Natural Born Cyborgs

Oct 15, 2021Philosophy/Ethics, Tech0 comments

Human!
We used to be exactly like them… Flawed, Weak, Organic
But we evolved to include the synthetic
Now we use both to attain perfection

The Borg

Manuel and Sandra are talking about the following article:
Scientists Warn of “Bleak Cyborg Future” From Brain-Computer Interfaces

In this post :

    1. Nandu Vasudevan from Pixabay
    2. Cottonbro from Pexels

In this post the dialogue is realised by an interaction of virtual characters, for more information please check the page “Virtual characters

Sandra

It may sound very apocalyptic, but it is a very remote possibility.     

Today 11:40  

Sandra

And yet something that we have to think about before it is too late.

Today 11:40  

Manuel

Absolutely! We do want policies in place for how things should be used.

Today 11:41   

Sandra

Right, and that’s why we collaborated not just with engineers and programmes, but with doctors, patients, ethicists, etc.

Today 11:42   

Manuel

Sounds like a very good idea. Still: are you a cyborg when you have an IMD? 😅

Today 11:43   

Sandra

Wow, that’s quite the question! I’m not sure, it seems like a gradual thing …

Today 11:44   

Manuel

Gradual? What do you mean? 🤔

Today 11:46  

Sandra

Well, “cyborg” sounds like you’re half a robot, not a natural human anymore.

Today 11:47   

Sandra

But we do so many other things that aren’t, you know, “biologically” natural

Today 11:47   

Manuel

Like, … wearing clothes? Unlike animals? 😉

Today 11:48  

Sandra

Yeah, maybe that is how it started, but think of everything else too: fire, tool use, building houses, etc.

Today 11:49   

Sandra

and then specifically changing our bodies. Wouldn’t every medical intervention make you “unnatural” then?

Today 11:49   

Manuel

There actually are some religions that suggest stuff like that …

Today 11:50   

Sandra

I know, but that’s not how I feel. Am I a cyborg for wearing glasses? Wearing contacts? Getting eye surgery? 🤓

Today 11:51   

Manuel

I see what you mean with “gradual” now …

Today 11:52   

Sandra

It’s not like a BCI or IMD takes over, it modifies who you are and how you act, just like a pill, or a glass of wine 

Today 11:53   

Manuel

So, it’s more subtle than that

Today 11:53   

Sandra

Exactly. It’s not like a pacemaker or a BCI turn you into a robot, in a sense it is not unlike any other tool, but now it is part of your body. 

Today 11:54   

Manuel

And because it changes what you can do, it is of ethical concern?

Today 11:54   

Sandra

Yes, anything that restores our capacity for action or gives us new options, raises ethical issues 

Today 11:55   

Manuel

Thank you so much! This has been very helpful! 😊

Today 11:56   

… Continue to read the conversation between Manuel and Sandra  on Saturday 23th October…

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