^Tagtranshumanism

Abstract image of Artificial Intelligence

^{Type
post

Author
Peter Biles
Date
January 27, 2023

Categorized
Transhumanism

Tagged
AI, Altos Labs, Biology, Cell Health, Cell Research, immortality, Jeff Bezos, meaning, transhumanism, Wired}

Do You Really Want to Live Forever?

_{Organizations like Altos Labs are funding research in cell rejuvenation and biological longevity} _{Peter Biles

January 27, 2023

4

Transhumanism}

2023 is expected to yield “breakthrough” research in aging treatments, led by the Palo Alto medical company Altos Labs. Jeff Bezos is among the donors of the organization, which notes on its homepage that its mission is “to restore cell health and resilience through cellular rejuvenation programming to reverse disease, injury, and the disabilities that can occur throughout life.” A Wired article is optimistic about the direction of the research and compares its potential to the development of antibiotic treatment. Andrew Steele writes, In 2023, early success of these treatments could kickstart the greatest revolution in medicine since the discovery of antibiotics. Rather than going to the doctor when we’re sick and picking off age-related problems like cancer and dementia Read More ›

Aerial view of Frankenstein Castle in southern Hesse, Germany

^{Type
post

Author
Peter Biles
Date
January 7, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture, Transhumanism

Tagged
Andrew Klavan, Arts & Culture, Daily Wire, Featured, Frankenstein, Literature, Machines, Mary Shelley, Materialism, Romanticism, science, Science fiction, transhumanism, Wordsworth}

The Prophecies of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

_{Andrew Klavan explores the world of the Romantics in new book and finds special insight in Shelley’s classic horror story} _{Peter Biles

January 7, 2023

4

Arts & Culture, Transhumanism}

Andrew Klavan, acclaimed novelist and host of the Andrew Klavan Show at the Daily Wire, wrote a book about his profound encounters with the Romantics of the 19th century, called The Truth and Beauty: How the Lives and Works of England’s Greatest Poets Point the Way to a Deeper Understanding of the Words of Jesus. The Romantics include literary figures like Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Wordsworth, and John Keats. While it’s common to highlight the Romantics’ veneration of nature, they were also living in the throes of the Enlightenment, in which atheistic materialism was becoming a minority alternative to theism. Klavan writes, “The wonderful success of science at explaining the material world threatens to create in scientists a bias towards Read More ›

A salesperson working in an office on a virtual call

^{Type
podcast

Author
Wesley J. Smith and Robert J. Marks
Date
November 10, 2022

Tagged
AI, Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, Computers, Consciousness, Humanize, immortality, Non-Computable You (book), Robert J. Marks, Sentience, transhumanism, Wesley J. Smith}

Can a Computer Be a Person?

_{Wesley J. Smith and Robert J. Marks

November 10, 2022

1}

Are we on the verge of the era of machines? Is AI destined to supplant most human endeavors and activities? Can a computer be deemed a person? And if so, should that computer be granted rights as part of the moral community? Will we ever attain immortality by uploading our minds into computers as transhumanists predict? And what the heck Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
Peter Biles
Date
September 16, 2022

Categorized
Arts & Culture, Human exceptionalism

Tagged
Animal rights, Christianity, Creativity, Dean Koontz, Dogs, Human exceptionalism, Human rights, transhumanism, Wesley J. Smith, Wesley J. Smith on transhumanism}

Human Exceptionalism is a Central Theme for Novelist Dean Koontz

_{Bestselling author Dean Koontz talks fiction, human exceptionalism, and transhumanism with Wesley J. Smith in new podcast episode (Part II)} _{Peter Biles

September 16, 2022

6

Arts & Culture, Human exceptionalism}

In Part I of this two-part series, we looked at Dean Koontz’s remarks on the purpose of art and the unique role of the novelist in today’s “everything is political” environment. But that’s not all he and Smith discussed on the Humanize Podcast on September 12th. Both had a lot to say about human exceptionalism, authoritarianism, and also…dogs! Koontz spoke about his love for the pups at the end of the episode, but first, discussed how the “animal rights” movement has gone wrong, and how a materialistic worldview can lead to despair. Smith commented how human exceptionalism is a central theme in Koontz’s novels and asked the reason, to which Koontz responded, “There’s no civilization if we don’t recognize Read More ›

Surreal 3d illustration of multiple faces in a wall. Concept of post-human and transhumanism ideas.

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
January 27, 2022

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Biology, Ethics, Philosophy of Mind, Transhumanism

Tagged
Libby Emmons, transhumanism}

Is Transhumanism Really a Form of Liberation?

_{The central transhumanist doctrine is that the body can be dispensed with. What are the consequences?} _{News

January 27, 2022

4

Artificial Intelligence, Biology, Ethics, Philosophy of Mind, Transhumanism}

Libby Emmons, editor-in-chief at The Post Millennial, Canada’s non-Woke “young” media outlet, offered some unexpected thoughts on transhumanism, the idea that we must take charge of the evolution of our species — sometimes expressed in the idea that we can upload ourselves as digital entities and live forever. Emmons is not sure that transhumanism is really a form of liberation. She acknowledges the value of, for example, prostheses controlled by thoughts alone. But she asks us to consider what full-blown transhumanism entails: With the widespread acceptance of human augmentation, bio-tech, AI, and transgenderism, we are removing agency from the human body, and granting it entirely to the mind. But our humanity lies not in our consciousness, but in the biological Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
J.R. Miller
Date
January 13, 2022

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, Transhumanism

Tagged
Artificial Intelligence, Darwin, Eugenics, J.R. Miller, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Saratendu Sethi, transhumanism}

Eugenics, Transhumanism, and Artificial Intelligence

_{If we were to succeed at creating an ethical decision-making AI, whose ethics would it abide by?} _{J.R. Miller

January 13, 2022

6

Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, Transhumanism}

In his article for the Digital Journal, Saratendu Sethi argues that to build a sustainable global supply chain requires the humanization of AI. This technological revolution, he says, includes “truly autonomous and self-correcting supply chains” that will replace the flawed capital-driven decision making of humans. Sethi defines this utilitarian mission of serving the “greater good” through what he calls a “sustainable, ethical and responsible world that puts equity for all at the center.” His motive of helping everyone while protecting the environment is commendable, yet the larger question remains, whose ethic will drive the logic used by this AI? When resources are limited, how will this AI decide who gets food and who gets medicine? Based on my own study, Sethi’s Read More ›

Neon night in a futuristic city. Photorealistic 3D illustration. Wallpaper in a cyberpunk style. Empty street with neon lights reflecting in a water. Beautiful night cityscape. Grunge urban landscape.

^{Type
post

Author
J.R. Miller
Date
January 1, 2022

Categorized
Ethics, Philosophy of Mind, Transhumanism

Tagged
Altered Carbon (TV series), transhumanism}

With Transhumanism, What Happens to Human Rights?

_{The transhumanist accepts suffering for the individual if suffering can advance the evolution of the species toward immortality and singularity} _{J.R. Miller

January 1, 2022

6

Ethics, Philosophy of Mind, Transhumanism}

The 2018 Netflix series, Altered Carbon, depicts a future society where people hope to live forever by digitizing their consciousness and storing it in a “cortical stack.” This technological marvel is then inserted into any number of interchangeable bodies when the old “sleve” dies. But what you and I may watch for entertainment is for many scientists, philosophers, and theologians a life’s mission. This dream of life without end through technology is called transhumanism. Transhumanism (Humanity+ or hereafter H+) is a 20th– century endeavor grounded in rational humanism that trusts technological advances to answer two key questions of human existence: “What does it mean to be human?” and “What is the future of humanity?” For the transhumanist, these two questions Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
February 28, 2021

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy, Religion, Surveillance

Tagged
1984 (book), 2084 (book), Atheism, C. S. Lewis, Featured, George Orwell, God's existence, immortality, John Lennox, Revelation (book in Bible), Robert J. Marks, Techno-immortality, That Hideous Strength (book), transhumanism}

Why Oxford’s John Lennox Wrote a Book on AI Promises and Threats

_{His book 2084 leans on George Orwell’s 1984 but takes its inspiration from C. S. Lewis’s That Hideous Strength} _{News

February 28, 2021

12

Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy, Religion, Surveillance}

Recently, Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks interviewed Oxford mathematician John Lennox on his latest book 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity (2020). He focused on why Lennox chose that theme and how far we have caught up with George Orwell’s 1984. Here are some excerpts from the combined interviews in “John Lennox on Artificial Intelligence and Humanity”: https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Mind-Matters-123-John-Lennox.mp3 A partial transcript follows, along with highlights, Show Notes, and Resources: Robert J. Marks (starting at roughly 1:40 min): Many of Orwell’s predictions about communism were proven. So what will be the effects of AI a century later in the year 2084? Replacing George Orwell is Dr. John Lennox who has written 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future Read More ›

Wireframed Robot hand making contact with human hand on dark 3D rendering

^{Type
podcast

Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
February 25, 2021

Tagged
1984, 2084, Artificial Intelligence, Consciousness, Dan Brown, Human rights, immortality, orwell, Panpsychism, Prometheus, Revelation, Robot rights, Superintelligence, surveillance capitalism, transhumanism}

Bingecast: John Lennox on Artificial Intelligence and Humanity

_{Robert J. Marks

February 25, 2021

2}

In this bingecast episode, Robert J. Marks talks with Dr. John C. Lennox, professor of mathematics at the University of Oxford, about all things artificial intelligence. Should robots have rights? What are A.I.’s advantages and threats to humanity? And does theology have anything to say about all of this? Listen in as they discuss Dr. Lennox’s book 2084, and wrestle Read More ›

^{Type
podcast

Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
July 9, 2020

Tagged
Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), Dan Brown, Genetics, John Lennox, Life 3.0 (book), Max Tegmark, Prometheus, Rosalind Picard, transhumanism, Yuval Harari}

John Lennox: False Assumptions in the Hype over AI

_{Robert J. Marks

July 9, 2020

1}

Much of the hype over artificial general intelligence seems to be based on false assumptions and presuppositions. Will robots become human? Robert J. Marks and Dr. John Lennox discuss artificial general intelligence, transhumanism, and Dr. Lennox’s book 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity. Show Notes 00:25 | Introducing Dr. John Lennox, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University Read More ›

Artificial Intelligence and Transhumanism - illustration

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
July 7, 2020

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, Technocracy, Transhumanism

Tagged
2084 (book), Featured, John Lennox, New Soviet Man, transhumanism}

John Lennox: Transhumanism Is Not a New Idea

_{News

July 7, 2020

2

Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, Technocracy, Transhumanism}

In his just-published book, 2084, Oxford mathematician John Lennox points out that, in the 20th century, both the Communists and the Nazis had attempted transhumanist projects. For example, In the former Soviet Union, attempts were made to use science to create a “New Man.” In 1924, Leon Trotsky wrote: “Man will make it his purpose to master his own feelings, to raise his instincts to the heights of consciousness, to make them transparent, to extend the wires of his will into hidden recesses, and thereby to raise himself to a new plane, to create a higher social biologic type, or, if you please, a superman.” What that program of eugenics involved is explained by historian Andrey Zubov as cited by Read More ›

Machine learning technology diagram with artificial intelligence (AI),neural network,automation,data mining in VR screen.businessman hand working with modern technology and digital layer effect.

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
April 21, 2020

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Brain Scan, Claude Shannon, Cognition, James Moor, Mind Uploading, Ray Kurzweil, Robert J. Marks, Selmer Bringsjord, transhumanism, Whole Brain Emulation}

Can Human Minds Be Reduced to Computer Programs?

_{In Silicon Valley that has long been a serious belief. But are we really anywhere close?} _{News

April 21, 2020

6

Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind}

Computer scientist Selmer Bringsjord recalls, “I remember asking James Moor, the Dartmouth professor who’s written quite a bit on AI: “You know. Jim, you really are a true believer in this stuff but can you tell me how much time you’re willing to give these AI people? I mean, if we give them another thousand years, and we still don’t have cognition as I’ve characterized it… Are you going to be skeptical now?” He was, I suppose, as an academic, predictably clever and evasive, but the bottom line is, we don’t have this cognition captured.

^{Type
post

Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
February 16, 2020

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Natural Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind, Social Media, Technocracy, Transhumanism

Tagged
Cyborgs, Jacob Schatzer, Posthumanism, transhumanism, Transhumanism and the Image of God (book)}

Is Transhumanism Uncomfortably Tempting?

_{An ethicist asks us to stop and reflect} _{Denyse O'Leary

February 16, 2020

6

Artificial Intelligence, Natural Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind, Social Media, Technocracy, Transhumanism}

Jacob Schatzer identifies three issues in the essay, “The Allure of Transhumanism,” that might prompt some queasy recognitions in all of us, at times.

^{Type
post

Author
Jonathan Bartlett
Date
December 27, 2019

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind, Programming, Transhumanism

Tagged
Ray Kurzweil, transhumanism}

2019 AI Hype Countdown #5: Transhumanism never grows old

_{The idea that we can upload our brains to computers to avoid death shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the differences between types of thinking} _{Jonathan Bartlett

December 27, 2019

5

Artificial Intelligence, Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind, Programming, Transhumanism}

Computers are very effective but they operate with a very limited set of causal abilities. Humans work from an entirely different set of causal abilities. Uploading your brain to a computer is not a question of technology. It can’t work in principle.

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
December 3, 2019

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
___longform, Cyborgs, Featured, immortality, Peter Scott-Morgan, transhumanism}

Would You Want Immortal Life as a Cyborg?

_{Would you give up your right arm for a robotic device that performs better? Think about it} _{News

December 3, 2019

8

Artificial Intelligence, Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind}

Transhumanism can mean uploading one’s mind into cyberspace. But some transhumanists hope to slowly morph into “immortal cyborgs” with endlessly replaceable parts. Five years ago, we were told, we were all turning into cyborgs: Did you recently welcome a child into the world? Congratulations! An upstanding responsible parent such as yourself is surely doing all you can to prepare your little one for all the pitfalls life has in store. However, thanks to technology, children born in 2014 may face a far different set of issues than you ever had to. And we’re not talking about simply learning to master a new generation of digital doohickeys, we’re talking about living in a world in which the very definition of “human” Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
November 19, 2019

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind, Religion, Transhumanism

Tagged
___longform, Featured, Michael Graziano, Ray Kurzweil, Silicon Valley, transhumanism}

Transhumanism—Is It a Dangerous Idea?

_{Some Silicon Valley greats hope to merge with machines to live forever. But what then?} _{News

November 19, 2019

7

Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind, Religion, Transhumanism}

The late philosopher Jerry Fodor (1935—2017) said that the reason “we’re all materialists” is that the alternatives seem even worse. Transhumanism, had he lived to see it develop, would give him pause for further reflection.

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
November 6, 2019

Categorized
Philosophy of Mind, Religion, Technocracy

Tagged
___longform, Digital Immortality, Featured, immortality, John Lennox, Ray Kurzweil, Robert J. Marks, transhumanism}

But Could Techno-Immortality Ever Be the Real Thing?

_{Oxford mathematician John Lennox looks at Ray Kurzweil’s techno-immortality from a Christian perspective} _{News

November 6, 2019

8

Philosophy of Mind, Religion, Technocracy}

In these excerpts from the podcast, Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks talks with John Lennox about an AI immortality where we are told, for example, that we won’t need tongues because we can tap right into our taste buds.

^{Type
podcast

Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
October 31, 2019

Tagged
__bp-c-t, __focus-north, Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), Artificial Intelligence, Consciousness, Digital Immortality, Gnosticism, immortality, non-algorithmic, Ray Kurzweil, Roger Penrose, Singularity, Singularity Is Near (book), Strong AI, Superintelligence, transhumanism, Weak AI}

Bingecast: John Lennox on the Promise and Threat of AI

_{Robert J. Marks

October 31, 2019

1}

Natural and artificial intelligence can be discussed from a number of viewpoints, including philosophically, technically and theologically. Robert J. Marks and Dr. John Lennox address AI from all of these points of view today on Mind Matters. Show Notes 01:10 | Introducing Dr. John Lennox 03:33 | Bacon and Erdős numbers 05:38 | Should we fear artificial intelligence? 06:10 | Read More ›

Ray Kurzweil presenting via teleconference at COSM 2019

^{Type
post

Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
October 30, 2019

Categorized
Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
AlphaGo Zero, Andy Kessler, Artificial Intelligence, Big Tech, COSM, Danielle (novel), Digital Immortality, George Gilder, Google, immortality, Ray Kurzweil, Singularity, Singularity Is Near (book), transhumanism, Turing Test}

Tech pioneer Ray Kurzweil: We Will Merge with Computers by 2045

_{For computers, “Even the very best human is just another notch to pass,” he told the COSM Technology Summit} _{Denyse O'Leary

October 30, 2019

5

Philosophy of Mind}

Advocates point to the success of Kurzweil’s past predictions as evidence that his Singularity is indeed Near, as his 2005 book predicts or Nearer, as his forthcoming one (June 2020) does. But questions bubbled to the surface.