Nick Bostrom has a stellar explanation here. Nick is a professor in the Department of Philosophy, Logic and the Scientific Method at the London School of Economics, and a leading thinker in the realm of transhumanism.
According to Nick, although mankind as a species faces many well-known threats to its existence, there is a threat that most people never consider, and that is forever remaining sub-optimal, simply because we accept the premise that human nature will remain forever unchanging. Here I quote from Nick's essay:
This assumption no longer holds true. Arguably it has never been true. Such innovations as speech, written language, printing, engines, modern medicine and computers have had a profound impact not just on how people live their lives, but on who and what they are. Compared to what might happen in the next few decades, these changes may have been slow and even relatively tame. But note that even a single additional innovation as important as any of the above would be enough to invalidate orthodox projections of the future of our world.Nick goes on to describe the various technology fields that will impact on human nature and what it means to be human. Take a look, if you dare.
"Transhumanism" has gained currency as the name for a new way of thinking that challenges the premise that the human condition is and will remain essentially unalterable. Clearing away that mental block allows one to see a dazzling landscape of radical possibilities, ranging from unlimited bliss to the extinction of intelligent life. In general, the future by present lights looks very weird - but perhaps very wonderful - indeed.
What is Transhumanism?
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1 comments :
Nick Bostrom is actually at the Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford University. Glad you liked his writings. Also check out transhumanism.org
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