Harvey Fineberg: Are we ready for neo-evolution?

http://www.ted.com Medical ethicist Harvey Fineberg shows us three paths forward for the ever-evolving human species: to stop evolving completely, to evolve naturally -- or to control the next steps of human evolution, using genetic modification, to make ourselves smarter, faster, better. Neo-evolution is within our grasp. What will we do with it?

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  Science & Technology

[Andrew Dial]

burying your head in the sand, I see

[avedic]

It's funny how we talk about technology or manipulating genes ourselves as...."artificial."

Nothing is artificial. Everything is natural. A computer is every bit as natural as a beehive or a tree. Who says nature can't refine itself, through evolution, into forms so subtle and powerful that they appear almost godlike...like computers?

Whatever evolutionary path we take, it will be natural. Nature isn't just grass and atoms and water and gravity. It's also computers and emotions and airplanes.

[repran]

Evolution is used as a marketing catchphrase by Fineberg. He is talking about genetic engineering calling it "Neo-evolution". Actual evolution is a process of change, competition and selection. What Fineberg suggests is to alter one aspect of this process and that is the 'change' bit. The underlying evolutionary process is not changed however leaving the three principles of change, competition and selection unaltered. Calling genetic engineering 'neo-evolution' surely sells more books and talks.

[Joe Mariani]

With the advent of Neo-Evolution and genetic augmentation we as a species shall achive godhood.

[timothyplumley]

i dont go to hospitals or take medicines i live active lifestyle and eat healthy and avoid stupid pain, i do alot of things for myself, but anyways we are not all as capable, under the current thought process this is relevant. but society can and should change, but not for others but ourselves. we have lost touch with reality and need to cone back down to earth with our thoughts.

[Brewsto]

"Life is meant to be lived in the time you are given."

So why are you taking medicines or go to the hospital when you're body is damaged. Are you trying to prolong your life? Hypocrite.

This is my advice: keep the faith to yourself and don't shove it down people's throats cause you're destroying the society.

[timothyplumley]

Life is meant to be lived in the time you are given. Faith in others doing it for you will only make you reliant not abled.

[595o]

is there really more poverty now (in relation to the whole population) than there used to be?

[595o]

good point and a reason why someone might generally call for variety on decisions (except in cases where we have proof of what the the "optimal" one is)

[arazona911]

Because its everything a human can wish for (the ultimate desire)

[Ghoults]

Religion is not a private thing but it is a system that tries to adjust the society to its norms (homosexuality, abortion). In the end religion becomes a tool for believers to try to control everyone else in society. For religious people it is about not wanting the society they live in to be immoral. Therefore religions empower these believers to think they should have power about what should be going on in the society.

As such religion very much in deed is about suppressing science.