Beyond Human, And Yet Human Still

At a convention on subjects near and dear to the hearts of futurists, a British cosmologist marveled at the uniqueness of our times:

(Excerpt)

The cosmologist said that in the 21st Century science had changed the world faster than ever before and in many new ways. "Our century is very, very special," said Professor Rees. "It is the first where humans can change themselves."

(End of Excerpt)

Of course, as with most things, it's a statement that is not beyond cavil.

Yes, it is true that our century will see the beginnings of genetically engineered humans, and that the stars will eventually be our domain, if they do not fall upon us first.

But is it true that humanity will evolve to an extent beyond what we can know now?

In a trivial sense, the answer to this question is also, Of course. It's only a matter of time, perhaps not even millennia, when humanity will master the technologies necessary to live as differently as we can imagine.

And yet in a fundamental sense, the human drive will always be there. Our future selves will look upon us with pity, and yet they will have stood on the shoulders of giants, as Newton did (incidentally, in his own sarcastic way disavowing Leibniz, who happened to be diminutive). For we are the past of our own future.

Posterity is a word we mention all too rarely now. But posterity is the inevitable result of our actions and inactions.

We strive to go beyond humanity. And perhaps that is what makes us all the more so.

Source of excerpt:Link.