Choose one of the following options for your Post #1.
Option #1 – Transhumanism
After reading this week’s Required Learning Materials, review Bostrom’s “Transhumanist FAQs” and Torresen’s “A Review of Future and Ethical Perspectives of Robotics and AI.” please do the following:
- Provide a brief description of transhumanism in your own words. This should be a paraphrase and/or summary of the description in Bostrom. (Please see tips on paraphrasing here. Please see tips on summarizing here.)
- Choose one of the forms of cutting edge technology from the FAQ (nanotechnology, biological warfare, artificial intelligence, nuclear technology) and find and describe a real-life example of it. Your real-life example should be from a reliable article in a popular technology publication or an article in the UMGC library.
- Explain why the technology you chose would appeal to transhumanists.
- Discuss one ethical issue that could arise from the widespread use of the technology you chose. You can refer back to the Learning Materials from week 3 if needed.
- Use two quotes from the Required Learning Materials to support or explain your points. Make sure to provide in-text citations for both quotes in MLA format.
- Provide references for all sources in MLA format.
Examples of popular technology publications that can be used for this question include:
- Wired Magazine
- MIT Technology Review
- Tech Briefs
- GeekTime
- ComputerWorld
- Innovation & Tech Today
- Digit Magazine
- Trotons Tech Magazine
Option #2: Human vs. Machine?
After reading this week’s Required Learning Materials, review Barfield’s “Cyborgs and Enhancement Technology,” Rubin’s “Robotic Souls,” and Shanahan’s chapter, “Heaven or Hell,” please do the following:
- Identify and describe three specific ways our current understanding of a human being can be called into question, complicated, or changed by technological advances. Be sure to refer to information in the Required Learning Materials for all of your answer.
- Explain one argument for why AI may never be able to replicate a human being completely. Be sure to refer to information in the Required Learning Materials.
- Based on what you have learned from the readings, determine and explain your answer to the question: “Can machines be human?” What do you think and why?
- Use two quotes from the Required Learning Materials to support or explain your points. Make sure to provide in-text citations for both quotes in MLA format.
- Provide references for all sources in MLA format.