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Friday, May 15, 2015

Post-Humanity


There are many futuristic movies trying to predict where humanity is heading and what will become of us, mainly due to the development of technology. But haven't we already reached post-humanity, in a way?
It all comes down to what we understand behind the term 'post-humanity'. Is it the liberation from human values and mores, or does it define a more physical transformation - the changes in our bodies, the extension of our capabilities and the lack of necessity to move?

Usually, when we see futuristic, sci-fi movies, holograms are involved, some sort of telepathic control over data and the replacement of humans by machines to an enormous extent. But let's put things into perspective. There has been already made an enormous shift in communication since the Gutenberg press - that was the rise of the mass media. Then the sound and video and finally the Internet. Just a century ago the world looked completely different. So, we already are a sci-fi version of our ancestors.

However, is it enough to claim that we are post-human? No.
Even though people rely mainly on their cell phones to communicate, obtain information and even work, there still is a connection between people that no machine can replace. I think that on a physical level, we definitely have changed more. We rely on machines like cars, trains, plains, etc. to take us places, writing has been replaced by typing and verbal communication is also becoming more rare. But it still is communication, the form may have changed, but the content remains the same. Therefore, I believe that there is an aspect of post-human capabilities, and the technology is likely to develop even further, but human relationships, emotions and values will remain the same.

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