Anthropology
According to the various studies and observations observed in the contemporary world, the neuroscientists argue that the evolution of humankind had reached the satiation point. It is expected that the mental capabilities and capacities, organ functions and the shape of the body will most probably change into the worse for the coming years. As a result, many people, including Max More believes that technology and science are the fundamental aspects to save the human race. This is most apparent in the contemporary society where human biological bodies are replaced with mechanical or cloned bodies. According to Max, the whole ideology and cultural philosophy of enhancing human race with the use of science and modern technology is referred to Trans-humanism. However, despite the seeming advantageous side of the philosophy of trans-humanism, there are potential dangers associated with it. The idea of artificial intelligence does no only need to be weighed by its merits but also demerits and the closer look of its topological context.
However, the essay written by Dale Carrico (48), challenges the perception that people should use the futurological discourse to enhance their mind through as they contemplate techno-developmental struggle. Carrico provides evidence of the challenges faced by the human race as a result of utilizing the scientifically modified mind. From one of his examples, he describes that it has become a frightening phenomenon as a result of increasing use of scientifically brain “trustees” in the government systems. Carrico implies that the use of the technology and science to improve the human mind seems to deteriorate the human mind. In the future days, human beings will not be able to engage in daily activities without the aid of science and technology. He illustrated from his examples that “the trouble is not that they are cold-blooded enough to “think the unthinkable,” but that they do not think” (63). In today's world, the people's capabilities to reason and to think have been deteriorated by the technology. For instance, very few students can use their brain to solve even simple computations without their calculators. As a result of technology, the modern people have to be scientifically aided to perform tasks that were done in the previous decades where such technology was not available.
The enhancement of human mind capabilities without the integration of the social structure needs to have a closer look when discussing of transhumanism. According to the work of Max More, the future perspective of the science and technology is anticipated to development of the future being that have radical capacities exceeding the current being. Max illustrates that the “intelligence explosion” will significantly enhance the radical change of the people. He suggested that the explosion will deliver people “from the state of ‘humans with advanced tools but old fashioned bodies and brains’ to a new condition that include radially posthuman features” (Mere 129).
However, the posthuman argument will not enhance the mind capabilities of the human race without the social structure. According to Carrico, the technological intelligence has contributed to techno-developmental social struggle. For instance, since transhumanism involves voluntary mind augmentation, it is obvious that these services will be available to people who are economically stable. As a result, people who have gone radical mental and physical changes will tend to treat the “non-augmented” people and inferior people. Therefore, this implies that that there is a potential threat of posthuman to the normal human in a social perspective. Without this social aspect, the technological intelligence will be a bad idea in the society. This is seen as a serious social imbalance that is overlooked when people are discussion or thinking about the merits of trans-humans.
According to Carrico (58), “human bodies are crucially maintained in both their biological continence and their social legibility in the company of others.” Therefore, the posthuman without these two elements, especially the social legibility, will be seen as an empty shell and serious problem to the society. According to Aristotle, the human beings are differentiated from the other beings because they are can live together. Therefore, one cannot claim to be knowledgeable if they cannot communicate that knowledge with the other people. People are human beings because they can intelligibly communicate their ideas and knowledge to the other people. In other words, Aristotle implied that the social aspect is one of the basic foundations of the human beings because they can interact and exchange ideas. Therefore, a person without this aspect cannot be considered as a human being even if their capabilities are higher than the normal conditions. As a result, it is clear that the posthuman or the advanced human beings of the future are nothing but a problematic idea from a social perspective. Not unless the idea of the posthuman is closely examined, people will continue to live in “a shared world of techno-developmental social struggle” (58). Although people needs technological advancement to improve their capability such issue of the social imbalance should be considered so that the transhumanism can deliver the best result to the future society. The benefits induced will transform the social inequalities and enhance a better life to human beings.
According to the author, mainstream futurism differs from superlative futurism. The corporate boardroom presentations by the World Bank rationales to discern trends in development and also provides a guideline by coming up with speculative scenarios. The presentations tend to imply the importance of mainstream futurism in the development patterns observed. Futurological is the fundamental discourse observed in the neoliberal public life. The author is disturbed by the implications of the word ‘trend.’ He argues and strongly opposes that there exist something like forceful trend. Carrico asserts, “Trends are retroactive narrative structures, and usually their retroactivity is falsely anticipated as if from the point of a non-existing superior height or from the future in which case they are always prescriptions camouflaged as descriptions “(p. 53). The author believes that legible constituted disciplines will develop phenomena models that will depict a foresight dimension. In his discussions, he seems, to resist the power of developing the human mind and asserts that there is a significant misunderstanding in practicability of life issues. The assertions seem to oppose the arguments based on transhumanism by claims that trends are narrative but not models as scientists believe.
In transhumanism, technological trends are treated like a demigod, with opinions that it only presents a good and predict the future in a better way that makes people advance their brains by implants. Furthermore, Carrico is against the link between the futurological future and the market futures. This is termed illogical and a reaction to implications of science fiction in our daily lives. The futurological scenarios are closely linked to the plausible characterization, ingenious plotting and thematic richness to meet the standards of imaginative identification. In transhumanism, the images are scarcely improved to give hopes to human beings, and they tend to disagree with the reality in daily activities encountered. The elucidation pinpoints Max Moore as a believer in Science and technology, and hopes that the two elements will save the world. The argument is countered by the demerits associated with the artificial intelligence. The human race may be complicated at the time that people will be thinking about the importance induced in brain implants.
The transhumanism futurological feature is well portrayed in the article. According to Carrico, “Futurity is a register of freedom, while The Future is another prison-house built to confine it (p.62). Technological advancements have played a significant role in shaping the future. The challenges facing humans have spearheaded the emerging technologies to reduce the human limitations. In my opinion, the article demonstrates the power of transhumanism, and how it has improved human life at large. Futurological discourse creates a platform that addresses both the present and the future. The author has connected the transhumanism futurological concept in a manner in which it illustrates the importance and the role of technology in transforming the universe. The article describes the future as a parochial present and provides an opportunity to predict the struggle in human life.
Actually, it is impossible to delineate futurity since it is a useful component of predicting the future based on the events of the present. The article provides insight to the philosophical arguments that explore the predictability of life extensions, and offers solutions to the social and ethical implications. In the past, transhumanism has always supported the futurological discourse because its foundations are based on the importance of technology and futurity, as a decision-making tool. To tell the truth, The Transhumanist Reader has a diverse range of similarities with the Futurological Discourses and Posthuman Terrains article. Our present state of knowledge is important in the expansion of the frontiers associated with the human nature. Futurity assists thinkers to capture openness and provide judgments and scrutiny in life situations. The integration of the transhumanism futurological feature in the article provides a way forward to induce transhumanism concepts in real life. There is also need to pay attention to the dissimilarities associated with transhumanism and the futurological discourse.
Transhumanism and futurological discourse shares several ideologies. The author has applied the concepts of transhumanism in backing up his arguments regarding throughout the essay. The content depicts a high level of similarity in connection to transhumanism and highlights the worth of transhumanism in the present. The text in the article dazzles us because it depicts the application of concepts of transhumanism. The author believes in the power of advanced technology and hopes that it will assist in the global transformational process. In reality, Futurological discourse has predicted the occurrences on the future based on the present events prompting the need to prepare for the worst. The author is well-rounded with the knowledge of transhumanism, and he incorporates it in an essay to bring a sensation in the writings. The presentation of ideas is incredible! Currently, transhumanism has become a popular concept. As a result, this has has led to the development of science fiction and use of technology in developing an advanced human point. In addition, Carrico disregards the impact of transhumanism and claims that the human mind has been brainwashed by the events linked to futurology in predicting what will happen in the future.
Work cited
Carrico, Dale. "Futurological Discourses and Posthuman Terrains." An International Journal in Philosophy, Religion, Politics and Art 8.2 (2013): n. pag. Web.
Moore, M, and N. Vita-More. "THE TRANSHUMANIST READER." Classical and Contemporary Essays on the Science, Technology, and Philosophy of the Human Future (2013): n. pag. Web.
