Dead end evolution?
Thursday, August 6, 2009 by Robz
Okay so after hearing about those Extropian people I decided to look a little (emphasis on the little) deeper on the matter. I went on a website that was all about this particular group ( http://www.extropy.org/) and read up on some of their "current projects". At first glance I found it to be boarder line Mad Scientist territory. But the group or whatever they are seem to be very organised and public about what they are trying to achieve and aim for.
They have a number of vague goals that all aim to improve the human life span and quality of life. My impression from this is that their goals will be achieved through the merging of more advanced technology and the human body (hello sci-fi cyborgs) until the point where any human/flesh component will no longer be needed. And while the idea of me being 20 feet high with large laser cannons for arms is very appealing, I do think that this whole "giving evolution a cybernetic kick up the backside" is a bad idea.
The whole point of evolution is that we adapt to things that need adapting to. In my opinion using technology to advance physically is in the long run a bad idea. We may have some incredible ideas on how to use technology but in the end we will run out of ideas and then what? We reach a dead end on the evolutionar road. Can't go forward, machines evolve as we do, and we can't go back.
Plus one little side note, if we are all half-machine or whatever I do believe that someone might go on a power trip and get a little "dooms day" on us. People are violent already a flesh and blood. Giving them metal skin might not go down to well.
Not to mention the fact that if everyone is a robot and lives forever, how do we make babies? And I'm thinking that in a few hundred years or so the earth might become "standing room only".
They have a number of vague goals that all aim to improve the human life span and quality of life. My impression from this is that their goals will be achieved through the merging of more advanced technology and the human body (hello sci-fi cyborgs) until the point where any human/flesh component will no longer be needed. And while the idea of me being 20 feet high with large laser cannons for arms is very appealing, I do think that this whole "giving evolution a cybernetic kick up the backside" is a bad idea.
The whole point of evolution is that we adapt to things that need adapting to. In my opinion using technology to advance physically is in the long run a bad idea. We may have some incredible ideas on how to use technology but in the end we will run out of ideas and then what? We reach a dead end on the evolutionar road. Can't go forward, machines evolve as we do, and we can't go back.
Plus one little side note, if we are all half-machine or whatever I do believe that someone might go on a power trip and get a little "dooms day" on us. People are violent already a flesh and blood. Giving them metal skin might not go down to well.
Not to mention the fact that if everyone is a robot and lives forever, how do we make babies? And I'm thinking that in a few hundred years or so the earth might become "standing room only".