From: Hal Finney (hal@finney.org)
Date: Sat Apr 27 2002 - 00:32:00 MDT
Slashdot reported today on an interesting article in the Washington Post
about posthumanity by Joel Garreau,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50958-2002Apr25.html.
The article's "hook" is pretty dumb, focusing on superhero fantasies and
how future tech enhancements might give all of us those powers. But it
develops into a broader look at the possibilities and ethical challenges
of transforming humanity. It mentions Max More (who becomes Max Moore
on slashdot) and Ray Kurzweil, and also the debate this weekend between
Kurzweil and Greg Stock on whether cyborgs or biological entities will
rule the posthuman roost.
I saw Greg Stock speak earlier this week at UCSB. He focussed mostly on
near future biotech applications, talking about the genome sequencing and
how it could lead to enhancements in the near term via embryo selection.
He asked the audience (mostly UCSB students I think) how many would
take advantage of technology to enhance their own children if it were
possible, and slightly over half the hands went up. Stock said this was
pretty typical for the U.S., where about half the people generally favor
the technology. In some countries like India it is even more popular,
maybe 80% support it. In others like Japan it is less popular and only
about 20% would perform enhancements.
A quote from the Washington Post article:
> What will parents do when offered something that will increase their
> child's SAT scores by 200 points?
>
> What will athletes do when they are encouraged by extreme big-buck
> leagues to have medical pit crews?
>
> What will fat people do when offered an implant that will monitor and
> alter their metabolism?
>
> What will the military do when it can overcome the need to sleep?
>
> What will the aging do when offered memory enhancers?
>
> What will baby boomers do when it becomes obvious that Botox and Viagra
> are just the tip of the iceberg for the pharmagenetic sex-appeal industry?
>
> Suppose technology allows us to transcend seemingly impossible barriers,
> not only for ourselves but exponentially for our children? What price
> does trans-human wisdom and power demand?
>
> Shazam!
It's great to see these ideas entering the popular culture, in at least
somewhat more depth than we are going to get once Harry and Louise start
telling us what to think of posthumans.
Hal
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