Transhumanism

[Czechostan]

I recently reread Brave New World, which isn't my favorite book, but I like the concepts put forth. The technology in the novel got me thinking about transhumanism and the altering of the human condition. I consider myself to be a secular humanist, optimistic of humanity, but should mankind "enhance" itself? In Brave New World, humans are in a caste system, conditioned to fit in with their class as functioning members of society. There is little individuality, as people are hypnopaedically conditioned to be bricks in the wall. Those who did not embrace this lifestyle either live on a reservation, or were exiled to the Falkland Islands. Is this how a eugenic society would end up, or is this just a slippery-slope?
I'm wary of transhumanism. I think that any proposal to fundamentally alter the psyche of humans should be viewed with caution.
What do you think, NSG?

[The New Sea Territory]

We've had many of these threads before, so I don't think this will get anywhere new.

I support transhumanism but I don't see myself living long enough to experience it.

[Estva]

I am less concerned with the actual aspect of transhumanism itself, i.e. replacing your body parts with machines, and more concerned with the social stratification and potential manipulation that would result.

[The Liberated Territories]

Always been a strong transhumanist. It fits well with my libertarian leaning beliefs.

[Beta Test]

I think it's a dangerous concept and I hope it's never implemented.

[Skappola]

I'm heavily in support of it. Transhumanism has the potential to do so much good that turning it down would be foolish.

[New Werpland]

Brave New World really isn't about Transhumanism though, it's about how people's emotions or instinct can restrain free will just as much as a authoritarian government can. You could say Brave New World presents compatibilist dystopia I guess.

[The Union of the West]

We've had many of these threads before, so I don't think this will get anywhere new.

I support transhumanism but I don't see myself living long enough to experience it.

What s/he said ^

[Empire of Narnia]

I think it's way too fantastical and far-out to bother debating about. When something pretty much only exists in the realm of fiction and entertainment you can't really argue for or against it very easily. It's like arguing about regulating portal guns or whether or not intergalactic travel is bad for the environment.

[Czechostan]

Brave New World really isn't about Transhumanism though, it's about how people's emotions or instinct can restrain free will just as much as a authoritarian government can. You could say it's a kind of Kantian I guess.

I agree that transhumanism isn't the primary focus, but BNW still could be considered a criticism of it. Fukuyama argued against transhumanism saying, "If we start transforming ourselves into something superior, what rights will these enhanced creatures claim, and what rights will they possess when compared to those left behind?"

[New Werpland]

Brave New World really isn't about Transhumanism though, it's about how people's emotions or instinct can restrain free will just as much as a authoritarian government can. You could say it's a kind of Kantian I guess.

I agree that transhumanism isn't the primary focus, but BNW still could be considered a criticism of it. Fukuyama argued against transhumanism saying, "If we start transforming ourselves into something superior, what rights will these enhanced creatures claim, and what rights will they possess when compared to those left behind?"

But wasn't the whole point of Brave New World that people were all happy because of their Brave New Utilitarian utopia, not that they were made superior because of it.

[United Marxist Nations]

I just hope that I live long enough for technology for brain preservation and computer augmentation to become readily available, because, to be quite honest, I am quite afraid of the idea of my own demise.

[The New Sea Territory]

We've had many of these threads before, so I don't think this will get anywhere new.

I support transhumanism but I don't see myself living long enough to experience it.

What s/he said ^

I am a he.

[The Union of the West]

What s/he said ^

I am a he.

Alright.

[Constantinopolis]

I'm against it, because it's akin to eugenics and would lead to social darwinism, with the rich being able to make themselves biologically superior to the poor. In time, differences of social class would turn into biological differences. Different classes would become separate subspecies of humans, and eventually separate species altogether. It is the worst possible future for Humanity, and must be fought at any cost.

But, uh, why exactly does that poll option mention "communism" in the same breath as social darwinism? Huh?

[Sangasa]

  When you say transhumanism (forgive me, I've never read this book), are you referring to something like the Overwatch?
Machine-like legs and/or arms with super strength and resilience?
(Referring to Half-Life 2)

Edit: Or are you referring to messing with our actual genetics, like, giving us acid spit?

[The Lotophagi]

I'm against it, because it's akin to eugenics and would lead to social darwinism, with the rich being able to make themselves biologically superior to the poor. In time, differences of social class would turn into biological differences. Different classes would become separate subspecies of humans, and eventually separate species altogether. It is the worst possible future for Humanity, and must be fought at any cost.

But, uh, why exactly does that poll option mention "communism" in the same breath as social darwinism? Huh?

I'm assuming it's meant to be a dig at Soviet Union's ideological conception of the 'New Soviet Man'.

[New Werpland]

  When you say transhumanism (forgive me, I've never read this book), are you referring to something like the Overwatch?
Machine-like legs and/or arms with super strength and resilience?
(Referring to Half-Life 2)

Edit: Or are you referring to messing with our actual genetics, like, giving us acid spit?

None of that cyberpunk stuff, just people being grown in big glass things rather than being born.

[The New Sea Territory]

I'm against it, because it's akin to eugenics and would lead to social darwinism, with the rich being able to make themselves biologically superior to the poor. In time, differences of social class would turn into biological differences. Different classes would become separate subspecies of humans, and eventually separate species altogether. It is the worst possible future for Humanity, and must be fought at any cost.

But, uh, why exactly does that poll option mention "communism" in the same breath as social darwinism? Huh?

I'm assuming it's meant to be a dig at Soviet Union's ideological conception of the 'New Soviet Man'.

[Insert Soviet Union wasn't communist argument here]

[New Werpland]

I'm assuming it's meant to be a dig at Soviet Union's ideological conception of the 'New Soviet Man'.

[Insert Soviet Union wasn't communist argument here]

[Insert request for facts and elaboration]

[Constantinopolis]

I'm against it, because it's akin to eugenics and would lead to social darwinism, with the rich being able to make themselves biologically superior to the poor. In time, differences of social class would turn into biological differences. Different classes would become separate subspecies of humans, and eventually separate species altogether. It is the worst possible future for Humanity, and must be fought at any cost.

But, uh, why exactly does that poll option mention "communism" in the same breath as social darwinism? Huh?

I'm assuming it's meant to be a dig at Soviet Union's ideological conception of the 'New Soviet Man'.

Um, that was never meant in a biological or transhuman sense.

It was meant to imply that, in the right kind of society, everyone would be a model citizen. There's more to it than that, but this is the basic point.

[The New Sea Territory]

[Insert Soviet Union wasn't communist argument here]

[Insert request for facts and elaboration]

The Soviet Union never practiced nor achieved communism. Depending on who you ask, they were state socialist/state capitalist/degenerated workers' state/hell/idealist libruls communist-fascists.

[Constantinopolis]

Anyway, I firmly believe that if transhumans existed, it would be our duty to destroy them, in order to defend the future of Homo sapiens.

It was bad enough when we had lunatics running around just thinking they were the master race. Imagine how much worse it would have been if they were actually right about that.

[Scomagia]

While I don't have any strong feelings towards Transhumanism itself, I hate many of its proponents. Many of them speak of it will religious certainty and zeal, as though it is both inevitable and won't possibly end badly.

[The New Sea Territory]

Anyway, I firmly believe that if transhumans existed, it would be our duty to destroy them, in order to defend the future of Homo sapiens.

It was bad enough when we had lunatics running around just thinking they were the master race. Imagine how much worse it would have been if they were actually right about that.

Human evolution could be managed in a democratic, collectivist manner, where we all evolve at the same pace. A socialist idea of transhumanism...