I was reading Homo Deus and peering into the future. What I was glimpsing was the Super Human – Homo superior.
This was a new race a much greater jump than Australopithecine to Homo sapiens. People with IQs that soar far above anything we can presently imagine. Compared to them our geniuses will be morons. They will have a physique and metabolism to go with it.
It will happen. It is not far off.
This will not happen through the slow uncertain process of evolution. Nothing so perfect could possibly come out of that laborious process. Our present imperfect bodies and minds are the result of that. No. It will not be evolution.
Neither will it even be through the cumbersome process of selective breeding and ethnic cleansing as envisioned by the likes of Adolf Hitler and the eugenics movement. The limitations of that are obvious.
No – these amazing mutations will be the result of our genetic manipulation and mastery of the genome.
The changes from apes to humans were due to very few mutations in our DNA. Back on those African plains those tiny changes transformed us from scavenging apes to become masters of computers and space craft. Just think what a scientist could achieve with a few hundred well thought out tweaks to our DNA.
Once we have the ability to insert genes or alter DNA – once we fully understand how gene expression works – once we are masters of the genome – we will be able to manipulate the human genome, eradicate the faults and create whatever skills and attributes we wish. There will be no limits. We will be able to design the ideal human – Homo superior – the super human – unlimited intelligence, perfect health, a metabolism that zings and a body to die for.
And believe me – we will die out. The time of Homo sapiens will be over. We will be replaced more quickly than you can say Neanderthal – or maybe we’ll be kept as pets?
We might try to stop it happening – but you can bet someone, somewhere is already working on it.
Roll over Beethoven – dig these genes and news.
Once this comes about, paid for by the wealthy capitalists, their class will benefit and the rest of us will be enslaved to the superhumans created by the 1%. Can we skip that next step? Please?
We might not have a choice John. They might well take steps to rid themselves of us. With automation they will not need us. We will be surplus to requirements. So we might well skip it.
I think it all sounds pretty nefarious, actually. I REALLY hope you’re just coming iup with a plot for new book!
No but I will probably incorporate it into one. What I write about is becoming real. I was reading this great book Homo Deus (which is so incredibly thought provoking) and I began to realise that this was not only a possibility but was beginning to happen.