Philosophers spend a lot of time (too much?) debating identity. I grow impatient with such things.
Yet, it is true that there is something slippery about the term. Take my own case. I am Victor Storiguard when I talk about transhumanism. I am other people, with other names, with I write about other things.
How much more complicated will "identity" be when we can genuinely occupy other bodies, have multiple bodies, and be multiple people.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
two transhumans go into a bar...
...and then there's no punchline 'cause transhumans never do anything stupid, sexist, racist, self-destructive, or just d*mn dumb. Sigh. What's a comedian to do?
Monday, September 26, 2011
image from Blimp
here's an image from "Blimp" (a story in the Jellies collection) which I don't think I've posted before.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Transhumanist laughter
I am convinced that Transhumans would keep various parts of their human nature for their pleasure. For example, they would choose to laugh.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
"goodness"
A while back I ran across a fascinating question posed by J.F. 'Eldras' Ellis on kurzweilai.net. He asked "Do you believe 'Goodness' is relevant in the Universe?"
I've put my own small attempt at an answer below. But I don't believe I've really done the issue justice. But perhaps I'll spark a little more discussion of it.
I'm reminded of Voltaire's comment that if there were no God, it would be necessary to invent him. What I mean is that "goodness" is a fantastically useful concept. A learned or inborn (if mores are biological in origin) sense of "goodness" and "badness" provides a brake on behaviors that would otherwise be destructive of the community as a whole. If you think it is "bad" to slice up your neighbors and serve them as a meat pie on Christmas morning, well, it means that more neighbors will live to ripe old ages. Ergo, "goodness" is a good thing.
The question that occurs to me is how will Transhumans make use of the term "goodness?" If they are supremely rational, they may not need it. But, perhaps they would keep it around anyway, along with emotions like love and happiness, for old times sake.
I've put my own small attempt at an answer below. But I don't believe I've really done the issue justice. But perhaps I'll spark a little more discussion of it.
I'm reminded of Voltaire's comment that if there were no God, it would be necessary to invent him. What I mean is that "goodness" is a fantastically useful concept. A learned or inborn (if mores are biological in origin) sense of "goodness" and "badness" provides a brake on behaviors that would otherwise be destructive of the community as a whole. If you think it is "bad" to slice up your neighbors and serve them as a meat pie on Christmas morning, well, it means that more neighbors will live to ripe old ages. Ergo, "goodness" is a good thing.
The question that occurs to me is how will Transhumans make use of the term "goodness?" If they are supremely rational, they may not need it. But, perhaps they would keep it around anyway, along with emotions like love and happiness, for old times sake.
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