In my illustration of Transhumanism, I sketched a half-human half-robot being, which could also possibly be a full robot masked as a human, or a human, enhanced with robotics. The art concept is inspired by The Bionic Woman.
————————————————————-
In modern society, we’re often taught to push past our limits, to place mind over body and seek ways to improve every aspect of our lives. Of course, there are myriad perspectives and discourses that people are fighting for – albeit with the same goal of seeking vast improvement – whether in terms of one’s physical ability, mental wellness, or overall health status.
Previously, we discussed the topic on cloning, the technology behind it and its potential to become a platform for further genetic efforts to give humans the advantage, for example, to overcome physical limitations. In this piece, we naturally shift our focus onto the concept and movement that is transhumanism, which over time has also become a key driver to help proponents achieve the goal of being “more than just human”.
Transhumanism constantly seeks the use of technology and science to enhance human physical and mental capabilities. Essentially, the goal of transhumanism is to extend human life and improve the human condition by using cutting-edge technologies such as biotechnology, genetics, and artificial intelligence.
In essence, to transcend human capabilities, to have powers and abilities beyond those of standard humans.
David Pearce, a British philosopher and one of the key figures in the transhumanist movement, introduced the concept of the “abolitionist project” that aims to eliminate suffering in all forms by using technology and science.
Of drugs and chemistry
He has raised the idea of using designer drugs to affect brain chemistry and eliminate the root causes of mental suffering, such as depression, anxiety, and psychoses. In a way, these designer drugs will enable one to step into a world void of mental suffering, a seemingly quickfire treatment that yields results quicker than current progressive methods. It’s akin to trumping human weakness and finding that cheat code to program sanity.
Psychosis, by definition, describes a mental state that is characterised by a loss of contact with reality. People who are experiencing psychosis may showcase symptoms such as hallucinations and disordered thinking. Schizophrenia, for example, is a type of psychotic disorder than can be treated with antipsychotic drugs such as chlorpromazine, first introduced in the 1950s and is still used today.
To put it simply, antipsychotic drugs work by blocking the action of neurotransmitters in the brain, such as dopamine, which are perceived to be involved in the development of psychotic symptoms. Apart from helping to reduce the severity of such symptoms, antipsychotic drugs can also enhance overall functioning as well as heighten a person’s recovery from a psychotic episode.
Gene-editing: Trying to play god?
A movement can only gather momentum when theories begin to produce tangible results. Genetics is one field in which transhumanist ambitions are beginning to encounter real scientific tools.
The Human Genome Project has given researchers an increasingly detailed catalogue of human DNA, while gene therapy seeks to introduce genetic material that may compensate for defective or missing genes. Scientists are also experimenting with more targeted techniques, including engineered zinc-finger nucleases capable of cutting selected DNA sequences in human cells.
These methods remain experimental and are primarily being investigated as possible treatments for disease. Researchers have not acquired the ability to safely redesign complex human characteristics. Nevertheless, the possibility of targeted genetic modification raises difficult questions about where medicine might end and enhancement might begin.
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis already allows some families undergoing in-vitro fertilisation to test embryos for particular inherited abnormalities before pregnancy. Although this process selects between embryos rather than rewriting their DNA, it demonstrates how reproductive technology may increasingly influence which genetic characteristics are passed to future generations.
Moreover, researchers are also exploring the use of gene therapy and an emerging biotechnology revolution to treat cancer and other diseases. Transhumanists, in a way, endeavour to use advances in genetics to conceive a future whereby people can be born with perfect health, coming into the world free from genetic disorders.
Genetic engineering, for some time, has been used extensively in agriculture, primarily to conceive genetically modified (GM) crops (also known as GMO –genetically modified organisms). Some genetically modified crops are engineered to tolerate particular herbicides or resist certain insect pests. Other modifications may target yield, nutrition or shelf life, but the results vary considerably by crop and trait.
Similarly, such a modification concept is thought to be in line with what can be done for humans, where genetically engineered bacteria, for example, is being used to produce human insulin and other pharmaceuticals.
Some transhumanists imagine that genetic engineering may eventually influence characteristics such as strength, endurance, appearance or cognitive ability. At present, however, these characteristics are biologically complex and cannot be predictably engineered through any available genetic technology.
————————————————————-
In the future, I believe that robotic prosthetics will be available readily, and being able to be controlled with a computer chip (neurochip) embedded in one’s head.
————————————————————-
Marrying science and technology
The idea of human life as being fragile and brittle is something that transhumanists aim to negate. They believe that advancements in technology can greatly improve human life. Portable heart-rate monitors, pedometers, sports watches and home exercise equipment are examples of the growing effort to measure physical performance and encourage people to improve their health.
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) also comes into mind for transhumanist efforts, including Microsoft’s new ClearFlow traffic maps and the driverless robotic cars created by Stanford teams for competitions – sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Transhumanists believe that these technologies have the potential to dramatically improve human life by allowing us to overcome physical limitations, improve our cognitive abilities, and extend our lifespans.
At times, it is thought that technology and science, while seemingly intertwined, is difficult to meld together to create a cohesive piece of product. This is due to the varying levels of development and advancement stages in both spheres of technology and science research – where one could be ahead of another.
However, when technology and science do come together as one, it is recorded as a triumph in the books of transhumanists, such as the development of prosthetic limbs. The advancement in robotics and materials science research has enabled the creation of prosthetics that are not only functional but also look and feel like natural limbs. Better yet, scientists have developed brain-machine interfaces that allow prosthetic users to control their limbs using only their thoughts.
Researchers have also demonstrated experimental brain–machine interfaces through which neural signals can control cursors or mechanical devices. These systems remain confined to small studies, but they suggest that people with paralysis or limb loss may one day regain a degree of movement and independence through a direct connection between the brain and a machine.
The work has not yet transformed the lives of millions, but it demonstrates the profound potential that can emerge when neuroscience, engineering and computing are brought together.
————————————————————-
