Thchnology as a route to immortality - Essay Example

Technology as a route to immortality Introduction For most religions, the road to immortality is death. Nevertheless, with the inventions of mathematicians like Boole and philosophers like Descartes, the definition of human thought as the connection of mankind and the divine has greatly been assimilated in technology to result to immortality. This is because technology defined human mental process through mathematical descriptions to reveal God’s mind (146). Unlike Descartes who sought to define knowledge, Boole laid the foundation for human reason’s mathematical representation resulting to the aspect that this thought process can be replicated and simulated mechanically.

Consequently, replication of human thought process brought about immortality of the mind transparently and comprehensibly, since reasoning could not just be replicated but also manipulated (148). Context Besides thinking without the body, technological advancements promote immortality through promotion of bodies that are impermeable to damage and aging given technology’s ability to health current diseases like cancer; mind uploading that permits existence in virtual reality, alternate bodies or robots, and deep space; and correcting global warming.

Based on Cartesian arguments, technological advancements of as thinking machine aimed at relieving human’s immortal mind from its mortal captivity thus lending it a permanent existence both on earth and in heaven (148). Consequently, technology or machine represented secondary individuals with additional perfectionism that will be enhanced through improvements in transhumanism and nanotechnology. Main point The search to imitate the human mind through inventions concluded that machines are thinking, imitate better than human interrogators implying that machines could also learn (151) and function autonomous of human intelligence to make decisions within military context where rational intelligence of artificial intelligence displaces human insanity and limitations (154).

Minsky, a pioneer in Artificial Intelligence insinuated that the human interior could be depersonalized and independently replaced by thinking machines (156). Minsky also prophesied the symbiosis of man and machines where AI would accelerate human cognitive process hence promoting high performance machines (157) like voice actuated computers through advancements like ARPANET (158).More analysis Like the previous technology enthusiasts, human fascinations with computers incline to spirituality unlike utilitarianism with the brain freeing from the body making it immortal within the cyberspace (160).

Additionally, cyberspace results to imaginary spiritual religion realms evident in virtual reality that provides the desire to exist empowered on other (161). The procedure for freeing the brain and linking its neural bundles to computer cables rescues the brain from mortal body limitations. Body limitations include aging associated to lost functions while the computer retains the brain in its original state in numerous copies dispersed universally meaning that mortality is highly impossible (163).

Additionally, the fact that intelligent machines are vehicles of human transcendence and permanent existence then they too have their lives and purpose that goes far beyond human knowledge. The special purpose represents future evolution that exceeds Homo sapiens known as machine sapiens powered by artificial intelligence. This way, humans can transfer into cybercivilization guaranteeing their eternal existence. Artificial life projects include self-reproducing automata, like NASA’s self-reproducing factories (166) and advent of artificial life in self-reproducing silicon humans as man’s successors.

Conclusion With the new inspiration of artificial intelligence being to create man’s successors, the aspect of human immortality will no longer be a religion mythology especially with the creation of living machines. With A-Life, Descartes’ dream of isolating immortal mind from mortal body will prolong man’s life.Works CitedThe religion of technology