Reproductive technologies; cloning; machines that enable people like Stephen Hawking to live; computers that are "learning" language: what do such technological "innovations" mean when attempting to define "human?"
2007-05-26 14:06:20 · 6 answers · asked by teeleecee 6 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
The essence of the question is really to ask whether those dependent on some form of artificial means in order to live are more human than machine, or more machine than human--or, can we really call some people (i.e. Christopher Reeve, Stephen Hawking) cyborgs?
2007-05-27 05:44:57 · update #1
Humans and technology...
I would define humans as creatures who create hobbies, and our preoccupation with technology is an example.
Hence, humans create technology as a hobby which becomes all-consuming and self-sustaining, taking a life of its own to influence human life as a result of humans attempting to influence life using technology.
By definition, therefore, humans and technology are inseperable siamese twins as far as the natural world is concerned.
2007-05-26 14:32:27 · answer #1 · answered by Tuna-San 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well the machines and all there functions wont rplace our definition of being human, the only thing that can replace that is us, in how we define ourselves. We wrote the dicitonary and cat can be more than a pet if we allow it to take form in our words. what defines us from machines is we create them, and no matter what machines are not self-sufficeint, and willalways need to depend on us biological factors for billions of years to come. They can make sexy dolls and we can love them, but they dont love you back, they wont have the chemistry or the perfection we have, even though they are perfect in performance in everyway, we are perfect because we are not. We are the opposite, no matter what, we have the choice to make wrong choices, they don't technology will never have that choice because we are not programed and technology will always just be programming. I dont care how good it can make me orgasm it is just an illusion we tie our intelect around because we are just exploring our lost thoughts.
2007-05-26 14:26:28 · answer #2 · answered by Freak 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can simply define a human by the emotions that no machine presently created can TRULY imitate.
2007-05-26 14:15:21 · answer #3 · answered by the taino boy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anything that looks like us.
Since there are humans alive with different chromosome counts than what I have and they are still considered human.
People with Downs Syndrome have one more chromosome that what I do.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downs_syndrome
It is the same visual cues that cause us to be racist, sexist, homophobic etc. Anything different from the observer is noted in differential thinking.
2007-05-26 14:16:52 · answer #4 · answered by guru 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Human is a species and there is only one. You are either Human or you are not human.
Anything human like is just an attempt at being human.
2007-05-26 14:56:29 · answer #5 · answered by Father Ted 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
We really are becoming the " slaves of technology ".
2007-05-26 14:38:24 · answer #6 · answered by Louie O 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋