"There are still numerous naysayers, who assert that it is wrong to "play God". Since this objection is seriously proposed by apperently intelligent people, it requires the formality of an explicit answer. At first, let us think primarily of improvement of future generations, although not excluding the question of remodelling living adults. The first and most obvious comment is that a hands-off policy does not avoid responsibility. Passivity is just one alternative among many, and it also has its consequences. To choose to do nothing is still a choice, with its advantages, disadvantages and probable sequelae. Unless these have actually been weighed, estimated and compared with alternatives, those who choose not to "play God" are choosing, instead, to play ostrich." Robert C.W. Ettinger in "Man into Superman" (1972)
Nick Bostrom has been awarded the title of (full) Professor of Applied Ethics at Oxford University, effective October first, 2008, in recognition of research “of outstanding quality” and his “significant international reputation.”
The Metaverse Roadmap Overview, an exploration of imminent 3D technologies, posited a number of different scenarios of what a future “metaverse” could look like. The four scenarios—augmented reality, life-logging, virtual worlds, and mirror worlds—each offered a different manifestation of an immersive 3D world. Of the four, I suspect that augmented reality is most likely to be widespread soon; moreover, when it hits, it’s going to have a surprisingly big impact. Not just in terms of “making the invisible visible”—showing us flows and information that we otherwise wouldn’t recognize—but also in terms of the opposite: making the visible invisible.
Dr. Phineas Waldolf Steel is a mentally twisted but awe-inspiring figure whose interests span the production of propaganda, the construction of chronically malfunctioning robots, puppet shows, and an ongoing attempt to become World Emperor for the purpose of turning this planet into a Utopian Playland.
Vernor Vinge, science fiction author, computer scientist, and retired mathematics professor, is the inventor of the term 'singularity' as applied to a future point of unprecedented technological progress, caused in part by the ability of machines to improve themselves using artificial intelligence.
We want athletes to break world records. We want them to remain extraordinary. So the increased use of human-enhancement technologies will become a necessity, perhaps even an obligation.
IEET Fellow Riccardo Campa, helped by IEET Board member Giulio Prisco and others, has crafted this very interesting statement of a transhumanist vision and strategic point of view, which has been endorsed and adopted by the Italian Transhumanist Association (AIT). The English translation was done by Stefano Vaj of the AIT, with advice from the IEET’s J. Hughes (who is not a member of the AIT). As with all translation the meanings have probably shifted somewhat, so please note that the original is online here.
In the realm of moral and legal debates, the right to life holds a highly esteemed position. However, the overwhelming support for an individual’s right to live appears to be one sided. The antithesis: the right to die is often neglected. In both the medical and scholarly communities alike the idea of a right to death is often scorned or brushed aside. There seems to be an underlying assumption in favor of life and an implicit belief that those that wish to end their lives are misinformed or mentally incompetent. This paper will defend the position that there are legitimate reasons and justifications for a person to request the right to die and that under certain circumstances it is morally obligatory that these rights be upheld.
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