Dr. Linda Groff - WordPress.com · 15) Human-ET Relations—’IF’ the universe is populated with life Views of Future Human Evolution & The Future Human At Least 15+ Views-& Combinations

The Future Evolution of Humanity

The Future Evolution of Humanity 1

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Options for Future Human Evolution & Views of the Future Human: TECHNOLOGY

A Big Picture Overview of Megatrends & Challenges in Technology, Sustainability, Civilization, Consciousness, & Space-Based Areas

Dr. Linda GroffDirector, Global Options & Evolutionary Futures Consulting

--Global Futures, Peace, & Intercultural/Interreligious Synergy

&

Emeritus Professor, Political Science & Futures Studies

Past Coordinator, Behavioral Science Program

California State University, Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA 90747 USA

* Email: [email protected]

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Options for Future Human Evolution & Views of the Future Human:

A Big Picture Overview of Megatrends & Challenges in Technology, Sustainability, Civilization, Consciousness, & Space-Based Areas

A Special Thanks to the Finnish Futures Society—

For Their Hosting of This Annual Futures Conference, and

For Inviting Me to Present at This Conference.

Focus of This Presentation: Using Evolution as Big Picture Context

for looking at a number of Emerging Megatrends and Challenges—in

technology, sustainability, civilization, consciousness, and space-based

areas--Impacting our Future Human and Planetary Futures.

• How all these emerging trends & challenges may impact businesses,

organizations, & lives of people everywhere, & how they prepare for a

• rapidly changing world.



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The Mystery of Evolution

All the timeI wrack my brain

How could this beThis earth? This life?

This universe of empty spacePockmarked with stars

And galaxies?And human presence

In it allPondering the mystery

The gift of lifeWhy we are hereUpon this earth?

And where in futureWe are going?

--Linda Groff

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MY BACKGROUND: LONGTIME FUTURIST

WRITING TWO CURRENT BOOKS ON

EVOLUTION:

• Groff. Options for Future Human Evolution:

Cutting-Edge Issues for Humanity and the World Covers Transhumanist/Technology, Earth Sustainability, Civilizational

Diversity, Evolving Consciousness, and ET/Space-Based

Perspectives! (2018)

• Groff, Ed. What is the Future? New

Perspectives on Human Evolution.

* Covers articles by Futurists from a number of countries on

Transhumanist/Technology, Sustainability, Civilization,

Consciousness, and Space-Based Perspectives (2018)

* Based on Guest Editing Two Special Issues of World Future

Review on theme of “Future Human Evolution” (Fall 2014; &

Summer-Fall 2015), with Articles by 28 Futurists from 15 Countries

—to all be updated for the book.



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Dr. Linda Groff—Book

OPTIONS FOR FUTURE HUMAN EVOLUTION:

Cutting-Edge Issues for Humanity and the World

A Futurist’s View of Evolution—Past, Present, & Future

Introduction: EVOLUTION AS AN ORGANIZING

FRAMEWORK

• Evolution deals with some of the most profound

questions of life: where did we come from, where are

we now, and where might we be evolving to in future?

• Will briefly look at a few aspects of Evolution from my

forthcoming book:

* Models & Processes of Change (Ch. 1);

* Stages of Evolution (Ch. 2);

To Provide a Broader Context Within Which to Then

Look at:

* Future Human Evolution & 15+ Views of the Future

Human (Ch. 3-7)

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Evolution as Process: Models and Examples of Key Changes

Transforming Our World

• CH. 1--EVOLUTION AS PROCESS: TRADITIONAL EAST-WEST PREDICTABLE CULTURAL MODELS OF CHANGE:

EVOLUTION AS PROCESS: MODELS OF CHANGE FUTURISTS PREFER TODAY: ** ACCELERATING CHANGE, UNCERTAINTLY & UNPREDICTABILITY

Views of Future Human: Background Context



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Evolution as Substantive Stages

CH. 2--EVOLUTION AS SUBSTANTIVE STAGES OF CHANGE:

** Note: Debate on what these major stages are. My Version:

Physical Evolution of the Universe & Earth:

Biological Evolution of Species & Life:

Cultural Evolution of Humans & Learning:

Technological Evolution—Part of Culture & Learning or Becoming an Independent, Sentient Life Form & Offshoot of Culture?

Evolution of Consciousness

Views of Future Human: Background Context

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Evolution as Substantive Stages

** THESIS: These stages of evolution all work through us & with us as human beings, making us complex, multileveled beings.

Physical Evolution of the Universe & Earth: “We are all star stuff” (Carl

Sagan) & made up of the atomic elements of the universe.

Biological Evolution of Species & Life: We have drives & automatic body

processes that we share with the animal kingdom.

Cultural Evolution: We are distinctly human because we create culture

& are products of culture and learning:

Technological Evolution: We create technology (part of culture), which

drives change & impacts life; debate if it becomes autonomous in future?

Evolution of Consciousness: our creative, intuitive, “spark of divinity”

consciousness & ability to wake up & see the whole evolutionary picture

& begin to transcend our past conditioning & to consciously co-create our

human & planetary & even cosmic futures!

Views of the Future Human: Background Context



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TRANSHUMANIST/TECHNOLOGY-BASED VIEWS:

1) Infotech-Based Transhumanist Views: upload consciousness/mind from brain

into a computer chip (Ray Kurzweil)

2) Biotech-Based Transhumanist Views: keep body & augment body parts as

needed (Gregory Stock; Ramez Naam; others)

3) Future Transhuman Cyborgs/Mutants with Extended Powers (from Sci. Fi)

4) Evolution of Robotics & Human-Robotic Relations

5) Artificial Intelligence (AI): Aid or Threat to Humanity?

6) The Genetically-Engineered Future Human

7) Nanotechnology

8) Internet as Externalized Global Brain of Humanity, leading to expanded

states of human creativity & innovation, and Future of the Internet

9) Virtual Reality 10) 3D & 4D Printing 14) Space Exploration (below)

CIVILIZATION-BASED VIEWS, AND CONSCIOUSNESS-BASED VIEWS:

11) Humanity Organizing on Ever Larger System Levels of Increasing

Cultural Diversity & Complexity Over Time, & Evolving Cultural

Worldviews

12) Experiences of Expanded and Evolving Consciousness

SUSTAINABILITY & EARTH-BASED VIEWS:

13) Experiences of Interconnectedness with Earth/Gaia

SPACE, & POSSIBLE ET-BASED VIEWS:

14) Space Exploration: a totally new environment humans must adapt to

15) Human-ET Relations—’IF’ the universe is populated with life

Views of Future Human Evolution & The Future Human

At Least 15+ Views-& Combinations of Views-Organized in 5 Broad Areas:

6/14/2017

Past Major Stages of Evolution—Each Driven By New

Technologies:

• Agricultural Age

• Industrial Age

• Information Age

THESIS: Today the World is Facing a Number of New

Technologies That Will All Transform Our Futures:

• Not Just One Major New Technology, But Many

• These Technologies are Major Disruptors—of Economy,

Jobs, Lifestyles, Etc.

• These Technologies Even Raise Questions About What It

Means to Be a Human Being

So We Seem to Be Entering a Whole New Age Today

Views of The Possible Future Human

Introduction to TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE Impacting

Future Human Evolution Today:



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Definition of Transhumanism: someone seeking physical

immortality via different technological means, and believing that a

future post-human is emerging. Three+ Versions:

1) Infotech-Based Transhumanist Views: Upload One’s

Consciousness/Mind into a Computer Chip When Singularity

Comes (Ray Kurzweil, others)

2) Biotech-Based Transhumanist Views: Augment Body

Parts as Needed (Gregory Stock; Ramez Naam; others)

3) Sci. Fi Inspired Transhumanist Views--of Humans as

Future Cyborgs or Genetic Mutants, Both with Special Powers

Beyond Normal Biological Humans

Aspects of Other Technological Views


Introduction to Transhumanist Views of Future Human

Evolution

6/14/2017

1) Infotech-Based Transhumanist Views: Upload

One’s Consciousness/Mind into a Computer Chip

When Singularity Comes (Ray Kurzweil, others)


Ray Kurzweil—MIT—Books on the Coming Singularity--2045

approx.--—When Humans Become Obsolete, and Will Want to

Upload Their Consciousness or Mind Into a Silicon Computer Chip

as Next Stage of Human Evolution—to Achieve IT Immortality!!

Ray Kurzweil Books:* The Age of Spiritual Machines: When Computers Exceed Human

Intelligence (2000)

* The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology (2006)

* How to Create a Mind: The Secret of Human Thought Revealed (2013)

* The Singularity Is Nearer (next book)

Bart Koslo Book:

* Heaven in a Chip: Fuzzy Visions of Society and Science in a Digital Age

(2000)

** Note: Kurzweil has generated a global debate between

transhumanists & others over his idea of the coming singularity—

when the human brain will be surpassed by the machine/computer.



6/14/2017





ASSUMPTIONS OF KURZWEIL:

* Consciousness & mind are materialistically-based & product of the

physical brain only (vs. Spiritual Traditions that believe something of

consciousness enters the body at birth and leaves at death, making

consciousness both spiritually and materialistically based).

* Consciousness is a product of the calculation speed & capacity of the

human physical brain—which will be surpassed by the calculation speed

& capacity of the computer/machine—by approx. 2045 AD, making

humans obsolete.

* One can replicate a biological brain in a computer/machine—based on

brain-mapping & pattern recognition .

* Kurzweil’s motivation is also to seek immortality, but ‘IF’ one’s

worldview is materialistically-based only, then one must try to find

immortality via physical means only.

6/14/2017


Consciousness/Mind into a Computer Chip When

Singularity Comes (Ray Kurzweil, others)


ASSUMPTIONS OF KURZWEIL:

* Kurzweil’s views are also based on the exponential growth of

computing power, as seen in the following diagram:



6/14/2017


Consciousness/Mind into a Computer Chip When the

Singularity Comes (Ray Kurzweil, others)


QUESTION: When One Uploads One’s Consciousness Into a

Computer Chip, What exactly are you uploading?

Human Brain: Most Complex Organ Known

Three Types of Thinking that Humans Can Do:

* EITHER/OR: 0 or 1. Note: Most computer programming is

based on this digital thinking—so far. Also Western thinking

back to Aristotle. Impact of Quantum Computing??

* BOTH/AND: 0 and 1. Necessary for Systems Thinking.

* NEITHER/NOR (NETI, NETI in Eastern Thinking)—on the Void

Before Creation. Example: God is neither this nor that!

QUESTION: Can a computer be programmed to do all three types

of thinking—possibly via Analog or Quantum Computing?

6/14/2017





OTHER ASPECTS OF BEING HUMAN—BEYOND OUR

COMPLEX THINKING:

EMOTIONS: Can a computer be programmed to appear to show

emotions (yes), but can it actually FEEL emotions?

* Example: Data on Star Trek always wanted to become more human—

more later on that.

* Terry Deacon (UC-B): Power of Symbols that Make Human Culture

Possible & Make Humans Different from Animals = Cognitive AND

Emotional.

ETHICS: Can a computer struggle with ethical and value questions, as a

human does, or only carry out its programming? Can a computer deal

digitally (0s & 1s) with grey areas between black & white?

SPIRITUAL SOUL: Will a sentient/self-aware computer have an

immortal soul that survives death (when it’s turned off)??



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2) Biotech-Based Transhumanist Views: Augment Body

Parts as Needed (Gregory Stock; Ramez Naam; others)


A Second Version of Transhumanism, Based on Assumption

that People Will Want to Keep Their Bodies in Future (vs.

Kurzweil), But Augment Their Body Parts as They Wear Out or

are Injured in a Accident.

This Version of Transhumanism: * Is Likely more Palatable to Many People & is Already Occurring.

* Would also Allow Much Longer Lifespans, with Death primarily due to

an Accident

* A number of Artificial Organs already available, Artificial Skin, New

Lenses for One’s Eyes, Etc.

QUESTION: Can We Produce an Artificial Brain in Future—to Put In a

Biological Human or Robot Body? Or Transplant Someone Else’s Brain,

Whose Body Otherwise Died or Was Irreparable, Into a New Body?

Possible head transplant by volunteer and surgeon in 2017.

6/14/2017

Cyborgs

3) Sci. Fi Inspired Transhumanist Views--of Humans

as Future Cyborgs or Genetic Mutants, Both with

Special Powers Beyond Normal Biological Humans


Mutants



6/14/2017

3) Humans as Future Cyborgs with Special Powers


Definition of Cyborg: Mix of biological & mechanical or electronic parts,

giving that person extended powers over a ‘normal’ human being.

1970’s US TV Science Fiction Programs with Cyborgs: Both Very Popular

* The Six Million Dollar Man—Steve Austin (played by Lee Majors): 1974-

1978

* The Bionic Women—Jaime Sommers (played by Lindsay Wagner): 1976-

1978.

3) Humans as Future “Mutants” with Special Powers


Definition of Mutants: Have Mutant Gene Giving Each Character a Different

Special Extended Power Beyond Normal Humans.

Example: X-MEN Movies & TV Series: Theme of Conflict between Mutants

seeking to gain human acceptance vs. those seeing humans as enemy.

Sample Characters: Logan/Wolverine; Charles Xavier/Prof. X; Erik/Magneto;

Storm; Raven/Mystique; Others. Original friendship between Charles &

Erik led to split as they divided into Prof. X’s X-Men vs. Magneto’s

Brotherhood.

Issue of Humans Viewing X-Men as Threat, Sentinel Robots built to counter X-

Men, & Need for X-Men to Save Pres. + Humans so Not Seen as Threat.



3) Humans as Future Cyborgs with Special

Powers


CYBORGS & MUTANTS: DANGER OF FUTURE TECHNOLOGICAL

HAVES & HAVE NOTS:* Elite with Wealth and Access to Cyborg Technologies vs. Rest of Population.

* Similar Issue with all Transhumanist Technologies—that give certain humans powers

beyond the “normal” biological human.

* Also issue re: Genetic Engineering and Designer Babies

One Real Life Example: US TV Series: Stan Lee’s Superhumans:* About regular humans (not cyborgs)—each with a natural-born, unique extended

genetic trait and capability beyond normal humans. (Hist.2 Ch.)

* Series follows Daniel Browning Smith as he scours the globe for comic legend Stan

Lee, looking for real-life people with unique genetic traits.

6/14/2017


Ch. 5: Views of The Possible Future Human

Definition of a Robot: Computer for a Brain with Humanoid-

Type Body or Just an Arm Programmed to Do Certain

Functions, as on a Factory Assembly Line

Isaac Asimov: Famous 3 Laws of Robotics—1942: to ensure

robots serve human interests & not try to kill or threaten

humans:

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a

human being to come to harm.

2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except

where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does

not conflict with the First or Second Laws.

4th Law added later, like 1st, but focusing on humanity as a whole.



6/14/2017



UK: 2011: Two Research Council’s Recommendations of 5

Ethical Principles for Designers, Builders, & Users of

Robots:

1. Robots should not be designed solely or primarily to kill or

harm humans.

2. Humans, not robots, are responsible agents. Robots are tools

designed to achieve human goals.

3. Robots should be designed in ways that assure their safety and

security.

4. Robots are artifacts; they should not be designed to exploit

vulnerable users by evoking an emotional response or

dependency. It should always be possible to tell a robot from a

human.

5. It should always be possible to find out who is legally

responsible for a robot.

6/14/2017



ETHICAL ISSUES: DATA (Android) on Star Trek: Next Gen.

• One Program: Star Fleet wanted to decommission & study him

& Capt. Picard had to defend his right to continue to exist

because he had become a “sentient,” i.e., self-aware being.

• Recently Patrick Steward (Actor who played Capt. Picard) said

if we try to control robots to only serve human ends, that’s like

making them our slaves! Made me think a lot.

**Note: EX MACHINA FILM Theme Also.

• But if robots can become a new sentient species—doesn’t any

new species, like a child, need guidance & direction?

• Question if humans have become a mature species yet??!!

NOTE: CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN VIEWS ON ROBOTICS:

US/West: more concern; Japan: less concern; more accepting.



6/14/2017



Another Star Trek: Next Gen. Episode About DATA Dating a Human

• A HUMAN FEMALE and Data, an ANDROID, DECIDE TO

DATE. She discovers that even though Data is “fully equipped”

as a male, he isn’t able to experience emotions, as a human, &

she ends the relationship.

• ** Robots can be programmed to read human emotions and to

appear to express different emotions (Japan examples), but can

it FEEL emotions? Can it feel love & other human emotions?

• Can a Robot struggle with Ethical Questions—in the many grey

areas of life, as a human being does—or does it just carry out

its programming?

• ** BIG QUESTION: Are there things about being human that we

don’t want to give up and lose? And that can’t be uploaded into

a computer chip?!

6/14/2017



BIG QUESTION: If Robots Could Become a New Sentient Life Form, What

Kind of Life Form Would They Be? Like Humans or Different?

Humans are called “carbon-based units” in Science Fiction. Robots, with a

computer for a brain, are made of silicon and could thus be called

“silicon-based units.” Note that Silicon is under Carbon in Periodical

Table of the Elements, so does it have some similar properties? Yes,

but carbon is more pliable and flexible than silicon (Terrence Deacon)

Would Robots (with a Computer Brain) Ever Be Able to Truly Feel Emotions,

Struggle with Ethical Questions, or Have a Soul that Could Survive

Death? If not, then a robot would never be a replica of a human being,

but something different—with certain cognitive functions, but not all the

other human capabilities.



6/14/2017



JAPAN: Opened new HENN-NA HOTEL RUN BY

ROBOTS in Nagasaki, Japan, July 2015:

* Robots or “Humanoids” will welcome guests, carry bags, & clean

your room.

• Japan: more culturally accepting of robots; US: more concerns.

• Also low birthrate means robots not replacing human workers.

6/14/2017



HUMANS & HUMANOID ROBOTS: If too similar & robot too life-like,

it can make humans feel uncomfortable—not being sure if

something is a human or robot!



6/14/2017



IF LARGE SCALE AUTOMATION OF PRODUCTION OCCURS,

Via Robots Replacing Humans on the Factory Assemply Line—

THEN HUGE ECONOMIC, SOCIETAL, & POLITICAL ISSUES

ARE RAISED.

• MASSIVE UNEMPLOYMENT creates an UNTENABLE

economic, social, & political situation.

• ALTERNATIVE: A GUARANTEED MINIMUM INCOME TO

EVERYONE, with added income to those who can find jobs.

• WILL REQUIRE A MASSIVE CHANGE OF VALUES AND

THINKING—from your worth is based on the work you do, to all

people have value and need some societal support.

• COULD UNLEASH GREAT HUMAN CREATIVITY--TO

CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY not as part of a job in exchange

for wages, but just because they want to.

6/14/2017



MILITARY TODAY: ISSUE OF MILITARY ROBOTS & TALK OF

ROBOT ARMIES IN FUTURE:* Idea of using robots to fight battles and save human lives—on own side.

* What if robots go beyond their programming & decide to take over or

revolt against humans?

** Real Issue deals with Artificial Intelligence (AI) that becomes super-

intelligent, “autonomous” & independent of human control. (next).



6/14/2017

5) Artificial Intelligence: Aid or Threat to Humanity

and Future Human Evolution?


Definition of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

* An area of computer science that deals with giving machines the

ability to seem like they have human intelligence

* The branch of computer science concerned with making

computers behave like humans. The term was coined in 1956 by

John McCarthy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

6/14/2017

5) Artificial Intelligence: Aid or Threat to Future of

Humanity?


Artificial Intelligence includes the following Specialized

Areas of Programming Computers:

• games playing: programming computers to play games against human

opponents.

* expert systems: programming computers to make decisions in real-life

situations (for example, …helping doctors diagnose diseases based on

symptoms)

• natural language: programming computers to understand natural

human languages

* neural networks: Systems that simulate intelligence by attempting to

reproduce the types of physical connections that occur in animal brains

* robotics: programming computers to see, hear, & react to other sensory

stimuli



6/14/2017

5) Artificial Intelligence: Aid or Threat to Future of

Humanity?


Question: Can Computers Exhibit Full AI?

Currently, no computers exhibit full artificial intelligence (that

is, are able to fully simulate human behavior).

• Greatest advances--in field of game playing.

• Best computer chess programs are now capable of beating humans. May 1997,

an IBM super-computer called Deep Blue defeated world chess champion Gary

Kasparov in a chess match.

• Recent Google Deep Mind AI won 3 games of GO against top player.

In the Area of Robotics:

* Computers are now widely used in assembly plants, but they are capable only of

very limited tasks.

* Robots have great difficulty identifying objects based on appearance or feel, and

they still move and handle objects clumsily.

6/14/2017

Dangers in AI:

5) Artificial Intelligence (AI): Aid or Threat to Future

of Humanity?


2014-2015 on: Some Brilliant People Warning of Dangers of

Superintelligent AI Creating a Post-Human World Where

Humans Become Obsolete, Threatening Human Survival:• 2014: Both Stephen Hawking and Elon Musk warned that AI could be

great threat to future of humanity. .

* Jan. 2015: Bill Gates warned of dangers of superintelligent AI.

* May 2015: Sir Martin Rees, UK Astronomer Royal, warned

superintelligent robots could wipe out humanity & lead to a

post-human future.

* Elon Musk--funding research on “safe AI” to protect humans.

* Musk later concluded only way to protect humans in future is to merge

with AI, via AI brain implant. Then AI can’t replace humans, since it’s in

ius, & we’re part of it!

* Musk 2017 now says AI will beat humans at EVERYTHING by 2030,

based on seeing AI research growing exponentially (vs. Science

article saying 2050 based on linear growth of AI)

Others see great potential benefits of AI, saying it’s not

that far along that it poses a threat to humanity…at least not

yet!



6/14/2017

Opportunities in AI:

5) Artificial Intelligence (AI): Aid or Threat to Future

of Humanity?


Others see great potential benefits of AI, saying it’s not

that far along that it poses a threat to humanity…at least not

yet!

Also that AI does pattern recognition (= data based), but

doesn’t know deeper ontological meaning behind the

patterns it sees, or have volition to act on those meanings,

vs. humans

--though maybe in future stages of AI development?

KEY ISSUE IF AI BECOMES “SENTIENT”:

5) Artificial Intelligence (AI): Aid or Threat to the

Future of Humanity


SCI FI FILM: “EX-MACHINA”: Explores issue of an Advanced AI Robot

Seeming to Become “Sentient” and Self-Aware of Its Own Possible Mortality—if

turned off or replaced—and Its Desire to Survive, Experience Life & Freedom,

and Not Remain a Slave to Humans.

* STAR TREK: NEXT GENERATION: Somewhat Related issue with DATA,

Crew Member, when Capt. Picard had to defend Data’s right to exist because

he had become a sentient, self-aware being.



6/14/2017

MILITARY Assessment of AI Dangers & Opportunities 2015:

5) Artificial Intelligence (AI): Aid or Threat to the

Future of Humanity


2015: U.S. Military spent year assessing if AI is a great benefit or threat to

humanity re: military policy.

Military: seeking benefits of “autonomous decision-making” agents, i.e.

A.I. Example: Drones or Robots that can deal autonomously with

unexpected situations beyond their original programming?

Area of greatest existential concern to most people: possibiity of military

AI/robotics turning on humans.

6/14/2017

6) The Genetically-Engineered Future Human—


Definition of Genetic Engineering: the deliberate modification

of the characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genetic

material; alteration of the DNA of a cell for purposes of research,

as a means of manufacturing animal proteins, correcting genetic

defects, or making improvements to plants and animals bred by

man

Recombinant DNA/Gene Splicing: The science of altering and

cloning genes to produce a new trait in an organism or to make a

biological substance, such as a protein or hormone. It mainly

involves the creation of recombinant DNA, which is then inserted

into the genetic material of a cell or virus.



6/14/2017

6) The Genetically-Engineered Future Human:


Mapping of Human Genome, & Genome of Other Species

• Two Efforts: Multinational Governmental effort & private effort under

Craig Ventner.

* Only Genes mapped = those that create proteins = 2%.

* Humans once thought to have 2 million genes; then 30,000, then only

19,000, now 22-27,000 genes.

* Junk DNA: 98% of DNA. Once thought not important, but now thought

to have regulatory function—re: which genes will be turned on or off,

or increased or deceased, in expression.

* Junk DNA encodes for non-encoding/non protein-making RNA.

* Current research on what functions these types of RNA play.

• Epigenetics: Realization genes of cell not enough to explain behavior.

* Must also understand how behavior is impacted by interaction of cell

wall with its environment and by one’s thoughts. (Bruce Lipton)

* About how lifestyle choices can effect your genome, which genetic

changes can then be inherited.

6/14/2017


Additional Topics—Beyond Mapping Human Genome:


Mapping Genome of Other Species

Comparative Genomics of Different Species: new field

Cloning of Dolly the Sheep & Other Species. Does each

clone of a clone lose some genetic information—like a xerox of

a xerox loses some exact replicability?

Question of Cloning Humans?? Legislation against??

Stem Cell Research: generalized cells that can develop into

any kind of specialized cell. Ethical issues re: which stem cells

can be used for research.

Future: Designer Babies, & Families? New issue due to

Crispr/Cas9 new gene-editing technology (next)



6/14/2017


Including Future Designer Babies and Families?


New Crispr/Cas9 Gene-Editing Technology: * Allows precise & permanent turning off of specific genes in genome

at the DNA level—providing positive therapeutic uses for an

individual with a specific genetic disorder or disease.

* Genes are made up of sections of DNA, which can now be edited.

* Based on technology now replicating how bacterial cells in body naturally

protect themselves from viruses in the body.

* Crispr/Cas9 also opens possibility, for first time, of editing genes

in human germline--i.e., genes in sperm, eggs, or embryos—that

can thus be inherited & passed on to future generations, raising

ethical possibility of creating “Designer Babies & Families” for the

first time.

* Here humans are truly beginning to “play God” & design their own

genetic futures, raising huge ethical questions & debates over whether

this is a good idea or whether a temporary moratorium should be placed

on such research (currently legal in U.S. & China, not U.K.—6/2015)

UPDATE.

6/14/2017

Examples of Recent Scientific Research Using Crisp Gene-Editing Techniques






• April 2014, Bath, UK: a genetic liver disease cured in living, adult mice

(via injecting the CRISP/Cas9 complex into the liver cells).

• April 22, 2015: China used CRISPR/Cas9 technology to edit genes of a human

embryo for first time, using a non-viable embryo, that cannot result in a live birth,

from a local fertility clinic. Results showed serious obstacles still in using this

method in medical applications to eradicate disease.

* May 2016: First use of CRISPR/Cas 9 gene-editing technology to cut

out HIV genes from host cells of live animals, with 50% success rate.

(Problem of HIV virus: it evolves so fast it becomes resistant to any

drugs.)

• August 2016: First use of CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology tested

in Chengdu, China on immune cells of a human with cancer.

**CONCLUSION: great possibilities; also great ethical issues.



6/14/2017



Ethical Issues re: Creating Designer Babies Using the

New Crispr/Cas 9 Gene-Editing Technique to Edit

the Human Germline:

* What Characteristics would be selected? Consequences?

* Possible Offspring who are Handsome/Beautiful, Gifted, Intelligent,

Athletic, all Together?

* Raises many ethical issues. Humans playing “God.”

• Who Gets Access to this technology? Technological Haves vs. Have Nots.

* Will Rich Become a New Genetic Elite?

* Huge Scientific Debate: should this be legally allowed—especially if

technology is not 100% effective re: genes passed on and inherited?

* Future Eugenics Issue of trying to create a “master race” of superior beings.

* Opposite Issue Raised in X-Men Sci Fi Films: Can Genetically-Altered

Human “Mutants” Be Accepted by Humanity & Not Seen as Threat to

Humanity’s Future?

6/14/2017

6) Genetic-Engineering of Other Species


New “Gene Push” Technology: power to alter or even

eliminate entire populations of organisms in the wild—to reduce

human suffering & ecological damage—via release of an

engineered organism into the environment to modify an entire

species in the wild so that it can not successfully reproduce.

* Example: deploy sterile male mosquitos to wipe out malaria-carrying

mosquitos causing death of 300,000 African children each year.

* Example: use to wipe out invasive rodents that damage island

ecosystems.

The US National Academics of Sciences, Engineering, & Medicine have just

endorsed continued research on this technology (June 2016): arguing though

risks, the possible benefits justify this.• Also outlined a path for conducting “carefully controlled field trials.”

• Others say the risks of inadvertent release into the

environment from controlled field trials are too great.

• Some call on Fed. Govt. to regulate this technology.

• Other Environmental Watchdog Groups call for moratorium on this

technology.



6/14/2017

7) Nanotechnology: very small-scale technology

Definitions:• Science, engineering & technology conducted at the nanoscale, which is 1 to 100

nanometers.

• Branch of technology dealing with dimensions and tolerances of less than 100

nanometers, esp. manipulation of individual atoms & molecules.

* The manipulation of matter on an atomic, molecular, & supramolecular scale.

* Example: National Nanotech Initiative (NNI): US Govt. effort.

Future Possibility: altering the atomic structure of any molecule and then

producing any item in short supply via Molecular Manufacturing—which

could eliminate scarcity of any goods (Eric Drexler, Engines of Creation). • Enormous political-economic implications if anything needed could be produced!

• Politics = how to allocate scarce resources. What if scarcity is eliminated?


6/14/2017

8) The Internet as an Externalized, Digital, Global

Brain of Humanity, Unleashing New Levels of Human

Creativity & Innovation


Jan Amkreutz Book: Digital Spirit: Minding the

FutureThesis: The Digital Revolution has allowed the creation of the

Internet—an Evolving Externalized Global Brain of Humanity (&

manifestation of Pierre de Chardin’s view of an emerging Noosphere

around the Earth).

--Internet: Created by Enormous Inputs Every Second from Around

the World--With Linkages Creating a Neural Network of the Global

Brain, like in a human brain

KEY: One can rapidly gain knowledge about any topic, which is

unleashing a new era of human creativity & innovation.

* Jan sees this creating the conditions for humans to become a truly

wise/homo sapiens species for the first time—based on access to so

much more knowledge.

* Opposite Kurzweil’s view of humans becoming obsolete.



6/14/2017

FUTURE OF THE INTERNET:

8) The Internet as an Externalized Global Brain of

Humanity (Digital Revolution), Unleashing New Levels of

Human Creativity & Innovation


* The Internet of Everything, or

The Internet of Things (connecting

more things than people), or The Age of Networked Matter (IFTF)

Connecting Everything—Via Machine Implants in Body, Wearable

Tech on Your Body and Totally Wired, Smart Environments:

Example: “magic band” connects you via sensors to environmental

sites at Disneyland (prototype for future smart watch at Apple)

* Elon Musk, Others: New Goal to Create a Second Internet in

Space

--GOAL: it could someday enable people on Mars to get online

--It could also provide internet access to remote areas on earth

via launching a constellation of smaller satellites in space

--Google set to invest in idea.

9) Virtual Reality (VR):


What is Virtual Reality? • Virtual reality is a computer-generated environment

that lets you have a totally immersive 3D/4D (moving)

experience of a different reality.

• A VR headset fits around your head and over your eyes,

and visually separates you from whatever space you're

physically occupying.

• Images are fed to your eyes from two small lenses.

• Through VR you can virtually experience anything—as if you were physically there—like

hiking the Grand Canyon, touring the Louvre, touring another planet, experiencing a movie

as if you were part of it, and immersing yourself in a video game without leaving your couch.

Progress So Far and Future Possibilities:* So far, VR is used primarily in gaming.

• View of VR as next stage beyond mobile smart phones, even

wearable tech.

• Top corporations investing heavily in VR possibilities for the future, including:

Facebook, Google, and Microsoft, with Apple trying to catch up. Also Disney, &

Sony.

• Imagine the VR Futures for Immersive Experiences in Education, Training,

Entertainment, Vacations, Museums, Art Galleries, House Hunting, Shopping, Etc.

* Imagine journeys through History, to Space, under the Oceans, anywhere on Earth.



6/14/2017

10) 3D, even 4D, Printing or Additive Manufacturing:

Definitions:• Turns digital 3D models into solid objects by building them up in layers.

• First invented in 1980s, and since then used for rapid prototyping (RP).

• Last few years, 3D printing has additionally started to evolve into a next generation

manufacturing technology with potential to allow local, on-demand production of

final products or parts thereof.

• Already possible to 3D print in a wide range of materials, including thermoplastics,

thermoplastic composites, pure metals, metal alloys, ceramics and various forms of

food.

• Right now, 3D printing as an end-use manufacturing technology is still in its infancy.

• Future: In combination with synthetic biology & nanotech, it could radially transform

many design, production, & logistics processes.

* Already a 3D Gun printed. Implications??


6/14/2017

Sum: Implications for Future Economic Systems of 3

New Technologies?1) Robotics and Automation of Production, creating some new more

skilled jobs, but also eliminating many jobs, raising issue of a needed

guaranteed minimum income, with jobs & added income for some.

2) Nanotechnology or Molecular Manufacturing, raising possibility of

producing whatever is needed by society and eliminating scarcity of goods.

3) 3D/4D Printing or Additive Manufacturing, raising possibility of local,

decentralized, inexpensive printing—on earth & in space—of whatever is

needed.


Note: ALL the technologies discussed here will

have important economic implications for the future.



THE LURE OF HUMANS GOING TO SPACE IS GREAT—PART

OF HUMAN SPIRIT TO EXPLORE THE UNKNOWN:

14) Space Exploration Views: a Totally New Environ-

ment Humans Must Adapt to:


DARWIN: Those members of any species who can best adapt to a changing

environment will be best able to survive and reproduce, sometimes creating

new species in the process.

HUMANS GOING TO SPACE: GREAT EVOLUTIONARY LEAP

6/14/2017

HUMANS GOING TO SPACE: As Great an EVOLUTIONARY

LEAP as:

-- when Fish First Came Out of the Water Onto the Land

--Or When Mammals Went Back to the Sea, Becoming Whales,

Porpoises, Dolphins

--Or When Our Primate Ancestors Came Out of the Trees Onto the

Plains and Began Walking on Two Legs

--Or When the Great Apes First Discovered They Could Use a

Bone or Rock as a Tool or Weapon—a la 2001: A Space Odyssey


ment Humans Must Adapt To.




6/14/2017

THE LURE OF HUMANS GOING TO SPACE IS GREAT—PART

OF HUMAN SPIRIT TO EXPLORE THE UNKNOWN:

• Manned (Humaned) and Unmanned (Unhumaned) Space

Programs: Arguments for Both; Also Limited Funds for Both

• U.S. & Russian Space Programs; now Space Programs of

Many Countries

* International Space Station; Mars Missions next.

• Science Fiction: An Intuition of Things to Come??—as Humans

Begin to Leave Our Home Planet to Explore Our Solar System,

Galaxy and the Universe Beyond

ALL SPACE TECHNOLOGIES—BUILD ON COMPUTERS,

TELECOM, ROBOTICS, PROPULSION SYSTEMS, ETC.


ment Humans Must Adapt To.


6/14/2017

14) CURRENT PLANNED SPACE MISSIONS TO MARS:

NASA TWO WAY MISSION: Must be able to send

astronauts to Mars and also return them to Earth.• * Several proposals for how to do this. Also looking for new Astronaut

• applications to train for ongoing Mars missions.

*

• MARS ONE: Private effort begun with 200 applicants,

now 100, for One-Way mission to Mars! No returns..

• ELON MUSK: Also big supporter of humans going to

Mars—as one way to ensure our human futures.

* Space X: Goal of a reusable rocket to greatly reduce costs of going

to space.

* His Falcon 9 Rocket already taking cargo to the International Space

Station. Rocket has now successfully also landed upright on a barge

in the ocean.

JEFF BEZOS, AMAZON: Also working on a reusable rocket, plus

GOAL TO MOVE HEAVY INDUSTRY TO SPACE—TO

PRESERVE EARTH—as first priority before going to Mars.


ment Humans Must Adapt To:




6/14/2017

MANY ISSUES FOR HUMANS LIVING IN SPACE FOR LONG

PERIODS OR PERMANENTLY:

•1970s: NASA looking at Human Factors in Space: How to Deal with

Zero Gravity & Weightlessness of Space. Still important today. Creates

issues for Space Colonies/Archit., Space Suits,++

Important Human Issues Include:

** Humans not biologically built to live in space, but going anyway!!

* Radiation Exposure;

* Bone Loss & Exercise Necessary; Elongated Bodies

* Issues of Communication Between International Crews from

Different Countries with Facial Distortions on Space Flights

* Children Born and Living in Space Might Not Be Able to Later

Adapt to a Heavier-Gravity Earth Environment

QUESTION: Would Space Colonies Eventually Want to Declare Their

Independence from Earth (as U.S. Colonies Did)?




6/14/2017

15) Human-ET Relations—’IF’ the Universe is

Populated with Life—Including Intelligent Life


Huge Issue: Whether Humans are Alone in the Universe or

the Universe is Populated with Life—including Intelligent Live?

Key: BOTH VIEWS: Argue Humans Should Go to Space!* If No Other Life, Humans Must Bring Self-Aware Conscious Life

to the Universe

* If the Universe is Populated with Life, We Must Prepare to Meet

It—as We Move Out Into Our Solar System and Universe

Beyond!

**Huge Issue: ET’s likely to have much more Advanced Technol.

& Question if all Friendly—to Aid Human Evolution, or Not?



6/14/2017

14) HUGE ISSUE FOR FUTURE HUMAN PLANNED

SPACE MISSIONS TO MARS AND FURTHER OUT

IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM, GALAXY, AND

UNIVERSE:

* Huge issue for humanity today: will we get out into

space without destroying ourselves on Earth first—via

military technology & human aggression, climate change,+

• Hypothesis: ‘IF’ life exists throughout the universe, as

civilizations become technological & can begin leaving

their home planet to explore their solar systems &

beyond, that some will make it it, & some won’t.

• Others—Steven Hawking, Elon Musk—say we must go

to space to ensure some humans survive—if we

destroy the Earth

* Others are drawn to space for more positive reasons!

.

* • .




6/14/2017 58

* Rapid Technological Change: 11+ Technologies Examined—All

Undergoing Rapid Development & Driving Change, & Raising Many Ethical

Issues re: Future Human Evolution & even What It Means to Be a Human

Being

Two Examples (of Many):

* Artificial Intelligence: Aid or Threat to Our Human Futures?

* CRISPR/Cas9 New Gene Editing Technology: Health Breakthrough or

Danger of Designer Babies?

• Sustainable Development: likely 6th Mass Extinction of Species; Global

Warming; Need to Shift to Renewable Energy, in Anthropocene Era.

• Civilizations and the Diversity of Humanity All Interacting, and

Humanity Organizing on Ever Larger System Levels of Increasing Complexity

and Diversity Over Time

• A Needed Evolution of Consciousness, Conscious Evolution, &

Holistic, Dynamic, Interdependent, Complex Whole Systems

Thinking, & Experiences—to Solve Our Relationships:--with each other --with God or spirit

--with the planet & other species --in science

• Space and Possible ET-Based Futures: Humanity Evolving Beyond

Earth--including MARS Missions & the Search for Life in the Universe!

Broader Context & Key Issues Facing Future Human Evolution



6/14/2017 59

• Rapid Technological Change: 11+ Technologies Examined

• Sustainable Development: likely 6th Mass Extinction of Species; Global

Warming; Need to Shift to Renewable Energy, in Anthropocene Era.

• Civilizations and the Diversity of Humanity All Interacting

• A Needed Evolution of Consciousness, Conscious Evolution, & Holistic,

Dynamic, Interdependent, Complex Whole Systems Thinking, & Experiences—

to Solve Our Relationships:

• Space and Possible ET-Based Futures: Humanity Evolving Beyond Earth--

including MARS Missions & the Search for Life in the Universe!

RAPID, ACCELERATING CHANGE OCCURRING IN ALL ABOVE AREAS

NEED GREATER DIALOGUE BETWEEN THESE AREAS

NEED GREATER DIALOGUE BETWEEN EXPERTS IN ALL THESE AREAS AND

THE MASS PUBLIC

--IF WE ARE GOING TO CREATE A BETTER FUTURE FOR HUMANITY AND

THE PLANET BASED ON ALL THIS CHANGE

BIG QUESTION: WILL HUMAN EVOLUTION DIVERGE IN DIFFERENT

DIRECTIONS GOING FORWARD??

OTHERS TOPICS—OF CHANGES IN EARTH SUSTAINABILITY, CIVILIZATIONAL

DIVERSITY, EVOLUTION OF CONSCIOUSNESS, AND

SPACE/ET QUESTIONS—WILL BE IN MY FORTHCOMING BOOK.

Conclusions on Key Issues Facing Humanity:

60

Linda: Evolution Books in Process:

• Groff, Linda. Options for Future Human Evolution: Cutting-Edge

Issues for Humanity and the World. (2018). Will cover 11 technologies,

Earth Sustainability, Civilization, Evolution of Consciousness, & ET/Space Topics.

* Paper available on these 11 Technologies, if interested.

• Groff, Linda, Ed. What Is the Future? New Perspectives on

Human Evolution. (2018). Contributions from Futurists in Many Countries on

Technology, Earth Sustainabilty, Civilization, Consciouusness, & Space (2018)



6/14/2017

Final Conclusions

What Future Will We

Create--For Humanity and

the World???

The Future is In Our Hands

…and HOW We Interact with

Uncertainty in a Rapidly

Changing World!! --Hopefully Ever More Consciously,

Creatively, & Responsibly!!

Factors Impacting Future Human Evolution

& Views of the Possible Future Human

6/14/2017 62

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