Transhumanism

[Arakir]

What is the general consensus here on Transhumanism, and other associated sciences such as cryonics and life extension?

[garrus]

The general consensus is that it rawks.(I decided unanimously that i speak for everyone.)

Seriously though, the counter-arguments have a primitivist or a religious source.

So yeah.:)

[Jimmie Higgins]

What is the general consensus here on Transhumanism, and other associated sciences such as cryonics and life extension?As it's all still speculative, I'm sure there is a range of opinions and not much of a consensus. We've had topics on this before and it seems to varry between full-on drooling support to near ludditism.

Personally I have no problem with any of these potential technologies in the abstract, but I do think we'd have something to fear from the capitalist development and deployment of this kind of tech: at best the benifits will be experienced inequally, at worst we'll all be killed by advanced tech developed for weapons or rapid extraction of resources due to quicker and more effective mechanisms for helping capitalists compete and amass value. Basically the same problems we have with current technology.

I am also skepitcal of some of the techno-utopians because they tend to see these technologies as solving (what marxists see as inherent) contraditions (or "technical problems" according to liberals) of capitalism. Thje system always adapts new technology to profit-making, new technology alone doesn't adapt capitalism to it.