Transhumanism
Do We Want Supermen...
It's not about hindering research or healthcare, but about avoiding the artificial construction of "supermen" that would endanger the entire social structure, especially when these innovations are in the hands of the system ("write a new code for life").
We have enough possibilities to explore in developing software, robots, and machines to assist us, before wanting to transform ourselves!
The augmentation of human capacities should therefore be prohibited until society can really engage in a conscientious ethical debate and allow applications in a gradual and targeted manner, within the framework of Software Democracy.
Among the criteria that could authorize the use of devices enhancing human capacities:
- long-term studies ensuring that the enhancement of certain capacities does not influence other naturally present capacities (for example, a device strongly enhancing an individual's analytical abilities would not make them less empathetic, would it?).
- their accessibility to the entire interested population. Rare supermen should not be created in a population, where Software Democracy would be over.
- the absolute prohibition of discriminations based on the use or non-use of these devices.
... Or Undermen?
Perhaps we should beware of the bias of only seeing the "augmentation" side of transhumanism. What if transhumanism (voluntarily or not) were used to dumb us down or diminish us?
Are mobile phones and their almost continuous access to our neurological and biological system not already modifying our ability to think, probably in the wrong direction?
What would become of us if artificial, physical or intellectual prostheses finally rendered us impotent and therefore dependent on those who control them? This is also somewhat already the case; among those under 30, who still knows how to read a map? In the second part of this video made for the WEF, it's indeed about "diminished reality," to hide elements of reality (waste or... people!).
Eternal Life
Under construction...
One of the recurring themes of transhumanism is the extension of life, even its continuation infinitely.
The Extension of Life
The extension of life aims to reach and push the natural limits of our biological body. All centenarians? Or even more?
Eternal Life
Eternal life presupposes the detachment of our intellect and/or consciousness from our physical body and its transfer into another physical, mechanical or virtual body.