Confronting the Transhuman Condition

 

Topics to think about:

• Space colonies-Gerard O'Neill and L5
• Cryonics-Alcor Life Extension Institute, the Immortalist Society, and others
• Nanotechnology-Hans Moravec and Eric Drexler
• Interstellar travel
• "Uploading"

 

"Technological Millenarianism in the United States" addresses a number of topics. For our purposes, however, the major question is: how do we tell if an idea, or a person with a big idea, is ahead of its time... or simply nutty?

• What separates some avant-garde thinkers from the run-of-the-mill nutcase is that many of them actually have organizational skills and/or relevant know-how.
• However, it is also important to realize that sometimes it is really hard to tell the difference between a person with a vision who is ahead of their time, and a kook or a fraud. Sometimes, this is even true for experts in the field, as recent scandals involving animal cloning in Korea demonstrate.
• Remember, the people who gave us things like moon rockets and alternating current and personal computers were viewed as eccentric, and perhaps nutty, in their early careers.
• And many people suspect that some industries (like space launches) will in fact be transformed by amateurs. More recently, hobbyists changed our notion of computers from giant mainframes to desktop appliances.
• On the other hand, securing heavy-duty financial backing can be important.
• The German, American, and Soviet governments took a bunch of rocket hobbyists and turned them into rocket scientists.
• IBM shaped and accelerated the growth of the P.C.
• Steve Jobs and The Woz secured backing and advice from experienced venture capitalists, while Bill Gates and the early Microsoft did everything they could to work with IBM for as long as possible.
• The government had a LOT to do with building and promoting the Internet.
• So how do ordinary lay people tell the difference…?
• Rightly or wrongly, presentation and appearance have a lot to do with initial acceptance. This can help overcome the "giggle factor." So can perceived threat.
• A good track record in other ventures is helpful.
• Impressive backing, both for P.R. reasons and to make sure that one doesn't run out of money half way. (Remember how Or how G.E. has caused us to all have electric refrigerators. Or how IBM shaped and accelerated the growth of the PC.)
• Finally, there is the question of how much technological progress is "enough."
• For example, most people think it is good that we have medicine and antibiotics to treat broken legs and infections.
• We also have come to enjoy clean tap water and safe food.
• Someday we would like to cure disorders like cancer, or multiple sclerosis…. or cure people with hemophilia and Down Syndrome around the time of birth.
• But what about improving things that are not "broken"? Such as having surgery to give 20/10 eyesight? Or larger breasts? Or giving your children certain skills, like photographic memory or math skills? Or wanting to live forever, in good physical and mental health?
• At some point, scientific and technological aspirations start bumping into some of the realms traditionally held by religion--like some form of "eternal life."
• Note, however, that technological progress is not necessarily the same as moral, spiritual, or ethical progress--either individually or collectively.