The topic of the obsolescence of the human body and its implications for the question of whether the human mind can exist independently of the body has been a subject of philosophical, psychological, and spiritual discussion for centuries.
In the past, the primary use of the human body was for survival and physical labour, such as hunting and farming. However, with the advancement of technology, machines are now taking over many of these tasks. As a result, the human body is now used less for physical labour. The use of the human body may become even less necessary in the future. Human ageing also and its limitations lead us to think about the possibility that the human body is in obsolescence.
It is important to consider the concept of the obsolescence of the human body and its potential impact on our understanding of the relationship between the mind and body.
Transhumanism is the belief that we can use technology to enhance our physical and cognitive abilities and overcome the limitations of our bodies. This movement includes replacing or augmenting our bodies with technological devices, such as prosthetics, exosuits, or even brain-computer interfaces.
Kurzweil, R. (2005) argues that Singularity will be driven by the convergence of different technological fields, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and biotechnology, and will have profound implications for our bodies and minds. He predicts that in the near future, humans will merge with machines to overcome the limitations of our bodies and achieve immortality.
While transhumanism is still in its early stages, it has the potential to greatly improve our quality of life and overcome the limitations of our bodies as our bodies are in obsolescence. There are still many ethical and practical considerations to take into account, according to Bostrom. N, we have a moral obligation to pursue human enhancement technologies, provided that they do not pose significant risks to the well-being of individuals and society, because developing superintelligent AI is a crucial issue for the future of humanity.
Savulescu, J. (2015) argues In his book” Enhancing Humanity “that transhumanism poses significant ethical challenges, including questions about what it means to be human, the impact of human enhancement on inequality and social justice, and the role of personal responsibility in a world where technological advancements are rapidly changing what is possible. Also, Fukuyama argues that the rapid advancement of biotechnology poses significant risks to our political and social order, particularly in terms of exacerbating existing inequalities and undermining human dignity.
To sum up, the obsolescence of the human body and our body and mind is a complicated matter that demands thoughtful consideration. As technology evolves, we must reflect on how these changes impact our identities as human beings and carefully weigh the ethical and practical implications. The future of humanity, whether or not we adopt the possibilities of transhumanism, is unclear, but exploring the challenges we may face is crucial.
References
Bostrom, N. (2014). Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies. Oxford University Press.
Kurzweil, R. (2005). The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology. Penguin.
Fukuyama, F. (2002). Our posthuman future: Consequences of the biotechnology revolution. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Savulescu, J. (2015). Enhancing Humanity: The Philosophical Debate. Oxford University Press.