6 Matching Annotations
  1. Oct 2018
    1. In our world, phatic content like posting what you had for breakfast on Twitter is AOK. Cuz it can enhance the social context. Of course, some people do go too far. But that’s what teasing is meant for.

  2. Sep 2018
    1. Rael, a Frenchman previously known as Claude Vorilhon, he told me that aliens had visited him in 1973 and shown him machines that could clone humans and sprout them into full-grown adults. Impressed, he decided to become their messenger, and raise $20 million to build an embassy to house the extraterrestrial visitors who would one day bring our salvation.

      The Raelian religion is one of the fastest growing cults in the world, proposing that Biblical occurrences, such as Jesus' famous walk on water was done with alien technology (Bathroom Reader) However, an eye raising proposal put forth by Rael is the construction of a space embassy to finally have extraterrestrial visitors to our world. Another controversial facet about Raelism is that they utilize the Swastika as their symbol, prompting Israel to laugh at their proposal to build their embassy on its land. The proposals put forth by Raelism is the emphasis put forth to advance the human condition through science, and the visitation of aliens.

    1. keenest attachments, and whose natural gifts may be, if we do not squander or destroy them, exactly what we need to flourish and perfect ourselves—as human beings.

      Kass' implications in the quote indicates the potential biotechnology has on the human psyche. Although biotechnology has the ability to forge new paths in curing feeble human (or in essence, any living thing) traits, such as sickness and suffering, it can be further exploited to enhance physical traits. However, Kass' tonality shines light that when this technology is fully developed, humans will lose sight of what they formerly relied on "keenest attachments" Therefore, it is of great significance that the limbs (keenest attachments) are used to "...perfect ourselves-as human beings." and not misused or ultimately destroyed.

    1. A radar station is of course less simple than a weather vane. To be sure, the construction of a high-frequency apparatus requires the interlocking of various processes of technical-industrial production. And certainly a sawmill in a secluded valley of the Black Forest is a primitive means compared with the hydroelectric plant on the Rhine River.

      Heidegger notes that the disparity between two alike objects (simliar in function) from the technological time gap between them. For example, he states "A radar station is of course less simple than a weather vane," inferring to the huge technological gap between the two alike metrological instruments. More importantly, he states that that in order for the construction of a radar station, technological developments and production must mesh together. He maintains that a sawmill and hydroelectric plant are different technologically, but their purpose to generate hydropower via a large turbine influenced by water current is virtually unchanged throughout the centuries.

    1. And its very likely that IA is a much easier road to the achievement of superhumanity than pure AI. In humans, the hardest development problems have already been solved. Building up from within ourselves ought to be easier than figuring out what we really are and then building machines that are all of that.

      The authors of the text are proposing a radically different approach to the inevitable "singularity" event. They propose the research and development IA, or Intelligence Amplification, is developing computers with a symbiosis with humans. Noting that IA could be easier to develop than AI algorithms, since humanity had to probe what their true weaknesses and strengths are. In turn, developing an IA system that could cover humanities' weaknesses. This would summarily prevent an IA algorithm from getting over itself, which could potentially slow a point when we reach singularity.

    1. overcome fundamental human limitations, and the related study of the ethical matters involved in developing and using such technologies

      The author expresses a broad definition of what transhumanism is. Author does not include what transhumanism focuses on specifically as in "human limitations" This is an intent to show transhumanism can incorporate sciences and professions from across the board, being inclusive to new ideas in the process from interested individuals. Therefore, from the Transhumanist FAQ, we can conclude the broad definition was meant to draw in more ideas focused on the betterment of humanity from a diverse group of readers, available for critique and decisions.