The Concept Of The Post-Human Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The concept Of The Post-Human - Essay ExampleBut, the outstanding development of sciences, especially such as genetics, bio engine room, informatics, cybernetics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, astrophysics, cosmology and others, guide to significant changes in the customary understanding of the relationship surrounded by kinds and nature. Pepperell (1997) argues that new findings in the neo scientific researches pose today more questions than answers about the universe, nature and humans moreover, the tendency towards the developments of artificial life, synthesised intelligence, secondment telecommunications and virtual reality means that we be now aware of a disappearing barrier between natural and human-made phenomena (p.165). As a consequence of the shifts in the understanding of human power and beliefs in humans superiority, an idea of post-humanism was born in 1940s and nowadays it has become quite popular, especially at bottom science-fiction-minded circles (Clark 2010). This paper is aimed to explore the meaning of the concept of the post-human and to discuss major assumed hazards for humans related to the concept, with the references to dickens famous movies Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982) and the Terminator series (James Cameron, 1984 1991). The films not only help to realise the workable threats to humanity from uncontrolled development of technologies, but, importantly, they raise even more probing questions about the consequences of our definitions of the human (Pyle 2000 p.124). What is the post-human? The other(a) definitions of a post-human society are connected with the cybernetic movement started by Norbert Weiner in the 1940s, then ideas of the post-humanism experience been popularised by American futurists (such as Stephen Hawking, Alvin Toffler and others) (Clark 2010). Gradually the concept of the post-human has been developing, inspiring many of natural scientists and philosophers, as rise up as science-fiction writers, artists and film-makers. Generally speaking, a post-human is a conceptual imaging of biotechnological or cybernetic systemic couplings (Cobley 2010 p.294). before long this concept is utilise in several meanings. Pepperell (1997) suggests three cases of the terms using (1) it is used to reason the end of the Humanism period in the historical process of the world social development (2) it is used to emphasise the transformation of a human beings concept, mentioned above (3) it refers to the current persistent lap of technologies and human organisms, leading to a future state of humanity in which biology is merged with technology (p.174). The latter meaning draws the most attention in the world research society and causes heat debates, especially between the so called transhumanists and their opponents. According to the definition of Marx More Posthumans will be persons of unprecedented physical, intellectual and psychological ability, self-programming and self-defining, potentially immortal, unlimited individuals. Posthumans have overcome the biological, neurological, and psychological constraints evolved into humans. Our personalities having been transferred into more durable, modifiable, and faster, and more powerful bodies and thinking hardware (cited in Pepperell 1997 p.175). Bostrom (2003) explains what advantages the posthuman persons will have in comparing with the current state of human beings. Among them there are a higher level of intellectuality and consciousness resistance to many diseases and nonsusceptibility to aging