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The Future of Non-Human Persons: Three Questions Explored

This text discusses the possibility of creating non-human persons through advancements in science and technology such as robotics, genetic engineering, and nanotechnology. It raises three important questions about the ethical implications and consequences of these developments. The questions revolve around the potential need to prevent the "Age of Augments" from occurring, the rights and obligations of the dominant species to ensure their continued dominance, and the moral obligation of parents to have their children undergo augmentation for success in a civilization dominated by non-human persons.

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The Future of Non-Human Persons: Three Questions Explored

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  1. “Enough” Arnold?Arnold & Non-Human-Persons Arnold the “Terminator” Arnold the Clone Arnold the Mutant (Mr. Freeze)

  2. The Assumption: • Science/technology (robotics, genetic engineering, nanotechnology) will soon reach the point where humans will have the ability to fundamentally change the nature of the human species or add to the world of persons beings of a thoroughly artificial sort (robots/androids). At this point it will be appropriate to say that TWO (or more) VARIETIES OF PERSONS MIGHT COMETO EXIST: • HUMANS -- AUGMENTS

  3. Augments? • What do we include as Augments? • C-(erebral) Cyborgs -- cyborgs having had significant portions of the “thinking areas” of their brains replaced; • Robots/Androids (such as Commander Data of STNG) • Clones (“artificially produced” humans, i.e. not “identical” twins) – currently necessary to produce … • Genetically Engineered Beings such that • (a) they can no longer mate with humans and produce fertile offspring; • (b) they can produce fertile offspring when mated with humans but are so different in abilities/interests that no humans can match their capacities.

  4. Three Questions: • 1.

  5. Three Questions: • 2.

  6. Three Questions: • 3.

  7. Three Questions Bound Together

  8. Three Questions Bound Together • Ought implies Can -- If we cannot Stop what Will occur, then does this imply that it is false-that-we-should-try? • If it IS practically possible to Stop non-human-persons from coming into being -- Will we? -- Should we? • If our society Will in fact choose to let non-human-persons come into being, does that mean that, for our society, they Should come into being?

  9. Three Questions Bound Together • S: We should stop the “Age of Augments” from coming into being. • P: It is practically possible to stop the “Age of Augments” from coming into being. • W: We will stop the “Age of Augments” from coming into being.

  10. Should?Practically Possible?Will in Fact? Stop the “Age of Augments” • S P W |T T T |T T F |T F T |T F F | Which combination is F T T | the “correct one?”F T F | (McKibben argues for #1)F F T |F F F |

  11. Related Questions: • THE “SELF-DEFENSE” QUESTIONS: • Assume we are the “dominant species” on Earth -- • 1. Does our species have the RIGHT to ensure that we remain the dominant species on Earth? • 2. Moreover, do we have the OBLIGATION to ensure that we remain dominant?

  12. Related Questions: • THE “CIVILIZATION” QUESTIONS: • Assume a civilization of Augments becomes the dominant civilization on Earth -- • 1. Does our species have the RIGHT to ensure that human civilization remains in existence? • 2. Moreover, do WE have the OBLIGATION to ensure that human civilization remains in existence?

  13. Related Questions: • THE “NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND” QUESTION: • Assume a civilization of Augments becomes the dominant civilization on Earth -- • 1. Should you as a parent be morally OBLIGATED to have your child undergo augmentation (become an augment) to ensure that she/he will be able to compete successfully with her/his peers?

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