Exploring Transhumanism: Evolution and Technology in Society
Transhumanism, a belief in human evolution through science and technology, is showcased through various examples like chemical enhancements, designer babies, and bionic implants. Popular media, such as Mobile Suit Gundam and Star Wars, reflect the theme of transhumanism. These concepts challenge notions of what it means to be human in a technologically advancing world.
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TRANSHUMANISM BY MATTHEW GIBSON
WHAT IS TRANSHUMANISM? Transhumanism is the belief that humans can develop and evolve further with the help of science and technology. Australia has a community that encourages research into Transhumanism called Transhumanism Australia.
CHEMICAL ENHANCEMENTS IN REAL LIFE Humans have been using drugs to boost their performance, both physical and mental aspects for over two millennia. The Drug Somatropin increases aerobic endurance and muscle strength at the cost of joint pains and carpel tunnel syndrome. Ancient Romans used stimulating and hallucinogenic drugs on themselves, and on their horses, just before a gladiatorial arena fight.
DESIGNER BABIES IN REALITY Designer Babies are babies who had their genetic make up altered by a combination of in vitro fertilization and genetic engineering. This can change the traits of; intelligence, gender, personality, appearance, and disease.
BIONIC IMPLANTS/LIMBS The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory developed a Modular Prosthetic Limb attached to a implant at the skeleton. The device is controlled by using a wireless Bio-Band that transmits muscle activity to the prosthetic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk1NkWl_W2Y
HOW IS TRANSHUMANISM PORTRAYED IN POPULAR MEDIA?
HOW IS TRANSHUMANISM PORTRAYED IN MEDIA Mobile Suit Gundam (TV Series) Case Study Star Wars (Movie Franchise) Pacific Rim (Movie) Freezing (Manga) GATTACA (Movie) Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (Song) Anything regarding Superheroes (especially Spider-man and X-Men) Doctor Who (TV Franchise) And so many to list!
CASE STUDY: MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM Mobile Suit Gundam is an anime series about war using Mobile Suits, giant war machines. Nearly every series have had teenagers as pilots A diverse range of aspects relating to transhumanism are investigated in the Mobile Suit Gundam series
LIST OF TRANSHUMAN ELEMENTS NAMED IN GUNDAM Newtypes and Cyber-Newtypes (Main Gundam Series and After War Gundam X Series). Coordinator and the SEED factor (Mobile Suit Gundam SEED-SEED Destiny Series). Innovator (Anno Domini (Gundam 00)) Alaya-Vijnana System (Post Disaster (Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans))
CYBER-NEWTYPE/BIOLOGICAL CPU Cyber-Newtypes are artificial Newtypes created by using drugs and stimuli in order to compete against Newtypes. Biological CPUs in Gundam SEED/SEED Destiny are enhanced people that can fight toe to toe against Coordinators. They both have unstable personalities and they have their memories wiped.
COORDINATOR GENETIC MANIPULATION People paid a great price for this dream so of course they wanted it to come true. No one wants to have their dreams shattered. Rau Le Creuset (Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE #45: The Opening Door) Coordinators are humans that have had their genes altered in their embryotic state. They can learn faster and hold more knowledge than humans who were born naturally. Genetic Manipulation in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and SEED Destiny was used to create the perfect child you dream of with; the gender, eye and hair color you want. Popularly known in reality as Designer Babies
INNOVATOR Two types of Innovator in Mobile Suit Gundam 00. One is called Innovade and the other is called a pure bred type. Innovade: An artificial human with Innovator qualities. Pure Bred Type: A human that has evolved through GN Particles. Innovators can use quantum brainwaves to communicate, via thought, to other innovators. Innovators age very slowly and can possibly live for centuries.
ALAYA-VIJNANA SYSTEM A organic system that creates a pseudo brain lobe, using nanomachines, to feed mobile suit data into the pilot s brain. The system is usually implanted on the spine on children because they are developing. If the surgery is a failure then the child becomes paralyzed. The Alaya-Vijnana system has a drawback as while it can surpass human limitations it causes a great strain on the brain.
NEWTYPES Naturally evolved humans who can feel other s intentions. Decreased reflex reaction time by having aa advanced version of Spatial Awareness.
CONCLUSION What I believe is that regardless of what people say Transhumanism is already happening. Can we overcome discrimination if we go down this path?
REFERENCE http://gundam.wikia.com/wiki/Post_Disaster_Technology Morosawa, C. (Writer), Fukuda, M. (Director). (2003). Mobile Suit Gundam SEED [Television series episode]. In PHASE #45: The Opening Door. Japan: Sunrise. Kuroda, Y. (Writer), Mizushima, S. (Director). (2009). Mobile Suit Gundam 00 [Television series episode]. In Season Two Episode #24: Beyond. Japan: Sunrise. http://aminoapps.com/page/space-warfare-rp/218443/alaya-vijnana-system https://www.transhumanism.com.au/ ProCon.org https://sportsanddrugs.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000017 Bloomberg - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk1NkWl_W2Y https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2563415/ https://moodle-sae-au.axis.navitas.com/mod/page/view.php?id=254804
REFERENCE https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/saemulti/detail.action?docID=681317 http://www.wired.co.uk/article/chemical-enhancement https://ezproxy.saeaustralia.edu.au:2430/lib/saemulti/reader.action?docID=30110 89&ppg=13 https://existenz.us/volumes/Vol.8-2Ferrando.pdf http://jetpress.org/v25.1/sorgner.htm http://www.futureforall.org/bioengineering/designer-babies.html
