In this blog post, we will explore in depth the possibility of the human race going extinct without us disappearing and its future.
If the current human race were to become extinct, what would be the reason? Common answers to this question include nuclear war, pandemics, and climate change. These threats facing humanity are issues that have threatened the survival of the human race for many years, and scenarios that have been warned of by various scientists and futurists. The history of humanity has been a succession of overcoming these crises, but the current situation is quite different from the past. Thanks to the development of science and technology, humans have gained much more information and the ability to solve complex problems than in the past. However, at the same time, we cannot overlook the fact that these technologies are exposing us to a new level of risk.
Some scientists, however, raise the possibility of a different kind of extinction: that is, the extinction of humans but not of humanity. This concept may be difficult to understand intuitively, but a glimpse of its potential can be seen by looking at some of the advances made by modern science and technology. This is not simply the disappearance of humanity due to natural disasters or war, but rather the result of a path of evolution chosen by humans themselves. To understand this, it is important to briefly look at the history of humans and the process of evolution.
For billions of years, living things have evolved according to the laws of nature. No living thing has evolved by intentionally choosing its own evolutionary path, but has evolved naturally, literally. Humans have evolved in the same way and emerged as the current human species, Homo sapiens. However, as our science and technology have rapidly advanced, it has become possible to attempt to go beyond the laws of nature. We have artificially created green fluorescent rabbits through genetic manipulation, grown large ears on the backs of mice, and even developed a technology that can bring extinct animals back to life. These technological advances suggest that the laws of nature, which have been preserved for billions of years, have been broken.
This raises a key question: can we genetically modify ourselves to become mentally and physically superior and alien to the current human race? This question goes beyond scientific curiosity and raises deep philosophical questions about the identity of humanity. If such manipulation is possible, and the degree of superiority and alienation is so great that it is impossible to see them as the same creatures, can we really call the humans of that time the same species as us? If this is the case, Homo sapiens is practically extinct and has been replaced by a new species. But we have not perished. This is because the new species that replaced us came from us. That is why they are extinct but not destroyed.
Another example of this is the combination of humans and machines. This is the cyborg that has been used as a motif in many popular media, including “Terminator.” Since people with machines all over their bodies appear in creative works, you might think of cyborgs as a virtual existence, but in fact, cyborgs are not just a fiction that appears in creative works. Early forms of cyborg technology are already appearing in our daily lives. Thanks to technological advances, so-called artificial organs are being used to replace not only prosthetic limbs but also organs such as the heart, and even monkeys can have electrodes implanted in their brains to move artificial arms that are completely separate from their bodies and cannot be seen. This means that the boundary between humans and machines is gradually blurring.
If we go one step further, we might be able to apply the same technology to humans to create cyborgs. Then, it might become an ambiguous state where it is difficult to distinguish whether this being is a human or a robot. No one calls a person wearing a prosthetic limb a robot, and no one calls a talking robot a person. However, if the boundaries become blurred and broken down due to technological advances, we will no longer be able to call ourselves Homo sapiens. This change is not limited to the physical dimension.
The point to note about cyborgs is not just physical changes. If we can implant electrodes into the brain to move a third arm that never existed, why not connect the brain directly to a computer? It would be quite interesting if many brains were connected to a computer to create a “brain internet.” The era is approaching when such technological possibilities can be realized rather than simply imagined. However, this also threatens our identity. For example, when you hear or read about someone else’s experience, you learn it without knowing that it is that person’s experience. But if someone else accesses the brain internet and gains someone else’s memory, they may remember it as if it were their own experience. If this happens, you may question whether your memory is really your own. You may also develop feelings and desires that we cannot even imagine at this point.
Can we really say that these people are the same species as us? This question shows that we need to have a deep discussion on how the current development of science and technology will affect the identity of humanity. Beyond simple scientific discoveries, these changes raise the fundamental question of how we will exist as a human race.
The idea that humanity may not perish but become extinct is truly surprising. We are far from extinction due to the growing scientific knowledge and technology, but ironically, we are closer to extinction. When we face this reality, we must seriously consider which direction we should go in. It is clear that science and technology are essential tools for the survival of humanity, but we must also keep in mind the possibility that these tools may transform us into something new.
As such, the future of humanity depends on the choices we make now, and the outcome of those choices will be directly linked to the fate of Homo sapiens. Ultimately, humanity may survive without perishing, but it is doubtful whether that survival will be the one we desire. Ultimately, the future of humanity will evolve or transform in ways we cannot even imagine, and in the process, we may have to redefine the very nature of humanity. This is not just an imagination, but a real challenge we may face.
