In this blog post, we will consider whether humanity will still be a meaningful value in the post-human era.
In science fiction movies, cyborgs not only look exactly like humans, but also think and act like humans. So, can we consider them human? Is there such a thing as a unique humanity that distinguishes humans from non-humans, or in other words, non-humans?
In the 17th century, Descartes believed that although animals and humans have similar bodies, unlike animals, humans have souls and the ability to think. By separating the mind from the body, he believed that animals and humans could be distinguished from each other. From this perspective, humans could be confident of their superior position as the only beings with free and independent consciousness. Of course, this view was shaken by the emergence of materialism and evolutionism in the 19th century, but in real life, there were no situations in which non-human beings could significantly threaten human superiority.
However, since the 20th century, the view that recognized the uniqueness of humanity has faced fundamental challenges due to rapid advances in science and technology. With the emergence of new beings, or “post-humans,” whose abilities have been enhanced by machine implants and genetic mutations, questions about the uniqueness of humanity have begun to arise. Artificial arms and retinas are already being implanted into the human body, and it is expected that computers capable of artificial intelligence will appear in the future, followed by cyborgs, or machine-human hybrids. As a result, the boundary between humans and non-humans is becoming blurred, and humans are now faced with the reality that they cannot deny or ignore the existence of post-humans, who are deeply entering their domain.
At first, humans created machines based on science and technology, but now humans are becoming beings that must adapt to the machine environment they have created. Machines no longer exist solely as tools for humans, but are now likely to influence human consciousness and even change the way humans live. If this happens, it will become difficult to take for granted the exclusive superiority of humans over machines.
The emergence of post-humans requires serious reflection on the perspective that has recognized the uniqueness of humanity. This reflection should not lead to the search for another standard to distinguish humans from non-humans in order to maintain the exclusive superiority of humans. The discussion on post-humans requires a fundamental rethinking of the very perspective that has distinguished humans from non-humans.
However, this discussion is not limited to the philosophical and theoretical realm. In fact, the concept of posthumanism is closely connected to our daily lives. For example, we are already experiencing expanded capabilities through advanced devices such as smartphones, which are changing our lifestyles significantly. Furthermore, advances in artificial intelligence technology are completely redefining the way we interact with information. These changes cannot be viewed as mere technological advances, but rather as fundamental changes to human existence itself.
In a future society where collaboration between artificial intelligence and humans becomes commonplace, the boundaries between humans and machines will become even more blurred. Accordingly, we must think more deeply about what constitutes the unique essence of humanity and how we can preserve and develop that essence. This is not merely a philosophical question, but an issue directly related to our quality of life. The advent of the post-human era provides us with an opportunity to reexamine our humanity and redefine our own existence in the process of searching for answers.
Ultimately, the emergence of the posthuman demands a new understanding of human identity and existence. Beyond the boundaries between humans and non-humans, we must continue to explore what humanity is and how it can evolve in the future. This will be one of the most important challenges facing our society alongside the advancement of science and technology.
