Anders Sandberg replied:
>
>Predisposed? Inevitably? To quote J. de Lyser (and I think he has a point):
>
> The whole point of transhumanist movements is to do away with
> deterministic thinking. There is no 'grand scheme of things'
> into which each individual has her/his 'place' or 'task' to
> fulfill. A rejection of a pre-determined 'destiny' lies at the
> very core of our movements. Wether that destiny for the
> individual has been set by natures genetic codes, or by some
> 'higher being' makes no difference IMO. J. de Lyser
>
Though I appreciate you responding to it, I'm not sure my definition is as
heretical as you suggest. "Predisposed" and "Destined" do not happen to be
synonyms. I'm not saying there's a grand plan. Hell, the fact that a
sentient life form even evolved on this planet is an amazing and glorious
accident. But, it does appear that we have a hierarchy or needs and when
the baser one are met, we "tend" to seek to meet higher order needs and this
appears to be a trans-cultural phenomenon. I think it's what truly sets us
apart from the other life forms on the planet. We're just not satisfied
with homeostatic routines. In a way, we embody the very forces of evolution
that brought us here on both an individual and a societal level.