However clear this may be to all of us, as I assume we most all will identify as a "normal body" and not wish to have another type, the article indirectly poses an important question: when has it gone too far? Technology is growing rapidly and most of us don't oppose this, but should we? The changes technology causes in our lives happen slowly and are barely visible to us now, but when we look back in the future what will we think? Is technology going too far, to the point that it will one day be indistinguishable from the individual?
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Where to draw the line?
Frightened, that was how I felt after reading Peters' article "Exit Meat". As human beings, identity is something that we hold in high value, especially in an individualistic culture like we have in the United States. It seems in the article that as technology in the body goes further, sense of self is lost. The characters described become more like robots than human beings. This being said, it's probably clear that I would classify myself as having a "normal body," and I would like to keep at that way. Certainly there is something attractive about the power, strength, and utility that could come with the technological advances described in "Exit Meat," but to me this is not enough of a gain for what would be sacrificed.
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I think your post asks a lot of valuable questions about how far technology has come. Think about Pacemakers or respiratory devices essentially operating someone's heart or lungs, respectively. In the past, the idea of essential organs being run by machines seemed absurd. Today, however, these two items are viewed as crucial devices for the survival of many people, and their usage is rarely questioned. I would never consider users of these tools to be robotic. Considering how my perspective of human bodies has already changed, I cannot even imagine what bodily features could be considered normal in the future.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post! I completely agree with your comment that the advance in technology entails sacrifices of losing people's identities. I believe that even though technology benefits people in such a great number of ways, it should not cross the line.
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