Mythology, Legends, Cartoons, and Science Fiction: Imagining the \u201cImpossible\u201d <\/i><\/p>\n
Conventional views of a human being envision a body separated by skin from its surroundings with internal skeletal structures, vital organs and fluids, and a central nervous system capable of (1) responding to forces and events with inherent behavioral patterns of flight, fight, or freeze, (2) acquiring \u201cways of knowing\u201d and (3) constructing the realities in which we live. However, mythology, legends, cartoons, and science fiction views have created views of \u201chuman\u201d nature life that go far beyond our conventional views offering visions of creative combinations of parts and wholes that redefine human nature, even as we smile and admire the audacity of their creations that challenge normal reason and logic.<\/p>\n
Consider for example, mythological creatures that merge human and animal forms including the minotaur<\/i> (i.e., half man and half bull), centaur <\/i>(i.e., half human and half horse), Goddess Isis <\/i>(i.e., bird-head and human body), Goddess Shiva <\/i>(i.e., multiple arms), and gods and goddesses of all sizes, purposes, and capacities that exceed human limitations in body and mind (e.g., Zeus, Athena, Neptune).<\/p>\n
Cartoon figures have built upon imaginative mythology to give us super-heroes and super\u2013 villains who possess virtually every conceivable special ability (e.g., strength, flying, wisdom, moral or immoral code), played out in a constant struggle between good and evil.\u00a0 These cartoon figures (e.g., Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Hornet, Road Runner) come to the fore addressing or calling attention to our human needs, insecurities, and limitations.\u00a0 We mere mortals are envious of their abilities, skills and roles.\u00a0 Think how often as children we played these figures, dressing in capes, halloween costumes, and masks and painted faces. And let us no forget those individuals who are human but somehow have amassed special powers (e.g., The Shadow, Sherlock Holmes)<\/p>\n
Science fiction, not to be undone, has given us scores of variations on human form and capacity often in the form of man-made monsters and villains (e.g., Frankenstein, Vampires, Zombies), and more recently, robots and automatons of with of both appealing and nefarious forms and capabilities (e.g., IBM\u2019s Watson, R2D2, the bionic man). Indeed, Mary Shelley\u2019s classic 19th<\/sup> century book, Frankenstein<\/i>, loomed as a prophetic recognition of the unlimited possibilities of humans crossing known thresholds in the creation of alternative human forms and processes. Shelley, like many others, saw the unfolding of not only industries and technologies, but also the human impulse to push the limits of imagination and creation.\u00a0 What could be imagined (e.g., flying), could be pursued with unknown and untold consequences.<\/p>\n Rethinking Human Nature<\/b><\/p>\n What has captured my imagination at the moment is less the mythological, cartoon figures, or science fiction creations, but the actual forms of human life and function (i.e., nature) emerging at this very moment via technological, scientific, and medical developments.\u00a0 I am even hesitant to call them \u201cdevelopments\u201d because of the profound changes they have for altering conventional views of human beings and human nature. I am certain many of these changes are advances that serve to heal and to revise human hope an possibilities, I find myself wondering about the trajectory of our paths. Are we prepared for the pace and consequences of the changes occurring?<\/p>\n Where can I begin in describing the scientific, technological, and medical \u201cdevelopments\u201d of our Age?\u00a0 They must be spoken of with awe and reverence, almost as miracles, as we witness changes that exceed our imagination, and yet are becoming so commonplace and routine that we actually come to expect their growth more and more. Yet, in doing so, we seem unaware of the very way they have come to enter our lives, changing in subtle but dramatic ways, the very views of human nature that we hold.<\/p>\n We are pushing the farther natures of human existence as we rebuild, rehabilitate, improve, and heal.\u00a0 What exciting \u201cdevelopments\u201d for improving, extending, and healing life!\u00a0 There can be no doubt that we must be grateful for all of these developments.\u00a0 They have advanced our horizons and more. I must pause here, because as my mind scans the \u201cdevelopments\u201d I am aware of via popular media, I find myself asking \u201cYes, yes, fantastic, unbelievable!\u201d But I also ask myself is there an endpoint?\u00a0 If so, what is it?<\/p>\n I cannot provide a complete listing of these \u201cdevelopments,\u201d but I do wish to point out their prophetic implications as they grow in number, complexity, and convergence into new levels of possibility. Let me list some in a general order from widespread medical advances to growing technological possibilities.<\/p>\n 1.\u00a0 Organ Transplants<\/b> \u2013 Today we have been able to transplant virtually every organ in the human body with the exception of the brain, but brain transplant may not be far off since we have kept human brains alive outside of the body. And given the new developments in brain mapping and reconstruction, it is very likely it will be possible to re-program brains and to heal neural disorders.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0 Limb Attachments<\/b> \u2013 We have all seen the \u201cmiracles\u201d of attached limbs\u00a0\u00a0 (hands, arms, legs) that have given amputees movement and function.\u00a0 To some extent, the old TV program, The Bionic Man<\/i>, emphasized the extraordinary powers of the mechanical limbs.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0 Mechanical Hearts – <\/b>These have proven life saving, and up to the demands of rigorous life for many victims of heart failure.\u00a0 The Wizard of Oz was produced before mechanical hearts were developed or the Tin Man would not have had the make that trip down the Yellow Brick Road.<\/p>\n 4. Animal Parts<\/b> \u2013 The use of animal parts, especially in heart operations in which heart valves are transplanted (e.g., pigs) has proven very successful.<\/p>\n 5. <\/b>Stem Cells<\/b> \u2013 Repairing and re-growing organs and damaged human body parts.\u00a0 It is notable that stem cell research was considered illegal on the basis of moral concerns, even as governments engaged in wars and torture.\u00a0 Morality is more relative than we thought.\u00a0 It depends on who has the power, wealth, and position.\u00a0 That is an interesting thought for human nature!<\/p>\n 6.\u00a0<\/b>3-D Printers<\/b> \u2013 Given a skeletal foundation and related cells, we can build organs and parts from scratch via a 3-D printer.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/b>7. <\/b>Robots<\/b> \u2013 Ahhh, robots?\u00a0\u00a0 Robots of every form and function. Robots wjho can perform every act we associate with humans, except at this point in time, human creative intelligence.\u00a0 But with artificial intelligence, that day is not far off.\u00a0 And will we have robotic partners who can care and love us?\u00a0 We already have erotic robotic partners whose body textures and appearance is approaching reality. \u201cHoney, take out the garbage!\u201d\u00a0 \u201cBy the way, get a new after shave lotion.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t like that one,\u201d said the robot to her partner.\u00a0 \u201cMy last partner used: _____________.\u201d<\/p>\n 8. <\/b>Chimera <\/b>\u2013 Perhaps the mythological creatures of the past may become a reality as we learn to inter-breed gene pools or to make beings via surgery. What would you choose?\u00a0 And what will it mean for us? The Island of Dr. ___________. <\/i><\/p>\n 9. <\/b>Cloning <\/b>\u2013 Cloning of animals is now commonplace.\u00a0 Cloning of humans may be illegal, although I am certain I that wealthy individuals have been able to purchase the technology and the are proceeding to \u201cclone\u201d them self in anticipation of \u201ceternal\u201d life.\u00a0 I am reminded here of the dying words of the British cynic, Oscar Wilde, who is reputedly to have been asked on his death bed:\u00a0 \u201cWould you like to live your live again?\u201d\u00a0 He replied.\u00a0 \u201cNo!\u00a0 Once is enough.\u201d\u00a0 Are those engaged in cloning asking the best questions?<\/p>\n 10. <\/b>Mechanical Additions –<\/b> I once told a student that a some point we could have a nano-technology brain implant that would give us immediate access to any question we wanted to answer. A Google or a Library of Congress placed in our skull, and accessed by a thought or process. The student laughed and thought me insane \u2013 that was ten years ago.<\/p>\n 11. Mass Surveillance, Monitoring, and Collection of All Personal Data <\/b>(e.g., genetic code, finger prints, corneal identity) \u2013 What will it mean to have all of our identity captured, contained, and stored by a government and by private commercial interests?\u00a0 Every shopping mall has its own security system that stores and shares all information\/data about you.\u00a0 What does this mean for human nature?\u00a0 Have we become fish in a bowl, \u00a0\u00a0and a crowded bowl at that?\u00a0 Our privacy is lost!\u00a0 It can retrieved from the new government storage building in Utah, but only if you give your social security number.<\/p>\n Some Closing Thoughts<\/b><\/p>\n This is not a scientific article replete with details and references that support each of the points I have made.\u00a0 That is not the article\u2019s intent.\u00a0 I wanted to call attention to the fact that conventional views of human nature we hold are gradually and rapidly becoming obsolete in the face of scientific, technological, and medical developments.\u00a0 These developments are of such proportion and consequence that they are altering human nature as we one knew it \u2013 or thought we knew it?\u00a0 The changes build on one another, each extending the other and opening new possibilities.\u00a0 Do we get that?\u00a0 Should we get that?\u00a0 Can we talk about that?\u00a0 \u201cHuman is as human does!\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n _____________________________<\/p>\n Anthony Marsella, Ph.D., a\u00a0 member of the TRANSCEND Network, is a past president of Psychologists for Social Responsibility, emeritus professor of psychology at the University of Hawaii, and past director of the World Health Organization Psychiatric Research Center in Honolulu. He is known nationally and internationally as a pioneer figure in the study of culture and psychopathology who challenged the ethnocentrism and racial biases of many assumptions, theories, and practices in psychology and psychiatry. In more recent years, he has been writing and lecturing on peace and social justice. He has published 15 edited books, and more than 250 articles, chapters, book reviews, and popular pieces. He can be reached at marsella@hawaii.edu<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Conventional views of human nature we hold are gradually and rapidly becoming obsolete in the face of scientific, technological, and medical developments. These developments are of such proportion and consequence that they are altering human nature as we one knew it \u2013 or thought we knew it? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38173","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-transcend-members"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38173","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38173"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38173\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":235877,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38173\/revisions\/235877"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38173"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}