This is something to think about. I mean, look at something as seemingly innocuous as vaccinations. We pretty much have vaccines to thank for millions of starving people in the third world. Without vaccines, let's face it, there'd be a lot less of us.
Vaccination actually prevents poverty, creates stability and allows society to progress, see
Poverty Reduction. We have millions of starving people, but we used to have a lot more. Take some time to study before you self-rationalize your opinions.
Are there things we can do to address this? Sure, we could stop farming live stock at outrageous rates, eat less meat, promote vegetarianism, and have more water and food. ..but people don't want to do that. They don't want to stop driving their cars to lessen air pollution or global warming either.
Yes they do. Do you not recall when the
Ozone layer was being threatened? It was discovered by scientists, who were alarmed to inform others. Through universal agreements, several hazardous subtances were banned and ozone layer's health was being constantly monitored. The campaign seems to be successful and the ozone layer is recovering.
Elon Musk wanted to create an electric car to fight the pollution of combustion engines. Now we have Tesla, which is almost affordable to the midclass in western countries.
With better understanding of the world, we can save and preserve earth. And that's what we are trying to do.
Secular humanism has ravaged the earth. In my early 20s, I thought it was the answer. Now I see it actually leads to a human self absorption, so vile, that in turn it will likely mean the end of human existence.
Fundamentalism is the plague that ravages earth. The lack of doubt and foolish certainty. That's definitely not secular humanism. It's constantly re-evaluating itself through science. It is full of doubt and uncertainty, thus ever trying to improve its
So when people start extending their lives, then what? Are we supposed to allow certain wealthy individuals to take even more resources for themselves, indefinitely?
It is always a problem when powerful people are in better position to empower themselves. It was no different in middle ages when only wealthy people were able to read and write. But science has found answers to these problems time and time again (printing press, internet, etc.).
Of course they won't value their children as much. They already don't. Look at the people who have kids now who won't even make changes to leave a more hospitible planet for their children.
As a parent I find that offensive. If I compare myself to my parents, I can say for sure that I have much smaller carbon footprint.
- We only have one modern car, as opposed to two old cars my parents had. (Modern cars have a much smaller carbon footprint.)
- Our electricty comes 100% from renewable sources (we are paying little extra for that).
- We recycle more (glass, metal, paper, cardboard).
- We are much more concerned about the enviromental issues and other global phenomen (thanks to the internet).
As for the transhumanism, I can't wait it to happen. Well, actually it has already happen in forms of eyeglasses, hearing aids, pacemakers, artificial joints and synthesized medicine. We I hear we are not too far from 3d printed tissue and organs. There has already been succesful tests on machine aided telepathy and cybernetic limbs. We've seen an olympic level athlete with artificial legs.
To quote a cylon:
"I don’t want to be human. I want to see gamma rays, I want to hear X-rays, and I want to smell dark matter. Do you see the absurdity of what I am? I can’t even express these things properly, because I have to — I have to conceptualize complex ideas in this stupid, limiting spoken language, but I know I want to reach out with something other than these prehensile paws, and feel the solar wind of a supernova flowing over me. I’m a machine, and I can know much more, I could experience so much more, but I’m trapped in this absurd body."
I'm constantly lookin for new movies with transhumanistic themes and I just can't get enough (Ex Machina was pretty nice, Transcendence not as much).