Should humanity extend its reach into becoming everything it wished for? Creating a utopian individual in each of us, such that we become all-knowingly and immortal? Should we be allowed to think about such a scenario, and what implications could such a shift in the view of Homo Sapiens be?
This Essay will explore the ethical implications of letting humans achieve a godlike status (Homo Deus) and become all-knowing and immortal. The Essay will mainly concentrate on the concepts of Homo Sapiens, Homo Deus, and the Übermensch, and how a new society will need to be built to let humans achieve a godlike status.
Table of Contents
- 1.1 Introduction
- 1.2 Homo Sapiens and Death
- 1.3 Is Death Evil?
- 2. The Homo Deus – Conqueror of Humanity
- 2.1 The Übermensch – A Representation of Homo Sapiens
- 3. Should We Aspire to Become Gods? And if so, how?
Objective and Thematic Focuses
This essay explores the ethical implications of humanity aspiring to a godlike status, specifically examining the concepts of becoming all-knowing and immortal. It delves into the societal changes and moral considerations necessary if humans were to achieve such a state, addressing the fundamental question of whether humanity should pursue and desires to achieve superhuman and immortal existence.
- Ethical implications of godlike human status.
- Concepts of Homo Sapiens, Homo Deus, and the Übermensch.
- The role of death and the aspiration for immortality.
- Societal and moral structures required for a "godlike" humanity.
- Transhumanism and technological advancements.
Excerpt from the Book
2. The Homo Deus – Conqueror of Humanity
The theoretical concept of Homo Deus derives from Yuval Noah Harari's corresponding book Homo Deus. (getstoryshots, 2021) Harari delves into topics such as transhumanism and the future with the advanced development of Al and genetically engineered humans. (getstoryshots, 2021)
The Homo Deus derives from the Latin and can be translated as the human god. (getstoryshots, 2021) This species will have transcended from Homo Sapiens to the mightiest of all species, namely Homo Deus. (Austriaco, 2021) This shift will happen after solving these three problems that have occurred in human history multiple times: Plagues, famine, and wars. (getstoryshots, 2021) Overcoming these issues, Homo Deus can focus all his resources and knowledge on solving the mystery of death (Austriaco, 2021) and therefore ending all misery in the world. To overcome death, three scientific evolutions will be needed: biological engineering to enhance Homo Deus' biological abilities (Mara Almeida, 2019), Cyborg engineering to produce bionic individuals, and advanced computer engineering to create algorithms that reduce Homo Deus' susceptibility to errors. (Austriaco, 2021)
If Homo Deus lives through these three scientific revolutions, immortality will be near. But so will the era of data-driven determinism. (Austriaco, 2021) Harari proposes the idea that humans might be mere biological algorithms and Homo Deus the final version of an ancient organism. (Austriaco, 2021) As the algorithm gets improved by Homo Deus, the amount of data to sustain a godlike individual will be immense. That is the reason why advancements in biological and computational engineering are needed to sustain Homo Deus: He must be analyzed by available bio- and computational data. (Austriaco, 2021)
Homo Deus living in a deterministic environment is comparable to Homo Sapiens living in the 21st century. The Libet experiment (Philoclopedia, 2024) refutes free will in humans by proving that every action is decided before the human consciously recognizes it as their action.
The data-driven determinism is an enhanced form of understanding biological algorithms that Homo Sapiens will never understand. Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari is a theoretical concept based on existing technology. (getstoryshots, 2021) Transcending Homo Sapiens leads to leaving the species itself. Can Homo Deus act as a humanlike god when it leaves the realm of Homo Sapiens? Is this superhuman a fair representation of the future Homo Sapiens destined to become?
Chapter Summaries
1.1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the central inquiry into the ethical implications of humanity's aspiration to achieve superhuman and immortal capabilities, specifically focusing on the concepts of Homo Sapiens, Homo Deus, and the Übermensch.
1.2 Homo Sapiens and Death: This section explores humanity's historical and universal confrontation with death, examining the wish for immortality and the fear of death as deeply ingrained aspects of the human experience, supported by ancient literature and modern observations.
1.3 Is Death Evil?: This chapter delves into the debate surrounding death's nature, contrasting scientific definitions with philosophical arguments from thinkers like Nick Bostrom and Epicurus regarding whether death is inherently evil and if its conquest is morally justifiable.
2. The Homo Deus – Conqueror of Humanity: This section introduces Yuval Noah Harari's concept of Homo Deus, a future human species that transcends Homo Sapiens by achieving godlike status through advanced biological, cyborg, and computer engineering, aiming to solve humanity's major problems including death.
2.1 The Übermensch – A Representation of Homo Sapiens: This chapter presents Friedrich Nietzsche's "Übermensch" as a theoretical concept representing an accomplished Homo Sapiens who affirms life, builds new values, and fulfills potential without requiring technological enhancements, contrasting it with the technologically driven Homo Deus.
3. Should We Aspire to Become Gods? And if so, how?: This chapter discusses the moral and societal challenges of human aspiration to become gods, proposing a hierarchical structure where Homo Deus serves collective welfare, mediated by an Übermensch, to prevent past human failures and guide longevity research.
Keywords
Homo Sapiens, Homo Deus, Übermensch, immortality, death, ethics, transhumanism, godlike status, human enhancement, biological engineering, artificial intelligence, society, free will, philosophy, Nietzsche.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this work fundamentally about?
This work fundamentally explores the ethical and societal implications of humanity's potential evolution towards a godlike, immortal, and all-knowing state, examining whether such an aspiration is desirable and justifiable.
What are the central thematic fields?
The central thematic fields include transhumanism, the philosophy of death and immortality, ethical considerations of human enhancement, and the conceptualization of future human species like Homo Deus and Nietzsche's Übermensch.
What is the primary goal or research question?
The primary goal is to investigate the ethical implications of humans achieving a godlike status and to explore the necessary societal and moral frameworks for such a transformation, encapsulated by the question: "Will We Become Superhuman and Immortal – And Do We Want To?"
What scientific method is used?
The essay primarily employs theoretical analysis, philosophical inquiry, and the synthesis of existing academic and literary perspectives to discuss complex ethical and futuristic concepts, drawing upon various cited sources rather than experimental scientific methods.
What is covered in the main body?
The main body covers humanity's historical relationship with death, the debate on whether death is inherently evil, the theoretical concept of Homo Deus as a conqueror of humanity, Nietzsche's Übermensch as a representation of Homo Sapiens, and the moral considerations for aspiring to become gods.
Which keywords characterize the work?
The work is characterized by keywords such as Homo Sapiens, Homo Deus, Übermensch, immortality, death, ethics, transhumanism, godlike status, human enhancement, biological engineering, artificial intelligence, society, free will, and philosophy.
How does the concept of Homo Deus relate to Yuval Noah Harari's work?
The concept of Homo Deus in this essay is directly derived from Yuval Noah Harari's book "Homo Deus," which theorizes a future human species that transcends Homo Sapiens by solving major problems like plagues, famine, wars, and eventually death, through advanced technology and engineering.
What is the main difference between Homo Deus and Nietzsche's Übermensch?
Homo Deus represents a technologically advanced, godlike human achieving immortality and omniscience through biological and computer engineering, whereas Nietzsche's Übermensch is a self-overcoming human who creates new values and fulfills their potential without necessarily relying on technological enhancements or aiming for godlike status.
Why is the "eradication of identity" proposed for Homo Deus?
The eradication of identity for Homo Deus is proposed as a necessary step to prevent the repetition of historical human errors such as genocides, wars, and colonization, which are attributed to identity-driven biases and status quo moralities, thus aiming for an egalitarian future.
What is the role of the Übermensch in the proposed future society?
In the proposed future society, the Übermensch acts as a crucial intermediary, establishing communication between humanity and Homo Deus, as Homo Deus is no longer considered a human species. The Übermensch, driven by love for humanity, helps integrate the knowledge and tools provided by Homo Deus for the general welfare.
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- Yara Ismail (Autor:in), 2024, Will We Become Superhuman and Immortal – And Do We Want To?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1610929
