Post-Human
Marisa de Franca
25062957
In the 21st century, humans are being displaced as the central form of life by intellectual machines. The human body can be seen as a metaphor, a physical structure. The body has constraints and endless possibilities that throughout history has revolutionised that machines do not share. In the contemporary world humans are now able to enter into symbiotic relationships with machines, but there is a difference in the way in which humans articulate with machines.
The world has increasingly become unconcerned with health issues, and many people (even in South Africa); with money will be able to delay the effects of diseases and unhealthy eating. This has arrived as new cultural configuration. This has also become a process of transformation, due to assumptions that are encoded in pattern and or randomness and popular culture. Pattern over presence attains a type of immortality; people are not being regarded as informational patterns. Many people associate modern living with the influence of “superstars” and “trendsetters”, because media (one type of medium) has brainwashed us into believing what is in fashion. This transformation (Post-human) soon loses the basic importance of human life such as religion because presence is aligned with God.
Post-human sounds very similar to antihuman, because it envisions a certain kind of conception that has ended such as: choice, leisure, health and wealth. Many people prefer to use “machines”, that will be able to make choices for them and that are able to do their tasks for them. Technology has become far more infiltrating in our lives then what it was before. People rely on technology to be able to live longer too.
Post-humanity is becoming the fusion between man and machine, real and artificial. This line is becoming very thin in terms of cloning, simulated emotions, communications and with identities.
One should be careful the way the post-human is presented. Post-human can be presented as something to be feared due to its building and its understanding. One should also take notice how technology is influencing our social and economic environments.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Blog Activity 2
I think technology will definitely eventually come to a point where we cannot make the distinction between what is human and what is not. I mean we already see people with artificial intelligence in their bodies, pace makers, electrodes in the brain etc. Whether we are there already is a question yet to be answered. I don't feel the question of immortality is a relevant one yet especially in South Africa. People are still dying of aids in first world countries. The technology is at this point still in the realm of science fiction not science fact, whether or not it will become fact can be debated.
I also feel the debate around post humanity is an irrelevant one in South Africa. Weather we like it or not we are a third world country and probably 10 to 15 years behind the USA and Europe. At the moment immortality in the South African context is only possible in old Highlander movies. Never the less even though the debate is probably not very relevant at the moment it does not make it any less important. The way technology is progressing it it totally possible that in the next 50 years immortality could be possible in some way in first world countries. At that point it would be important to consider the implication in the South African context. At the moment though i feel, even though the technology is available in the world, South Africa is not a post human society. Most people live Conservative lives. For example there are not many people in Africa going for plastic surgery. In America the culture has become as described in the class notes, people can now change themselves completely if they want, botox, Rhinoplasty, Liposuction the list goes on. This point is further supported by the fact that most people in South Africa and other third world countries go to America for reconstructive surgery.
What i do think is important is the influence TV has in educating us on new technologies available. So even though that specific technology is not available to us to use first hand, we do take part from a distance. In response to the blog question which asks whether we can afford to to have Immortality technology, i think its a difficult and taboo issue because death is a natural cycle, so even though some people might be dying from AIDS or TB, the question that must be asked is not, damn could we of saved him? but, was it his time to go? The concept of immortality ultimately goes against the laws of nature, everything must die eventually, and i feel if we enter that realm we will be playing God and have really entered the realm of post humanism.
Jean Pierre Neethling
25052731
I also feel the debate around post humanity is an irrelevant one in South Africa. Weather we like it or not we are a third world country and probably 10 to 15 years behind the USA and Europe. At the moment immortality in the South African context is only possible in old Highlander movies. Never the less even though the debate is probably not very relevant at the moment it does not make it any less important. The way technology is progressing it it totally possible that in the next 50 years immortality could be possible in some way in first world countries. At that point it would be important to consider the implication in the South African context. At the moment though i feel, even though the technology is available in the world, South Africa is not a post human society. Most people live Conservative lives. For example there are not many people in Africa going for plastic surgery. In America the culture has become as described in the class notes, people can now change themselves completely if they want, botox, Rhinoplasty, Liposuction the list goes on. This point is further supported by the fact that most people in South Africa and other third world countries go to America for reconstructive surgery.
What i do think is important is the influence TV has in educating us on new technologies available. So even though that specific technology is not available to us to use first hand, we do take part from a distance. In response to the blog question which asks whether we can afford to to have Immortality technology, i think its a difficult and taboo issue because death is a natural cycle, so even though some people might be dying from AIDS or TB, the question that must be asked is not, damn could we of saved him? but, was it his time to go? The concept of immortality ultimately goes against the laws of nature, everything must die eventually, and i feel if we enter that realm we will be playing God and have really entered the realm of post humanism.
Jean Pierre Neethling
25052731
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Samantha Duddy 25078772 Immortality
Now-a-days, people are confronted with images of perfection or everlasting beauty (immortality). With the help of technology people are able to live longer and “healthier” lives.
People are influenced by ‘superstars’ or trendsetters with their technology … not all of these images are a realistic representation … but that is what people see and what they want to imitate.
People use technology, such as computers, surgery, pills, etc to live longer, thereby becoming immortal.
The world as a whole has become unhealthy – food, pollution, etc …. People with money (wealthy South Africans) have the luxury to delay the effects of today’s diseases and unhealthy living. Therefore, one could say that they have money and power to delay death, whereas people who are poor or less fortunate … have to rely on handouts and sometimes don’t have money or facilities to prevent or better themselves.
Timothy Leary says, “Death is merely a lack of information,” which means that if people do not have access to the information or technology, they will then die. The poorer people in South Africa would therefore not be able to access this information. Therefore one could say that the people who cannot afford these luxuries of these innovations, they will then become known as prehistoric. If the people who are able to afford these innovations become immortal, the people who don’t – will die off.
Past humanity can be said to be the fusion of technology and humanity, artificial and real; while this line is becoming ever more – thinner, in terms of cloning, medication, identity, communication and simulated emotions.
A foundation in which many people have based their lives and beliefs is their religion. In contemporary society people are disregarding their foundations … they are thereby going against the Bible, as it says, … that your body is a temple of God … and that you love it the way it is.
Patterns are favored over presence. Patterns in terms of endurance, thereby attains a kind of immortality. Physical forms can be reconstitutes – people are now being regarded as informational patterns, therefore, being immune to corruption/disease/viruses.
In terms of relating the above to a South African context, one could say that most of South Africa is not technologically and economically developed. There are many poor people who do not have access to these facilities. Therefore, this ‘immortal’ life can be seen as a luxury to many South Africans. With all of the hardships and diseases in South Africa, no one can afford to be excluded. Why should some people suffer while others do not? Life is a luxury in itself and everyone should be able to live it healthily.
People are influenced by ‘superstars’ or trendsetters with their technology … not all of these images are a realistic representation … but that is what people see and what they want to imitate.
People use technology, such as computers, surgery, pills, etc to live longer, thereby becoming immortal.
The world as a whole has become unhealthy – food, pollution, etc …. People with money (wealthy South Africans) have the luxury to delay the effects of today’s diseases and unhealthy living. Therefore, one could say that they have money and power to delay death, whereas people who are poor or less fortunate … have to rely on handouts and sometimes don’t have money or facilities to prevent or better themselves.
Timothy Leary says, “Death is merely a lack of information,” which means that if people do not have access to the information or technology, they will then die. The poorer people in South Africa would therefore not be able to access this information. Therefore one could say that the people who cannot afford these luxuries of these innovations, they will then become known as prehistoric. If the people who are able to afford these innovations become immortal, the people who don’t – will die off.
Past humanity can be said to be the fusion of technology and humanity, artificial and real; while this line is becoming ever more – thinner, in terms of cloning, medication, identity, communication and simulated emotions.
A foundation in which many people have based their lives and beliefs is their religion. In contemporary society people are disregarding their foundations … they are thereby going against the Bible, as it says, … that your body is a temple of God … and that you love it the way it is.
Patterns are favored over presence. Patterns in terms of endurance, thereby attains a kind of immortality. Physical forms can be reconstitutes – people are now being regarded as informational patterns, therefore, being immune to corruption/disease/viruses.
In terms of relating the above to a South African context, one could say that most of South Africa is not technologically and economically developed. There are many poor people who do not have access to these facilities. Therefore, this ‘immortal’ life can be seen as a luxury to many South Africans. With all of the hardships and diseases in South Africa, no one can afford to be excluded. Why should some people suffer while others do not? Life is a luxury in itself and everyone should be able to live it healthily.
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