Saint Michael Knowles recently discussed this on his show, and I really like (but disagree with) his answer. Paraphrasing:
“The surgeries we do now are designed to correct a deformity, or defect, or restoring normal functionality that is missing or has been lost. It brings up what is broken & fixes it. These surgeries they’re trying to do now will allow humans to surpass human limitations, to become superior, to be more than human. And I don’t think that’s right or good.”
Now coming from a deeply religious man, who likes to keep things natural & doesn’t like tampering with stuff. Praises the human form, really celebrates humanity…sure. He’s pretty consistent in character & I can see where he’s coming from, kind of.
I say, why the hell not become more than human? Why not see what greatness we are capable of, when augmented with cyber implants, robotics, and AI? The people are willing to become more, let them become more. See what happens. I think the good will outweigh the bad, and if there’s a god that has a big problem with that, well let him come down & say so. Until such a time occurs…let it play out. I want to see what we can do. 🙂
It might depend on how far you go with it, I guess. I don’t think we’re anywhere close to the archetypical cyberpunk dystopia that our media landscape is riddled with, but I do know that question of “what is the minimal requirement to be considered human” is a recurring concept in a lot of them, just because it’s the sort of question people today think about and don’t often have solid answers for.
I don’t think I would stop being a human if I was part robot. Are people with artificial hips or cochlear implants less human?
Saint Michael Knowles recently discussed this on his show, and I really like (but disagree with) his answer. Paraphrasing:
“The surgeries we do now are designed to correct a deformity, or defect, or restoring normal functionality that is missing or has been lost. It brings up what is broken & fixes it. These surgeries they’re trying to do now will allow humans to surpass human limitations, to become superior, to be more than human. And I don’t think that’s right or good.”
Now coming from a deeply religious man, who likes to keep things natural & doesn’t like tampering with stuff. Praises the human form, really celebrates humanity…sure. He’s pretty consistent in character & I can see where he’s coming from, kind of.
I say, why the hell not become more than human? Why not see what greatness we are capable of, when augmented with cyber implants, robotics, and AI? The people are willing to become more, let them become more. See what happens. I think the good will outweigh the bad, and if there’s a god that has a big problem with that, well let him come down & say so. Until such a time occurs…let it play out. I want to see what we can do. 🙂
It might depend on how far you go with it, I guess. I don’t think we’re anywhere close to the archetypical cyberpunk dystopia that our media landscape is riddled with, but I do know that question of “what is the minimal requirement to be considered human” is a recurring concept in a lot of them, just because it’s the sort of question people today think about and don’t often have solid answers for.