From: The Low Willow (phoenix@ugcs.caltech.edu)
Date: Mon Jan 20 1997 - 11:52:06 MST
On Dec 31, 3:36am, Steve Witham wrote:
} >From: phoenix@ugcs.caltech.edu (Twirlip of Greymist)
} If you haven't seen examples of non-humanness, if you don't get a chilling
} feeling of recognition when you hear that phrase "trying to become non-
} human," then you and I are in such different mental territories that my
Asking for definitions of terms isn't a bad response to confusion; it is
necessary to make sure we're talking about the same thing. Just because
some shares your chill does not mean that sthey share your values. Some
people think (or think they think) that any alteration of our bodies
would be moving away from humanness. Some transhumanists might share
that language, and thus rejoice in becoming nonhuman by taking steroids,
or cyborging, or gengineering [sic] their children. If someone thinks
of humanness as encompassing every base urge and emotion, and of being
human as having to wage a daily battle to maintain a decent level of
rationality and of balanced higher emotions (however they define that)
then to them transhuman and nonhuman will be synonymous.
} *Some parts*, sure, but humanity itself? I have a hard time thinking of
What is humanity itself?
Merry part,
-xx- Damien R. Sullivan X-) <*> http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~phoenix
Do not look upon this glass,
Lest your soul from this world pass
This legend burned upon its case
You dare not see the mirror's face.
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