In a previous
post, I waxed romantic about the possibility of humans both creating life and having some limited control over our own evolutionary future. In the time since we have seen a
double amputee, complete with state-of-the-art artificial limbs, compete as against more
physically typical athletes in sport. While this was surely a triumph for Mr. Pistorius and the creators of his incredibly blade legs, it also signaled the first salvo in what will surely become a theme as we move forward as a species:
automatic prejudice towards that which is
different from our everyday experience.
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A turning point in human history. |
Human beings are simply afraid of what is different, of change and especially of something that could possibly
change us on a fundamental evolutionary level. While Pistorius, the augmented man, was an amazing story of personal victories - his augmentations are purely physical - there is no direct connection or interaction with the brain. He isn't a robot or an android - that's not possible, right?
Well... it just might
be. Seriously.