Deus Ex: Playing God and Being More Than Human

I’d like to discuss something with you, and before we start, yes this is a discussion brought on by a video game. The game is called Deus Ex and it is focused around human augmentation. It might be a good idea to look at both the trailer for the game as well as the short (12 minute) documentary regarding the current state of bionic augmentation.

Click here to view the trailer for the game Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Click here to view the short documentary Deus Ex: The Eyeborg Documentary

It would be remiss of me not to start with the theory, or idea, of human augmentation otherwise known as transhumanism (or H+ for short.) Transhumanism is the desire to fundamentally transform the human condition by developing and making widely available technologies in order to do any, if not all of the following; eliminate ageing and/or enhance human intellectual, physical, and psychological capacities.

Before we get too far ahead in to bionic augmentation and the future, just incase you weren’t aware, human augmentation isn’t a recent phenomena: As in the documentary, prosthetic limbs have been around for a while, just think of a peg-legged pirate (or Captain James Hook). Additionally, cosmetic surgery has been around for decades, catering for both those who need it due to certain circumstances and those who want it because they want to ‘improve’ themselves. I am not saying here that cosmetic surgery doesn’t improve the patient, as in some cases it can. For myself, I am one to take a more holistic view of my body, I do not believe that I would, without need, opt for cosmetic surgery, I doubt I would even opt for a tattoo (I haven’t yet, though I do think there are some amazing tattoos out there.)

Initially for me the big issue about transhumanism, nevermind the thought of mechanical failure, is where that leaves my body as ‘a temple’? What happens if someone, gradually, becomes mostly mechanical?

• What would the psychological repercussions be once someone opts for an ‘upgrade’?
• What about the social issues? Taking sides?
• Is the philosophy behind transhumanism really strong enough in some people to convince them to willingly undergo such transformations?

So, over a series of posts I would like to look at human augmentation, the questions above and others as well as where H+ comes from, where it seems to be going as well as how I see it affecting me (read: my opinion)

COMMON-SENSE DISCLAIMER: I’m not a biologist, engineer, scientist, sociologist, psychiatrist or philosopher. This is all based on what I’ve read on and around the subject, from published works, documentaries, etc.