From: Avatar Polymorph (avatarpolymorph@hotmail.com)
Date: Sun Aug 11 2002 - 00:39:24 MDT
Re the term posthuman and transhuman (Max More and Natasha etc.)---
I have had some discussions at bjklein about this. The terms are very fluid
and can be substantially modified by more sophisticated technologies.
For example, even under full-scale programmable intelligent molecular
nanotechnology a la Drexler [including miniaturized laser cellular surgery
and linked intra-cellular molecular supercomputers] you could envisage...
mortals
mortals who allow their biology to be "reset" through temporary invasive
techniques
augmented mortals and immortals (with nanoscale materials in brain fluid for
example)
fully changed mortals and immortals (e.g. as has been suggested via a
cell-by-cell mechanism)
individuals neurologically connecting to other individuals (i.e. one
otherwise neurolically separate) via broadcast technology
individuals uploaded into vr
The fact that individuals can fluctuate between chosen forms, both mortal
and immortal, will make these definitions even more fluid.
This is why I prefer the term "amortality" myself and largely disregard the
current cultural distinction between AI or artificial and biological. My
main distinction of import is between areas of physical interaction and
neurological systems. The fact that a virtual being has a physical
neurological substrate is also important to me. [ See
http://www.bjklein.com/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=&TOPIC_ID=486
_________________________________________________________________
Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Sat Nov 02 2002 - 09:16:00 MST