The Rise of Transhumanism

John Lennox explains what general artificial intelligence is - AI that can carry out any intellectual task that humans can. Lennox speaks to the human desire to attain divine-like status, transcending death with the promise of living longer and happier lives.
Full episode: • AI, Man & God | Prof. ...
John Lennox is Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford, author, Christian apologist, bioethicist and philosopher. He has written many highly-regarded books on religion, ethics and the relationship between science and faith.
In 2020, Lennox published 2084 - Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity, which covers key developments in technological enhancement, bioengineering and AI. In the book, he discusses the current state of AI - its benefits, dangers and future implications.
Over the past 15 years, Lennox has been part of numerous public debates defending the Christian faith, including debates with Christopher Hitchens, Michael Shermer and Richard Dawkins.
#transhumanism #artificialintelligence #johnlennox
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(Guests' social media profile)

[@Kurtlane]

There are indeed lots of religious stories about people trying to become gods. Every story I know ends in a tragedy.

[@thinkingofHim.]

Its like "they" never get the lesson.

[@stigcc]

@@thinkingofHim. It’s like «they» have a god complex. Dark triad traits are strong in those

[@davidhawley1132]

This dream is also part of Christianity, with one important difference: God is the one who has and will bring it to fruition.

[@manamsetty2664]

@@davidhawley1132 that idea of god is just mind blowing 🤯

[@davidhawley1132]

@@manamsetty2664 God raises up, which is part of love. All that we admire in both masculine and feminine traits is united perfectly in the God who created and sustains it all. What he has in mind for us is beyond our imagination.

[@gladyswilton5065]

If we overstep our humanity we are lost

[@freevids8169]

we already lost

[@Superlongevityinstitute]

Speak for yourself

[@Machiavelli2pc]

I love humanity. I hope humanity can evolve and become who we truly are. Whilst retaining what makes us.. us.. I.e our sense of humor, our empathy, our love, compassion, feelings, etc. we can do it all whilst upgrading ourselves either genetically, or/and cybernetically. I for one want to put my brain into an elegant, beautiful, yet human cyborg/machine. Whilst retaining everything that I am. I’d love to live indefinitely as a better more improved version of myself. If you want to stay the same, that’s okay. I won’t discriminate. But you shouldn’t ridicule me or try to get in the way of my choices and happiness! Much love!

[@JesusChristDenton_7]

"We regard the present human norm as a transitional state. We will not give up our humanity, but we will perfect it in a thousand diverse ways." - Ian R. Walker

[@mistycloud4455]

A.G.I Will be man's last invention

[@roccolanoincanada5729]

This sounds like an absolute nightmare

[@JesusChristDenton_7]

"Sarif was right about one thing. It's in our nature to want to rise above our limits. Think about it. We were cold, so we harnessed fire. We were weak, so we invented tools. Every time we met an obstacle, we used creativity and ingenuity to overcome it. The cycle is inevitable. In the past, we've had to compensate for weaknesses, finding quick solutions that only benefit a few. But what if we never need to feel weak or morally conflicted again? What if the path Sarif wants us to take enables us to hold on to higher values with more stability? One thing is obvious. For the first time in history, we have a chance to steal fire from the gods. To turn away from it now - to stop pursing a future in which technology and biology combine, leading to the promise of a Singularity - would mean to deny the very essence of who we are. No doubt the road to get there will be bumpy, hurting some people along the way. But won't achieving the dream be worth it? We can become the gods we've always been striving to be. We might as well get good at it." -Deus Ex: Human Revolution

[@bonnieeldridge9461]

There's ONE GOD the little gods have an will remain nothing more than wanta be superiority driven evil as Satan himself and the end will not change but the place you chose to spend eternity is each person's choice ... chose wisely as there want be any "Do overs on judgement day"

[@bigfatstupidfish2397]

@Bonnie Eldridge Wheb aging is solved and there is a cure. Will you still be foolish enough to reject it? Will you continue to reject it as people around you stay young as you rot? You'll understand, just in a matter of time.

[@JesusChristDenton_7]

"When science is on the march, nothing can stand in its way!" - Paul Bartel

[@bonnieeldridge9461]

God Almighty certainly can but He gave mankind free will as He did Satan and those that chose their ways above His ways will perish

[@bigfatstupidfish2397]

@@bonnieeldridge9461 He can try,

[@seanmoran2743]

Scientism

[@The1Green4Man]

Transhumanists often give the Theseus’ ship example for how we might transcend our physical bodies, but I propose that all that is happening as you replace more and more of the original you is that you are becoming less and less human until you eventually die and all that is left is a very good copy of yourself. Those who are so scared of death forget to truly live their life, transhumaism is just plain sad. Also, read Industrial society and its future.

[@JesusChristDenton_7]

We regard the present human norm as a transitional state. We will not give up our humanity, but we will perfect it in a thousand diverse ways.

[@tc-tm1my]

Transhumanism isn't about the fear of death. It celebrates life.

[@a.q.2330]

This is funny

[@littletime8849]

Insightful conversation. Thank you for sharing.

[@alexritter8899]

I don’t trust Yuval Harari’s intentions.

[@guybramwells]

I don't trust monsters either.

[@constantinetranos2225]

wise mind you are.

[@Corteum]

_"the human desire to attain divine-like status, transcending death with the promise of living longer and happier lives."_ We already have a tried and tested way to attain that --- it's called meditation.

[@bonnieeldridge9461]

No meditation is a space in time. We who already have eternal life through believing that the blood of Jesus Christ was shed for our sins. By the grace and mercy of the 1 true Living God we will live eternally. We who are saved by the blood of Christ, desire nothing of this flesh except that it house our souls and the Holy spirit until our Savior returns for us. As for our fleshly lives to be extended we have no desire for ALL flesh must die, so don't believe the lies of satan in the name of technology. Our heavenly father already has awaiting us in heaven a NEW GLORIFIED BODY and a new name written in the lambs book of life . In God's presence we will live forever with Him throughout eternity where peace and joy abides forever...all made possible to ALL MANKIND if only you believe upon the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Jesus died a horrible death was beaten tortured and crucified upon a cross and bore all the sins of every single human being that ever existed though He was perfect He chose to die that we may all live . No greater love hath man than to give His life for his brother . Christ is alive because as it was prophesied He would raise from the dead on the 3rd day, because Gods plans are perfect Christ will come back and we will join Him to live forever in the place where He's gone to prepare for all those who believe upon Him as the son of God. Meet me in heaven and I will rejoice with you and life eternal in heaven that's the only true eternal life that will ever be.

[@a.q.2330]

sure bud

[@Corteum]

@@a.q.2330 sure bud, do some homework. PubMed: search for "meditation" and "yoga" and learn things youre presently completely ignorant of

[@normanmacfarlane6724]

Michael Moorcock wrote Dancers at the end of Time. It talks about human beings so advanced that any life they wish to live can be attained and yet boredom and ennui have taken up residence in their existence. Time has been conquered and so any time and any place can be utilised for any lifestyle anyone would want to choose. Ultimately it is love that one cannot synthesise and so love becomes the new goal. A great book that I believe touches on transhumanism and the rags that the soul becomes when all desires and wants are granted but for love. If you see another interpretation then please let me know. Greetings from Western Australia

[@wsad2]

I’ll argue in two opposite directions… . On one hand, I think it is Very easy to reason on the origin of our “thrist for immortality”. Virtually every “higher” animal is hardwired to protect itself and avoid injury and death. Why? Because this type is the one that’s left (evolutionarily selected: those who care not for their own preservation, if they ever existed, have been gradually wiped out). ON TOP OF THAT, we seem to be the only species around which can Clearly Know we’re mortal, and that we have this urge to live, and that we wanna use our brains to try to avoid death indefinitely. . HOWEVER, on the other hand, I consider there is interesting evidence that human consciousness transcends the physical universe, AND I find Nearly Every Transhumanist idea quite stupid: - there can be NO SUCH THING as REAL UPLOAD of a “mind/consciousness”; all we’ll ever be able to do is Copy our behaviors into machines; THEY will be stupid imitations of ourselves, while we will be DEAD. - whatever way we think of “merging” with technology Will Have Us LOOSE control and autonomy before the machines (or other people, those controlling the machines); it’s a recipe for Total Domination of Others; that’s STUPID. - lastly, whatever “immortality” we may achieve will only Keep Us Limited to whatever limitations we will then have. People looking for this REALLY Ignore the Existing Suggestions of our own, intrinsic, immortality. It’s like sitting to play a game, and trying to find ways is the game so you can stay forever in the game, away from your true and Greater Life (the Real one), in favor of the fake game “reality”… . It seems unfortunate (to me, at least) that these are the “greatest ideas” of our “greatest thinkers”… AND, IF I WERE a higher species seeking to take TOTAL CONTROL over another “intelligent” species, that’s EXACTLY what I would push it towards: have them Totally Surrender their freedom in exchange for “immortality”, either real (eternal prison) or fake (for which they’d serve me for as long as they really lasted)… . Anyway… 😒😒😒

[@Corteum]

_"Transhumanism"_ What does that actually look like in practical terms? Because being human means also being conscious... having the capacity to feel emotions...to be aware and able to experience information (as opposed to just "processing information" like a computer with no awareness). Also, if you become a robot, how are you going to feel anything? Robot''s are based on a totally different substrate... There's no capacity for emotional perception or expression in a robot. What kind of human could you possibly be if you assume a robot body? Will you even be conscious at all? Lol I think I'll let the hard-core transhumanist community test out that possibility on themselves and then we'll see how that works out for them, But atm i dont have very high expectations. 😆

[@heinzie5]

All very good points, but not only that. No-one is asking the question of how identity persists if you upload your mind or start replacing bits of your brain with technology. Something in your mind that we can detect is simply copied in to a computer, but there is no persistence of conciousness or identity. It is just replacing yourself with a robot.

[@Corteum]

@@heinzie5 Yeah, exactly. I mean we can make a digital representation or model of your mind based on, say, brain scans.... But uploading those scans into a computer and having it translate those scans into computer code...? what kind of human being is that? Well, the answer i think is that it's not human at all.. Rather, it's just a mathematical representation of your mind. But a mathematical representation is NOT the thing it represents. Just like mathematical representation of, say, the taste of a banana is NOT the taste of a banana.. It's not you. It's not aware. It's just a piece of binary software like any other software. Fact is, we dont know how consciousness is created or even if it is created at all. So I think the transhumnaists are getting waaayyyy ahead of themselves when they say things like "we can upload consciousness into a computer!"...They dont even know how real consciousness is created let alone how / or whether it's even possible to create consciousness on a digital substrate.

[@cargumdeu]

If you know the 'Transformer' concept, then i imagine arms that convert into wings and feet into wheels, etc. Could be a lot of fun.

[@Corteum]

@@cargumdeu _"arms into wings. feet into wheels."_ ... and brain into silicon chip Lol I'll watch while you be the test subject for that experiment! 😁

[@davidhawley1132]

Well we do have an example of this in the reverse direction, the Incarnation of God into human form. It's complicated, but one aspect of it is the two natures. The embodiment is not just platform, it is content.

[@karinjohnstone1653]

In Nebuchadnezzar's statue, the feet were iron mixed with clay... just makes me wonder....

[@emp1668]

Brilliant conclusion. Facinating.

[@Kurtlane]

There is an excellent book exactly on this subject. The best science fiction book I ever read. "The orchid cage" by Herbert Franke.

[@lanazak773]

Looks interesting, I just ordered a copy, thanks

[@dansmith9724]

Watching this my thoughts went to the Tower of Babel.

[@cmojo68]

Laughter, does not denote happiness.

[@Tawnya111]

A human who does not require ANY meds , who can think for themselves, who is happy by sheer decision to be so , is SUPER HUMAN-a god.

[@VindensSaga]

"A human who does not require ANY meds"=? What you mean? What is your message here? I agree with the rest.

[@AJ-pr5qt]

6:47 time stamp Adding drugs & Implants etc hmmm very disturbing 😳

[@soundknight]

We can't multitask either.

[@TheWhitehiker]

Easily confused with transgenderism--or is that a point?

[@blackcorp0001]

Do you want Skynet ... because this is how you get Skynet

[@asdisskagen6487]

There is a lot of intelligence that is not human. The more we learn about the natural world, the more we should be humbled by the ways god (or nature, depending on your views) has represented the thoughtful interaction with the environment. And that, more than anything else, is an accurate measure of intelligence. Plants actually make sounds, as recently recorded by botanists. Cephalopods can solve problems that stump human children. Colony insects solve complex architectural and physical challenges. The arrogance of humans to think * we * are the sole arbiters of what constitutes "intelligence" is the height of hubris.

[@cargumdeu]

This here's a testing ground for the soul, and these fools who want to live forever are just trying to avoid judgement or karma. I say no to the nanobots.

[@judygilbreath9478]

Why was my comment 😞 canceled?

[@reginaldwinsor2759]

Our capacity to dream gives us direction. Pleasant dreams my human friend.

[@randygault4564]

Noone of is longing for a world that doesn't exist. We long to remain in this world. And that's hardwired survival. We fantasize about continuing on, because death, being an absence of self and perception, cannot be experienced. We project into the future based on the past, in which we live and perceive. That's pattern-matching, also hardwired.

[@brettcohen2832]

Well put

[@davidhawley1132]

Dunno. First of all, discovering a mechanism doesn't explain its function away (a side-effect of something useful?). Secondly, being thoroughly colonized by the Christian vision, I look forward to a future rather different than the present. Like the two gentlemen in the video, as I age I find the present reality less and less compelling.

[@cautious1343]

Turning humans into robots they can control. A wireless network of robotic slaves is the future.

[@johncaze757]

It's not the only type of Transhumanism, there is also genetic editing and nanomedice tech.

[@cautious1343]

@@johncaze757 ya! That too.. haven't heard of that last one you listed.

[@Dennis-nc3vw]

We're letting machines get ridiculously advanced but most people won't let us improve ourselves. How can that possibly end well?

[@guybramwells]

What would I know....I'm just a useless eater.

[@JJToddy]

If you want immortality.. do something worth remembering...

[@ADVtheMISSIONARY]

Transhumanism sounds like insanity

[@MindbodyMedic]

Would be cool to have Wolverine type metal reinforced skeleton. Picture a protective mesh of metal alloys protecting vital arteries and the heart. Maybe some military project has tried this. Is this transhumanism? not really, but it sounds cool.

[@craigcunningham3705]

Isn't that God's jurisdiction? We already are created in God's divine image so why not be satisfied with that and leave it that way. God knows best. I do not believe that transhumanism is from God. If we believe in Jesus we have eternal life now.

[@oliverjamito9902]

The child from the EAST will rather sit in the LOWEST sits. So the son of men may able to see all above the owner.

[@riverdonoghue9992]

I'm a man. I cant multi task. 😆 🤣

[@jittmet7766]

Mostly males want to become "divine".

[@mr.mensch1557]

Biggest problems with Transhumanism (even with an atheistic view) can be summarized into a list of three: 1. Murphy's First Law 2. The Second Law of Thermodynamics 3. The principle of Ozymandias With a Theistic view (i.e. Christianity, Islam, Judaism, etc.) it is outright foolishness

[@a.q.2330]

A theistic view is foolishness

[@renejansen5004]

What! 😲 This is absurd. We are created in the image of God 🙏 the Father, the son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit 🙏 .... Heaven is our home

[@AJ-pr5qt]

Re engineering humans wow Genetic drugs ie clot shots

[@reginaford8575]

The Tower of Babel did not end well. We are creatures and not above the uncreated Creator Jehovah. This is the clay and iron of the statue in Daniel chapter 2! This brings about instability and God will make sure the kingdom of God crushes man’s agenda. Pray the Lord’s Prayer daily!!!!

[@mashumichelle]

The rise of psychosis...

[@GeorgeHaskas]

Micromanagement, atheist style.

[@ihsw8]

AI was solved by Cain and Abel. God accepted Abel's sacrifice. Why? Harari and his ilk are 'Cain raising'. This preacher is going up a dry gully. He doesnt understand even Cain and Abel yet.

[@paulchristie2509]

The Brave New World describe what he is talking about.

[@markstahlhut6079]

The Divine right of kings, it is nothing new, and, they are all dead. Everything, and that means everything is "Impermanent."

[@martinetti123]

naive palaver, sorry, sirs!

[@annedonnellan6876]

Yuval harari.freaks