Do Transhumanists Swim in Electric Pools? : (The Hermeneutics of a Post-Aging World part 1

In case you are wondering – what in the world is he talking about? - 

The title of this blog is inspired with the title of the book, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? which is a science fiction novel by Philip K. Dick first published in 1968 and then made into a magnificent movie - Blade Runner (1982) -Wow, how the years roll by – why it seemed like just yesterday when I read that book and saw the movie when it first showed up at the theatre – OK, enough of the nostalgia – and so….?

               

Ok, back on track >>>  both of which describe and visualize the “future” – complete with replicants (humanoids) {see Nexus 6} – and set in the year 2019…

[side note: I don't know about you, but that seemed way off in the future when the movie first came out (1982) but now in 2009, thats.....2019 - thats about ten years from now! - which reminds me of the same psychological effect when 2001: A Space Odyssey was shown in 1968 - and then all of sudden 2001 came and went ----and then what about the sequel 2010 (aka Odyssey Two) which is ---- set in next year !]

- and the motto of the Tyrell Corporation (in the movie – Blade Runner) which makes the replicants was, “More human, than human” – but ironically some of the replicants do not want to “retire” (or die – as we would say it), rather they want to “live” longer (that is, exist beyond their programmed end point which was built in their system; a poison pill that was hardwired into their biomechanics). The film, Blade Runner, is a gerontological set piece, a philosophical mind-bender that opens the lid and pulls back the curtain on the current barrage and banter on all things posthuman, transhuman, and perhaps “post-aging.”  In the beginning of the film, when Deckhard visits the Tyrell Corporation, you see the heavy – but well-placed symbolism – of the owl flying at dusk (?) – a salute to Hegel – and we are supplied “wisdom” with the rest of the film on the nuances of a hell/heaven world of a tech-enabled landscape awash in dreary rain-soaked urban intencity – but only at dusk – when the owl of Minerva will fly (too late to learn from the lessons?).

First let me state the textual dynamite for this post (one of many to follow) on the Hermeneutics of a Post-Aging World – which basically will sustain the discourse on the possibility of a “post-aging” world whereby via the very optimistic possibilities associated with the efflorescence of technology (e.g., biomechanics, artificial intelligence, the singularity, etc.) will not only make senescence negligible (see Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence (SENS)  - Dr Aubrey de Grey), but also make aging moot and all of its attending complications (in theory). And furthermore (but with ultimate finality) mortality will become…..well, mortal !   The death of death. The end of aging and of finitude.

Maybe. We shall see. But is when engaging in speculative science there is bound to be lots of heresy and provocation – and of course – roguish statements about where are we are going (futurism) based on where we are at – which is always dangerous, reckless, exciting, and interesting. 

The catalyst was a singular (but there are many others) news report from of an aging workshop run by the International Longevity Center (ILC) which produces some solid and timely materials in our current (presentification of gerontology) representation of aging both nationally (US) and internationally. I recommend that you review their website for more info on policy issues and for the conprehensive reports on a variety of topics (via PDF downloads) . So the title of the news article was,

“Nix sedentary life, live to 100: Expert” by  Shannon Proudfoot for the Canwest News Service (June 1, 2009) – and the article went on to briefly describe the talk by Robert Fogel, a business professor at the University of Chicago, who basically projected that half of today’s undergraduate students will live to see their 100th birthday, provided they find some way to counteract their sedentary, tech-enabled lifestyle. I guess I also learned that Fogel left out the gerontology professors who would be teaching in the class with the undergraduate students {never thought about seeing the next century – until now ! – thanks Fogel for the not so subtle reminder; but I guess Ray Kurzweil is thinking differently ?}.

Fogel said that, 

“The future health of the IT generation is quite bright, provided that they adopt an appropriate lifestyle to go with their new technological opportunities,”

Proudfoot went on to report that,

“Today’s undergrads have grown up in relatively healthy, disease-free environments even from the time they were developing in utero, Fogel says, and that’s given them stronger bodies to withstand health challenges through the rest of their lives. On top of that, he believes medical advances will mean increasingly effective ways to treat and prevent the chronic illnesses that most frequently truncate people’s lives now.”

You can read the rest of the story at http://www.calgaryherald.com/Health/sedentary+life+live+Expert/1652221/story.html - 

but stay with me for now.

             Here is the fuse to the dynamite: It is ironic that many of the transhuman, posthuman, and anti-aging proponents envision the ultimate disconnect from the body whereby intelligence is no longer tied to carbon-based units (that would be “us” – presently) but will in the future – via disembodification – will become silicon based – and intelligence necessarily seperate from the flesh and blood (yes the grey matter too) {I did not say anything about WISDOM, but that is another gray matter – sorry I could not help myself there). Here we have a story where the tech-enabled generation of youth are vulnerable to becoming hyper-geriatrified because they are too engaged in sedentary behaviors centered around all things tech. So on one hand, the only way to get to the SINGULARITY (see R. Kurzweil) is to push the tech mode in hyperdrive, but with too much behind the “computer screen time” – one is bound to atrophy and decay (shall I say frailty and prematurely geriatric) because the body (soma) likes activity and action. Perhaps, the point is that in a post-aging world we will not need exercise and activity or action – only thought – only the cerebral – the neocortex rules, not the bicep or the quads. But in the mean time, it appears that immortality will not be gained by sitting as though a couch potato – rather, as long as we are both flesh and blood – cognitive and transcendental – we are still human (not more than) and in the immortal words taken from the movie Blade Runner -

“It’s too bad she won’t live; but then again, who does?” (not even the replicants)

Which I take to be our lesson – no one lives forever. And even if you did – are you then “human” – or posthuman – or replicant – or humanoid – or transhuman, or just really, really bored human. Just think: American Idol – forever !  (that’s the point I embrace the freedom of finitude – pull the plug: on the TV, LCD, Plasma screen – and on me).

100 years ? Ok, check, you got it. But please do ask this: What will be the status of your additional years? (whether they be 50 or 100 extra) Disability-free? Chronic conditions? Quality of life? We can live longer – but what is the difference —- when wanting to have a life that matters – longer. In that case, one year is the same as a thousand – if it matters. If it don’t – then infinity will not solve your problems or desires or illusions. Immortality is kinda of long time – to think and dwell and reflect… are you ready ? While it is possibly true that procrastination would rule the “day” (day – whatever that would mean) – as I have forever to do anything, I suppose, what I actually hope for  is the case in an post-aging world is basic and follows the wisdom of Joseph Addison:

Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love and something to hope for.

If that is the case regardless of 50 years, 100 years, 200 years, 500 years, or an infinite possibility – then let me think about that some more. But until then, get off your chair while you are reading this blog – and go exercise – go outside – or go for a swim in the water – before it all goes virtual. 

Goodnight – as my neurons think of the possibility of dreams that are electric – and then are they mine? – or implanted there ?  

ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz 

Thanks, Scott D. Wright