Topic Context

As mentioned in chat and around the previous forward thinking topic on robotics and automation, we’re looking at another aspect of the future to help open your mind to the realities of what is coming, and how prepared you will be to meet it.

Less a talk about doomsday, skynet, Cyberpunk dystopian futures, because honestly we’re already living in a dystopian world... this talk is to help us explore the possibilities that will arrive in our lifetimes, the philosophy we hold about this future, or those we may need to adopt to survive..

As with human beings being “blindsided” with COVID, humans are in for a radical change in the next century that leads into transhumanism, and eventually become posthuman, or as coined by Yuval Noah Harari, Homo Deus in his incredible Sapians series. I think I’ve plugged his stuff enough over past talks, but seriously if you haven’t read or listened to the series yet, I implore you to dive into it, you will not be disappointed.

Now, before we jump into our questions, unlike past talks I want to help describe some terms to help guide us along our talking points so we can have common ground on the different states Home Sapians would be moving through.

• We have classical humans from the stone age, where we were hunter gatherers spreading out across the globe after becoming the dominant Homo species, through the eradication of others.
• From this evolved through the ages in thought, language, philosophy and writing leading up to the renaissance age in the 16th century
• Once the industrial age began after this, humans' breadth and reach across the planet changed forever as science and industry exponentially grew, and we started to spread to all corners not yet touched with a mind for any resources we can get our hands on, relatively, in the aims to better ourselves.
• Leading into the present day and the past century, the exponential growth in science and now tech has reshaped our lives, such that we live longer and the chance for healthier lives, and wield incredible technical power we so often take for granted. In theory at this point we are still Home Sapians
• Transhumanism is then the next step along our path, where we start exploring biotech to start augmenting ourselves, in an effort to address aspects that are not serving us, or we desire to change for the better.
• Finally, we breach at some point into the posthuman realm where we have changed ourselves so entirely that we can no longer actually be considered Home Sapians.

Talking Points

1. Are you ready to become more than human?

2. What do you see from your field, and knowledge of biotech or technology do you see changing you as a person?

3. What are things about yourself that you would change if you have a magic “biotech” wand to change those things?

4. No more being tired, or angry, or depressed. Imagine what you could accomplish

5. What fears does the becoming posthuman hold for you?

6. If you replace half of your body or mind, and evolve beyond being human, what does the world and your relationships look like?

7. What of your soul, or the concept of humanity persists when physically and mentally you’re no longer human, have you lost what made you, you?

8. Will you still be relevant if you ignore it?

9. Your friends, family, or children start to embrace becoming more than human, but you have reservations or objections and want to remain whole.

10. What happens to you?
11. Can you still be relevant to them, or will they leave you being like an old toy they don't care for anymore?
12. Can you still even comprehend the way the world looks for them that you could even aling on matters of the heart and mind?

We hope you enjoy this episode!