!
Freedom of speech is a bitch, isn't it, theistards.
All you theistards want is for opposing voices to shut up. I will not give you assholes that satisfaction.
Creationist, you did it again! Luckily I'm here to pick up your slack: !!!!!!!1!!!!uno!!!
Anyway, I don't know what all the problem with "playing God" is. Aren't Christians told IN THE BIBLE to "be imitators of God... as dearly loved children"*? What is more loving, and in greater imitation of God, than to save a life/end suffering through the progressive use of technology?
CHRISTIANS ARE COMMANDED TO "PLAY GOD"*! Anyone who says otherwise doesn't follow the Bible.
*Ephesians 5:1
Notheistards, when I posted that I was under a lot of pressure, i should have said that, I apologize.
Second of all I have nothing to fear from freedom of speech. However if all you are going to do is call us names we don't want to hear you
And no Josh, this has nothing to do the core of Christianity, it has to do with whether a particular social phenomenon aligns with truth.
I and all Christians agree on what truth is, the question is what does truth permit or not permit.
Created Rationalist, watch this.
I know you'll hate it, but just watch it. It oughta take care of your "absolute truth" nonsense.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnj7PlqmJ5o
Re:laser potato
I've already seen it, I should rephrase, so you won't misunderstand,
Me and all Christians agree on what might be truth.
Translation:
tl;dr
No I watched all of it, don't worry
Oh, and as long as you're here, Creationist, would you mind answering, a query I made in the fish-tongue parasite thread? Namely:
"If there was no death or decay before the fall, how the hell did the animals avoid starving to death, vegetarian or not? Plants are living organisms, you know. Digestion is a form of decay (in that organic matter is broken down to release nutrients). If there was no decay before the Fall, how could animals gain nutrients if they couldn't digest their food? What kept the animals' excrement from piling sky high? If there was no death? If there was no death, how did the animal populations stay under control?"
If you don't know, just say so. It'll be OK.
I'm a big fan of transhumanism. I recommend the blog at the speculist. Which is interesting to keep up with stuff with a focus. The podcast sometimes has really great interviews, they had the guys from Methuselah mouse and some others too.
One thing about that linked summery was interesting was because the whole thing about replicating machines has already been done. Reprap which is a Von Neuman machine which can get to roughly 80% of it's own parts for the first generation machine.
So yeah, in the great quote "We are in the future. Everything is very shiny here!"
PS interesting blog you have here, though lots of crazies in your comments.
Hello, In addition to embryo screening and such another common form of transhumanism that seems to be happening unnoticed is cochlear implants ect, amazing stuff really, although not an improvement overall on humanity it is an improvement on some individual humans and unlike human ears it shouldn't decay with age.