While reading the Exit Meat piece, I could not help but think about what comprises the human identity. This question--what is humanity?--is at the center of the article. Is our body simply an accessory to our mind? Or is it more--an integral aspect of our humanity without which we aren't a person but a machine? This question is integral to understanding whether a person should infuse technology into his or her body.
I don't have a problem, I guess, with people discarding their bodies, if they so choose, because there are many instances where such actions would make lives easier. Think about diseased patients, for example. I think that what makes us truly human is the human mind, which is something no other animals in the world share. If a person were to choose to infuse his or her body with technology, I would still regard them as human, because I think the defining aspect of humanity is the mind.
That said, I would not want to alter or lose my body to technology because I think that my body is an integral part of who I am, in an individual sense. Thus, I would like to keep the body I have now, the natural body. While speaking generally about humanity, I would be okay in principle if others thought it convenient to discard their bodies, but I would never do such a thing. I was born with this body and I feel attached to this body--it is a key element of my individual identity. And with the image of Darth Vader etched into my mind, I think I would always have second thoughts about altering my body. I like the way I am now, and I would not sacrifice my body for convenience. I am not trusting enough of technology nor inclined enough to see my identity as an individual vanish to be anything but the natural body. The way I see it, a human can keep his or her identity as a human even in an altered state--but that person will lose his or her individual identity by losing the body.
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I have to respect your choice on this matter. Your acceptance of other peoples’ decisions is a key principal required for such a world. Also I agree with your personal view as to what a human is. Your view mostly mirrors my own and your view on the physical body is the main reason that I do want to become a cyborg.
ReplyDeleteI think that we wont actually lose our individual identity by giving up our form because of our thoughts, actions and what we do to make the new body personal. But this is a question that really can only be answered with the hindsight we currently do not posses. This is why I want the perspective and find out personally but I can understand and respect your view because the loss of individuality would be a strong price for you to bear should you be proven correct.