Homo sapiens, as it turned out, is a very confident smartest species that can call itself “smart”. And although it is possible to call us with great prudence wise, we come to a point when sooner or later we will be able to open the gates for someone else, perhaps even created by ourselves. Here are ten options.
10. Developed animals- smartest species
The idea of cultivating animal species with human intelligence is far from new and goes back to the “Island of Dr. Moreau” by Herbert Wells. Cordwainer Smith introduced developed animals as an oppressed class struggling for their rights, and David Brin’s “War of the Exaltation” series introduced a universe in which almost all sentient beings owed their protection to patronizing smartest species, and people explore the world with intelligent monkeys and dolphins.
Some theorists, like George Dvorsky, argue that we have a moral imperative to elevate other smartest species to our level of intelligence as soon as we get the necessary technical means. Dvorsky points to modern attempts to provide large monkeys with a legitimate right to “personality,” and argues that the natural next step will be to give other animals cognitive abilities for self-determination and the participation of living beings in society. The human monopoly on reasonable thought gives us an unfair advantage over other animal creatures, and if there is a way to help dolphins, monkeys, and elephants to acquire a reasonable thought, then it is our moral duty.
Others do not agree. Alex Napp believes that from the point of view of animal life the costs will be too high to justify this. In order to elevate the species, it will be necessary to make changes in DNA at the embryonic level, which will lead to unavoidable unsuccessful attempts before we succeed. And again, the question arises, how to make sure that the exalted embryo will be successfully carried out. Such experiments can be morally incorrect if they do not lead to the fact that reasonable animals will suffer because of deviations and early death due to human intervention. Even if successful, human beings can not provide the necessary social and emotional conditions for intelligent chimpanzees, bonobos or parrots. In other words, exalted animals can be emotionally traumatized due to clumsy attempts of people to nurture them.
Some are also concerned about the problematic aspects of specific species, such as the brutality of chimpanzees and the tendency of dolphins to rape, whether they will prevent them in reasonable ways. It is also believed that intellectual self-awareness is an ecological niche that only one smartest species can retain, which explains the destruction of Neanderthals and other human congeners. The appearance of intelligent animals can create an evolutionary competition with people, as well as damaged creatures with a system of psyche and values that we simply will not be able to understand.
9. Borg– smartest species
“Star Trek” introduced a race of cyborgs who sought to unite all the intelligent smartest species in the universe into one collective mind. Many would come to the conclusion that this is bad, but some agree with this outcome. Travis James Leland argued that an emotionless, sterile picture of the Borg is some kind of Luddite propaganda – and a step forward to collective intelligence will lead to the happiness and freedom of all members of the hive. In fact, one of the reasons why we go to the Internet and social media is to be closer and in connection with our view, this is a collective manifestation in a pure form.
Integration with technology and interconnection do not reduce individuality; They simply make it easier to connect and express their individuality in the emerging global consciousness. Some argue that the technology of creating a “telepathic noosphere” is already available with our current technologies. We can already send video, audio and motor information between the brain and the Internet through electrodes, and the information capacity necessary for the swarm intelligence, too, may well be available. The technological infrastructure used for modern telecommunications and wireless Internet can further develop into neural interfaces, although initially they will be inaccurate and they will be difficult to use. Some call these theoretical swarming minds “Borganisms” and advocate their creation for social and political reasons.
In the collective mind, there may well be many advantages, as it will, in fact, allow us to become a superhuman entity capable of exploits that go beyond what is possible for individuals. The ability to coordinate mass projects will grow, planning complex tasks will be more effective, and people will understand each other better.
Of course, there are a number of shortcomings. Along with the existential fear of loss of individuality in the mass consciousness, there remain threats of viruses and hackers in the system in the early stages, not to mention other concerns, like who will control the technology. The developed swarm of social media will be very different from the swarm of soldiers and secret intelligence, developed for military purposes. Some believe that developed borganisms will be quite vulnerable to dangerous memetic infections (which will require the development of a rigid “mental hygiene”); It will also be necessary to combat social parasitism and selfishness in groups within the hive.
8. Genetic caste– smartest species
Political scientist Francis Fukuyama believes that transhumanism is one of the most dangerous ideas that are hovering today. He sees a fundamental danger in an attempt to improve our basic humanity. He calls it “factor X” and says that “it can not be reduced to moral choice, reason, language, sociability, awareness, emotion, creation or any other quality that is put forward as the basis of human dignity. All these qualities, combined in man, constitute factor X “.
Fukuyama believes that the development of genetically modified people will mean an end to liberal ideas of the political equality of all people. Access to gene modification technology will lead to the emergence of genetic castes and will undermine our common humanity, the rich will be able to create design children with abilities that surpass the abilities of other, less wealthy people. Fukuyama is conservative, but very many shares his fears. The society of geneticists expresses fears that the “technogenic” will lead to the formation of a gap between “genetically rich” and “gennobedic”.
Some argue that the complexity of gene modification and the cultural rejection of experiments on children make such a scenario unlikely. Others say that even if it does, it will not be transferred to the political plane since political rights do not depend on physical features. Nevertheless, questions remain as to whether parents have the right to choose the physical and intellectual traits for their children. This can include the choice of the coefficient of intelligence, growth, sex and even skin color.
The science of designer babies already exists in the areas of preimplantation genetic diagnosis and in vitro fertilization, which is gaining popularity in the light of the prevention of genetic diseases. Some fear that the taboo on technology in the light of fears of genetic castes may exacerbate the problem, and the rich will still have the opportunity to go to a country where the editing of the children’s genes is not prohibited.
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