Md Sadat Hussain Rafsanjani :
The biggest mystery of nature is evolution of human being and their subsequent progress throughout the ages. As time passes by, we tend to rely overwhelmingly on the use of technology. Today we live in a world where we are used to apply technologies in every aspect of life, to move around, to seek information or to communicate. Human has consciousness, they are able to think and create that other species cannot.
The trans-humanism philosophy is to realize what would be the future technologies by observing the current trends and combines current trends and future technologies to bring beneficial changes in the future. The concept is noted as H+ movement.
According to World Trans-humanist Association, the main motto of trans-humanism is to redesigning human condition by means of technology such as unwanted human psychology, inevitability of human aging and limitations of human brain. Trans-humanist thoughts can be traced back to early times such as in the Epic of Gilgamesh where quest of immortality is mentioned. Herodotus wrote about fountain of youth, where if bathed or the water is drunk can restore youth. Elixir of life is a popular philosophic treaty that implies a mythological potion or drug if consumed in a definite time from a certain cup can grant the drinker an eternal life. Later in 1769 French philosopher Denis Diderot discussed about the topic. He implicated that mind is not separated from body. He argued since lower animals are evolving to greater intelligence, human mind can be rebuilt. He also foretold about machine mind. Then British geneticists John Burdon Sanderson Haldane wrote an essay about the advance use of science on human biology in 1923. Inspired by the writings, Cambridge crystallographer John Desmond Bernal wrote another article about the space colonization and radical changes to human body. Eventually, British scientist Sir Julian Sorel Huxley coined the term trans-humanism in 1957.
From a broader prospect we can say the H+ movement emphasises the employment of technology in human life to enhance humanity to a superior state or level from current state. Specifically, the concept urges to increase human longevity, intelligence and welfare through the use of modern technology. Scientists argue that with the application of technology the ageing process of human life can be subsided, human can achieve super intelligence without committing any error and their moral ethos can be ameliorated in vast extent. Some already postulated that we are almost trans-human as we share a symbiotic relationship that is a benefiting relationship with the surrounding technologies.
Before get into the deep we must understand what is trans-human. A trans-human is a man who takes the first steps to become the post human. A post human is a human descendant who has augmented to such an extent that he is no longer considered a human. Trans-humanism demands three distinct changes that will evolve a post human persona. These are super longevity, super intelligence and super well-being.
Super longevity is the first steps towards trans-human movement. Imagine a world where we can stay healthy and alive as long as possible by taking medicine. In that process we can become a species who can stay alive as long as they want. Aging will be stopped, birth rate would be massive. Imagine a world without olds?
The second goal is called super intelligence. According to Moor’s law provided by semiconductor engineer Gordon G More in 1965, the numbers of chips that can be put in a square inch get doubled in every eighteen months. That means the power of computing is increasing inversely with the size. Scientists implicated that the in the near future the technology will achieve a state that they names singularity. What is singularity? Singularity can be described in many ways. Singularity means state of being singular, distant or alone. Mathematically singularity means a point where all lines meet or a point where measurable variable meets immeasurable variables. The term first came to light in 1993 when scientist and Hugo award winner Vernor Steffen Vinge mentioned it in his article. He implied after the evolution of super intelligence soon human era would be ended, as intelligent machine will supersede mankind. He described four possible chances; development of advanced artificial intelligence, gaining self-awareness of computer networks, evaluation of trans-human and rise of engineered human intelligence. Vernor interestingly mentioned a concept that is called artificial general intelligence, sometimes called strong AI. AGI is the intelligence level that when a machine is given can perform any intellectual task that a normal human brain can. He implied, when in the near future man will give birth of AGI, the machine will become self-aware and it will be able to improve itself recursively. Such recursive procedure will make the machines superior to human. Even I machine can start to see human as redundant.
In that state the technology will gain intelligence and it will be recursively self-improving. That intelligence will be precise, speedy and super intelligent, always one-step further from human brain. Even human will augment technology to their body and we can easily immerse into a world where we can interact with these super intelligent agents. In fact, we will submerge into an intelligent world.
Scientist also made some postulates to avoid the singularity. Technical safety can be to make the machine avoid self-awareness. It is like implementing a firmware that cognate with the singularity and eventually self-destruct. Some also tried to popularise three laws of robotics coined by famous science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov.
The third requirement is also very interesting. It is like our parents can implement certain characteristics before we are born, like how much intelligent we will be, what level of depression or anxiety we will have and how much pain we can take.
In trans-humanism we see a number of technologies converged with each other. These are artificial intelligence, intelligence amplification, nano-technology, biotechnology, cognitive science, information technology etc. Nano biotechnology is one of the prime fields of trans-humanism. Nano means dwarf, one nanometer equals to one billionth of a meter. Scientist already proclaims that Nano-robot can be used to carry oxygen or clean cholesterol inside human body. Even they predicted in near future human mind could be upload-able over computer and Internet with all of its information. This means scanning all details of a human brain and then instantiating those details on a powerful computational device, which can perceive the entire personality, intelligence, memory and skills of the brain bearer. The procedure is simple. After the brain is frozen to solid state, it is sliced in pieces. Then each slice is scanned under electron microscope. These images can be later used to reconstruct brain circuits. In this way human brain can achieve cybernetic immortality. Trans-humanist sees the human body as a machine where the brain is the main controller and if it can be preserved after death can be revived in due time. The phenomenon can be useful for humanity, as we can exist immortal inside computer as long as we want. We can move universally wherever the computer goes; we can control the laws of physics.
One of the modern pioneers of trans-human concept was FM-2030. Sounds unusual? FM-2030 is a concept started by Iranian author and futurist Fereidoun M Esfandiary. He proclaimed that 2030 would be his death year, the 100th year in his life (although died in 2000) and he changed his name to FM-2030. His book ‘Are You A Trans-human’ popularised the trans-human movement. After his death the body was put in to cryonic suspension in Alcor Life Extension Foundation as he believed human can be brought back from death in near future. Alcor is a non-profit research organisation that stores body after their legal death in liquid nitrogen for future reanimation. Several scientist and celebrities had taken membership in Alcor. The membership cost is pretty high starts from $20,000 to many ranges.
But the question remains are we trans-human already? Since technology has taken all major aspects of our day-to-day life, we can easily realise that this relationship is not actually symbiotic. In fact, technology making human brain unproductive and in some cases dull. Say for example, years ago people would use to remember phone numbers of their acquaintance or they would easily perform algebraic equation without any assistance of electronic calculator. But now the situation is changes or we should say ameliorated. We also see the rise of social networking sites, smart-phones and tablet pc in the hand of youth. Even these days young generation considers owning multiple gadgets. We need to realise that using videoconference application over Internet or able to operate a smart phone should not be considered as the quality of a smart man. He is using or we should say he owns the right to operate over Internet with the power of money. People even say that modern day kids are very sharp or intelligent. That is a white lie, in fact a cruel business policy of technology industry to give halo effect to the mass. If it were true then would be a flood of geniuses in every house like Newton, Einstein or Nikola Tesla. Technology based crimes are inclining too. Neither smartness nor intelligence has anything do with using Internet or smart phone it. We are moving forward the foundation, foundation of self-destruction. n
[The title is inspired from Isaac Asimov Novel]
The biggest mystery of nature is evolution of human being and their subsequent progress throughout the ages. As time passes by, we tend to rely overwhelmingly on the use of technology. Today we live in a world where we are used to apply technologies in every aspect of life, to move around, to seek information or to communicate. Human has consciousness, they are able to think and create that other species cannot.
The trans-humanism philosophy is to realize what would be the future technologies by observing the current trends and combines current trends and future technologies to bring beneficial changes in the future. The concept is noted as H+ movement.
According to World Trans-humanist Association, the main motto of trans-humanism is to redesigning human condition by means of technology such as unwanted human psychology, inevitability of human aging and limitations of human brain. Trans-humanist thoughts can be traced back to early times such as in the Epic of Gilgamesh where quest of immortality is mentioned. Herodotus wrote about fountain of youth, where if bathed or the water is drunk can restore youth. Elixir of life is a popular philosophic treaty that implies a mythological potion or drug if consumed in a definite time from a certain cup can grant the drinker an eternal life. Later in 1769 French philosopher Denis Diderot discussed about the topic. He implicated that mind is not separated from body. He argued since lower animals are evolving to greater intelligence, human mind can be rebuilt. He also foretold about machine mind. Then British geneticists John Burdon Sanderson Haldane wrote an essay about the advance use of science on human biology in 1923. Inspired by the writings, Cambridge crystallographer John Desmond Bernal wrote another article about the space colonization and radical changes to human body. Eventually, British scientist Sir Julian Sorel Huxley coined the term trans-humanism in 1957.
From a broader prospect we can say the H+ movement emphasises the employment of technology in human life to enhance humanity to a superior state or level from current state. Specifically, the concept urges to increase human longevity, intelligence and welfare through the use of modern technology. Scientists argue that with the application of technology the ageing process of human life can be subsided, human can achieve super intelligence without committing any error and their moral ethos can be ameliorated in vast extent. Some already postulated that we are almost trans-human as we share a symbiotic relationship that is a benefiting relationship with the surrounding technologies.
Before get into the deep we must understand what is trans-human. A trans-human is a man who takes the first steps to become the post human. A post human is a human descendant who has augmented to such an extent that he is no longer considered a human. Trans-humanism demands three distinct changes that will evolve a post human persona. These are super longevity, super intelligence and super well-being.
Super longevity is the first steps towards trans-human movement. Imagine a world where we can stay healthy and alive as long as possible by taking medicine. In that process we can become a species who can stay alive as long as they want. Aging will be stopped, birth rate would be massive. Imagine a world without olds?
The second goal is called super intelligence. According to Moor’s law provided by semiconductor engineer Gordon G More in 1965, the numbers of chips that can be put in a square inch get doubled in every eighteen months. That means the power of computing is increasing inversely with the size. Scientists implicated that the in the near future the technology will achieve a state that they names singularity. What is singularity? Singularity can be described in many ways. Singularity means state of being singular, distant or alone. Mathematically singularity means a point where all lines meet or a point where measurable variable meets immeasurable variables. The term first came to light in 1993 when scientist and Hugo award winner Vernor Steffen Vinge mentioned it in his article. He implied after the evolution of super intelligence soon human era would be ended, as intelligent machine will supersede mankind. He described four possible chances; development of advanced artificial intelligence, gaining self-awareness of computer networks, evaluation of trans-human and rise of engineered human intelligence. Vernor interestingly mentioned a concept that is called artificial general intelligence, sometimes called strong AI. AGI is the intelligence level that when a machine is given can perform any intellectual task that a normal human brain can. He implied, when in the near future man will give birth of AGI, the machine will become self-aware and it will be able to improve itself recursively. Such recursive procedure will make the machines superior to human. Even I machine can start to see human as redundant.
In that state the technology will gain intelligence and it will be recursively self-improving. That intelligence will be precise, speedy and super intelligent, always one-step further from human brain. Even human will augment technology to their body and we can easily immerse into a world where we can interact with these super intelligent agents. In fact, we will submerge into an intelligent world.
Scientist also made some postulates to avoid the singularity. Technical safety can be to make the machine avoid self-awareness. It is like implementing a firmware that cognate with the singularity and eventually self-destruct. Some also tried to popularise three laws of robotics coined by famous science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov.
The third requirement is also very interesting. It is like our parents can implement certain characteristics before we are born, like how much intelligent we will be, what level of depression or anxiety we will have and how much pain we can take.
In trans-humanism we see a number of technologies converged with each other. These are artificial intelligence, intelligence amplification, nano-technology, biotechnology, cognitive science, information technology etc. Nano biotechnology is one of the prime fields of trans-humanism. Nano means dwarf, one nanometer equals to one billionth of a meter. Scientist already proclaims that Nano-robot can be used to carry oxygen or clean cholesterol inside human body. Even they predicted in near future human mind could be upload-able over computer and Internet with all of its information. This means scanning all details of a human brain and then instantiating those details on a powerful computational device, which can perceive the entire personality, intelligence, memory and skills of the brain bearer. The procedure is simple. After the brain is frozen to solid state, it is sliced in pieces. Then each slice is scanned under electron microscope. These images can be later used to reconstruct brain circuits. In this way human brain can achieve cybernetic immortality. Trans-humanist sees the human body as a machine where the brain is the main controller and if it can be preserved after death can be revived in due time. The phenomenon can be useful for humanity, as we can exist immortal inside computer as long as we want. We can move universally wherever the computer goes; we can control the laws of physics.
One of the modern pioneers of trans-human concept was FM-2030. Sounds unusual? FM-2030 is a concept started by Iranian author and futurist Fereidoun M Esfandiary. He proclaimed that 2030 would be his death year, the 100th year in his life (although died in 2000) and he changed his name to FM-2030. His book ‘Are You A Trans-human’ popularised the trans-human movement. After his death the body was put in to cryonic suspension in Alcor Life Extension Foundation as he believed human can be brought back from death in near future. Alcor is a non-profit research organisation that stores body after their legal death in liquid nitrogen for future reanimation. Several scientist and celebrities had taken membership in Alcor. The membership cost is pretty high starts from $20,000 to many ranges.
But the question remains are we trans-human already? Since technology has taken all major aspects of our day-to-day life, we can easily realise that this relationship is not actually symbiotic. In fact, technology making human brain unproductive and in some cases dull. Say for example, years ago people would use to remember phone numbers of their acquaintance or they would easily perform algebraic equation without any assistance of electronic calculator. But now the situation is changes or we should say ameliorated. We also see the rise of social networking sites, smart-phones and tablet pc in the hand of youth. Even these days young generation considers owning multiple gadgets. We need to realise that using videoconference application over Internet or able to operate a smart phone should not be considered as the quality of a smart man. He is using or we should say he owns the right to operate over Internet with the power of money. People even say that modern day kids are very sharp or intelligent. That is a white lie, in fact a cruel business policy of technology industry to give halo effect to the mass. If it were true then would be a flood of geniuses in every house like Newton, Einstein or Nikola Tesla. Technology based crimes are inclining too. Neither smartness nor intelligence has anything do with using Internet or smart phone it. We are moving forward the foundation, foundation of self-destruction. n
[The title is inspired from Isaac Asimov Novel]
