Ethically Speaking radio show does Transhumanism

Dean Ritz and Deni Elliott of the Ethically Speaking radio program, a co-production of the the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg and the University of Montana, recently did “transhumanism" as a topic.

Listen to the MP3 here.

Ethically Speaking Transcript

Transhumanism (#75)

If humans had wings to fly, would they still be human? How much enhancement is too much enhancement?

DEAN: This is Ethically Speaking.

DENI: Are you a transhumanist or a bioluddite?

DEAN: Bioluddites worry that increased use of medical technology will change human existence in negative ways.

DENI: And transhumanists think that we ought to use technology to make us better than human. Genetic manipulation is available now, as are prosthetics to make joints and limbs stronger than humanly possible. There’s even talk about adding wings so that it is possible for people to fly.

DEAN: Technology like that further divides humans into rich and poor. Some people can afford enhancements but most can’t.

Deni: And, I have a ‘yuck’ response. That probably means that we’re both bioluddites. But, neither your affordability argument or my ‘yuck’ factor is a very good response to the transhumanists. The idea of transplanting the heart or liver or corneas from a dead person into a living person used to make people say ‘yuck’ before transplants became commonplace.

DEAN: And, Lance Armstrong would not have been around to win his 6th Tour de France if not for very advanced medical technology. Most humans can’t afford his treatments, but a lot of people can’t afford basic health care or nutrition.

DENI: That’s true, but the affordability of healthcare is a different topic.  What I’m saying that we should use technology to repair a problem and not use it to make us super-human.

DEAN: It’s a difference of degree, not kind. Let’s say that you go to the eye doctor. Instead of 20/20 vision, the doctor offers you glasses that make your eyes 20/10—much better than normal. Would you say, “Don’t enhance my vision please. I want no better than normal vision?”

DENI: Hmmm, I see your point. So how much enhancement is too much? Enhance our understanding at ethicallyspeaking.org.

DEAN: We’re Dean Ritz and Deni Elliott for Ethically Speaking, a co-production of the the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg and the University of Montana. Music by Eric Hutchins.