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In theory, I could be happy to live as a disembodied mind, without drinking water. But I'm built out of a specific technology, and that technology has an agenda

by jcl 18y ago

In theory, I could be happy to live as a disembodied mind, without drinking water. But I'm built out of a specific technology, and that technology has an agenda. In a sense, this validates Ted K's paranoia. Each of us is actually a colony of living organisms, but we don't think of ourselves as such. We don't, for instance, mourn the daily loss of millions of skin cells, barely a month old. We have no emotional attachment to our substrate; up until a few centuries ago, we weren't even aware it existed as such. Given the option, I'd bet many of us would choose to be made of something more durable and predictable, to move beyond cell colonies. In some distant future, might not the larger system -- comprised of humans and their technology -- think the same thing?

mechanical_fish 18y ago
We're sailing forth into even deeper philosophical waters now, and into a realm where personal opinion plays a big role. But I'd say two things here. One is that, in practice, I doubt that I could be really be happy as a disembodied mind. I am, in fact, rather emotionally attached to my substrate. We enjoy being human -- that's what our brains were designed for, after all -- and even when we're cybernetically enhanced we tend to use that power in amusingly human ways, like World of Warcraft: An incredibly complex electronic simulation of a bunch of people gathering in small bands and tribes to go hunting and kill big animals. The other thing is that humans have long since moved beyond cell colonies. We and our technologies -- books, artifacts, traditions, tools that we can make and pass on to others -- have been creating more durable, predictable institutions for centuries. Of course, an institution, like a university or a corporation, is no longer particularly similar to an individual human, just as an ant colony is not similar to an individual ant. I regard this as further evidence that having a human nature is inextricably linked to being embedded in a mortal human body.
- jcl 18y ago
  Granted, we are fond of our forms, but I'm still not convinced that we're particularly fond of our cells. I think that, given the option, most people would choose to live in a body that is identical in appearance and function to their own but that needn't get sick, tired, hungry, or old -- even if it meant replacing the cell substrate with something different. Actually, for all intents and purposes, that is the goal of modern medical science. Sure, achieving it would raise all sorts of new issues and problems, but it's what we work towards right now. Likewise, it wouldn't surprise me if a large system comprised of humans seeks to replace humans with more reliable parts. As you point out it's already happening. :)

by jcl 18y ago

mechanical_fish 18y ago

We're sailing forth into even deeper philosophical waters now, and into a realm where personal opinion plays a big role. But I'd say two things here. One is that, in practice, I doubt that I could be really be happy as a disembodied mind. I am, in fact, rather emotionally attached to my substrate. We enjoy being human -- that's what our brains were designed for, after all -- and even when we're cybernetically enhanced we tend to use that power in amusingly human ways, like World of Warcraft: An incredibly complex electronic simulation of a bunch of people gathering in small bands and tribes to go hunting and kill big animals. The other thing is that humans have long since moved beyond cell colonies. We and our technologies -- books, artifacts, traditions, tools that we can make and pass on to others -- have been creating more durable, predictable institutions for centuries. Of course, an institution, like a university or a corporation, is no longer particularly similar to an individual human, just as an ant colony is not similar to an individual ant. I regard this as further evidence that having a human nature is inextricably linked to being embedded in a mortal human body.

jcl 18y ago
Granted, we are fond of our forms, but I'm still not convinced that we're particularly fond of our cells. I think that, given the option, most people would choose to live in a body that is identical in appearance and function to their own but that needn't get sick, tired, hungry, or old -- even if it meant replacing the cell substrate with something different. Actually, for all intents and purposes, that is the goal of modern medical science. Sure, achieving it would raise all sorts of new issues and problems, but it's what we work towards right now. Likewise, it wouldn't surprise me if a large system comprised of humans seeks to replace humans with more reliable parts. As you point out it's already happening. :)