[extropy-chat] RE: Transhumanism == militant fascism (apparently)

[Jacob]

I agree with you whole-heartedly.  I would also suggest a system of
thought not too dissimilar to silver-grey thought from John C. Wright's
Golden Age designed to hold on to what it means to be human as well as
to allow mankind to progress.  Yet another adaptation that I think
mankind is fully capable of, and could occur naturally when some future
men begin to realize the effects of the technological changes they made.

--jb

c c wrote:

> Here's another personal experience: I was very influenced by the 'back
> to nature' world view that attained wide popular currency around 1969
> and continues to this day (reaching its period of maximum intensity, I
> would say, about 1971-' 73)
> At any rate, science at that time gave me the sensation of being one
> of a pair of dice on a darwinian roulette table; though I knew
> nature eventually became an enemy of an older person, I thought the
> aging process could be counteracted to a shall we say
> socially acceptable extent by gradually improved nutrition and of
> course exercise, physical therapy, etc. It was not so much at the time
> I thought lengthening lifespans was unnatural, but rather nebulous
> thoughts revolved around the idea that lengthening lifespans might
> lead to certain diminishing returns in a longer but more complicated
> and not necessarily more pleasant and/or happier life; the
> exasperations of a more complicated life might shorten or ruin that
> life. The latter has been proven to me as valid in many cases, but
> most people-- as you imply-- can rise to the challenges &
> opportunities of overcoming and adapting.
>  
>  
>
> */Jacob <xander25 at adelphia.net>/* wrote:
>
>     In response to Mr. Halelamien,
>
>     Speaking as a former anti-technology guy (very short period of time in
>     my life), my fears of transhumanism came from two sources:
>
>     1) Destructive to the human spirit
>
>     The more technologically advanced a society becomes, the less
>     interested
>     it is in matters that concern his well-being. Likewise, he becomes
>     increasingly incapable of handling changing factors that endanger it.
>     Examine for instance the phenomona of the internet. How many computer
>     enthusiasts get out these days? How many get out into, appreciate, and
>     learn about nature? How many learn to socialize with others? I would
>     think these are fundamental aspects of what it means to be human.
>     Translated into transhumanism it becomes a matter of how will this new
>     technology affect humans? It could make our lives easier yes, but in
>     doing so make! s us slaves to the technology that was meant to
>     help us.
>     This is possibly where I think the slashdot poster was coming from, as
>     he wasn't clear. However, who says that technology needs to be
>     enslaving?
>
>     a. It opens doors to undiscovered potential we haven't been capable of
>     in the past.
>     b. The human spirit is about overcoming and adapting. It's there where
>     our strength appears. To figure out ways to preserve who we are, and
>     yet advance at the same time. Take for example the automobile. It
>     opened up a world of new possibilities. The caveat now is that we no
>     longer have to toil in ways done in the past. Humans developed
>     excercise (hence adapting) to reclaim to what was lost.
>
>     2) Damaging to organic tissue along with it's not natural! This can be
>     solved with time, it's just a matter of study. The problem is vastly
>     overstated. The unnatural part is refuted by asking what is natural?
>     If science and it's application is a product of the ! human mind,
>     and if
>     the human mind is natural, then how is it unnatural?
>
>     I am utterly shocked that both arguments come from either side of the
>     political fence (though seems to come more from the left). So, I don't
>     think it is a mainly political argument.
>
>     --Jacob Bennett
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