User:Paul Gambone/sandbox

Article Evaluation

Resource 1: Transhumanism

Resource 2: Existential risk from artificial general intelligence

Resource 3 Ethical, Legal and Social Aspects research

Resource 4 Criticism of technology

Resource 5 Privileged positions of business and science

Article Summary:Transhumanism

Definition - Transhumanism is a philosophical movement the proponents of which advocate the enhancement of the human condition by developing and making widely available sophisticated technologies able to greatly enhance longevity, mood and cognitive abilities.

The article covers the thought process of how emerging technologies can allow for people to overcome natural limitations of human biology. There are both potential benefits and potential risks with the progression of these technologies. The article covers the history, progression, theories, and ethics of transhumanism as well as detailing the benefits and risks. Transhumanism is described as being a topic previously related to solely science fiction, but with the the technological advancements that we have today it is now becoming a reality. With surgical implantation of devices now being available and with the current study of being able to change DNA of a fetus in order to make the "ideal" human, these theories are no longer a thought of conspirators or of the far fetched imagination.

The objective of transhumanism is to allow for a new futuristic way of life that will further evolve the human race. With genetically modified "ideal" humans, anti-aging technologies, a higher brain functionality; humans can essentially be able to surpass any mental and physical barriers that come natural with being a human.

There are of course, ethical reasoning in opposition to the progression of transhumanism. Like any procedure, there are going to be a large sum of risks that come from having an evasive surgery that will implant unnatural foreign objects and devices into someone. There are risks of infections and side affects like any surgery, however any of these "enhancement" surgeries will have a variety of their own risks and concerns. Especially in consideration to the ones that involve a change in the brain itself, normal neurological surgeries are already one of the top most dangerous procedures to have. Now, add a new device to implant that is supposed to completely rewire the brain to an already highly risky surgery, there are hundreds of things that can go wrong. However, say that these procedures are able to be conducted safely with little to no complications and they manage to become popularized in countries and areas filled with people who have the access to these procedures and the means to pay for them. This would cause for an even larger technological gap between those who are fortunate enough to have access to the latest technologies and those who are not as fortunate. However, this gap would be of greater significance than just smart phones, computers, video game consoles, and any normal electronics that are currently available today. If the body itself was able to be changed in such a way, practically all biological functions of a posthuman (a person who is completely altered due to transhumanistic technology) and that of an unaltered biological human would be incomparable.