Transhumanism imposes on territory that’s traditionally been metaphysical or philosophical. The assumption is that it does so because of or in accompaniment with metaphysical or philosophical reasoning. Part of the reason a special disposition is assumed is because the alternative, that you don’t think about what other people are thinking about at all, is probably distressing to them. This is also one of the reasons people don’t like atheists. Yes, there are those who think atheists are actually all satan worshippers, but mostly they are just creeped out that atheists seem to be not thinking the kinds of thoughts that religious or spiritual people think at all. And there’s plenty of neuroscience that shows the brains of atheists and religious people function differently, so it is literally a matter of being confronted with alien intelligence; a mind that cannot think in the same way; rather than merely a mind that happens to be thinking other thoughts.
I am suspicious of claims that ideological differences arise from fundamental neurological differences—that seems to uphold the bias toward a homogeneous enemy. (That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, but that it’s more likely to be falsely asserted than claims that we’re not biased toward.) Could you link to the studies that you say support your statement?
I was remembering an article in The Atlantic from a while ago, but I can’t seem to find it now. All I can find now is this, which doesn’t have the same power because it’s the result of an after-the-fact search: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/brain.2013.0172
Transhumanism imposes on territory that’s traditionally been metaphysical or philosophical. The assumption is that it does so because of or in accompaniment with metaphysical or philosophical reasoning.
I see how it follows that it will be “attacked” on such grounds.
I don’t follow why “thinks differently” implies “neurological differences”. Why should we suppose it is hardware rather than software? I would be interested in seeing those studies, as well.
Transhumanism imposes on territory that’s traditionally been metaphysical or philosophical. The assumption is that it does so because of or in accompaniment with metaphysical or philosophical reasoning. Part of the reason a special disposition is assumed is because the alternative, that you don’t think about what other people are thinking about at all, is probably distressing to them. This is also one of the reasons people don’t like atheists. Yes, there are those who think atheists are actually all satan worshippers, but mostly they are just creeped out that atheists seem to be not thinking the kinds of thoughts that religious or spiritual people think at all. And there’s plenty of neuroscience that shows the brains of atheists and religious people function differently, so it is literally a matter of being confronted with alien intelligence; a mind that cannot think in the same way; rather than merely a mind that happens to be thinking other thoughts.
I am suspicious of claims that ideological differences arise from fundamental neurological differences—that seems to uphold the bias toward a homogeneous enemy. (That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, but that it’s more likely to be falsely asserted than claims that we’re not biased toward.) Could you link to the studies that you say support your statement?
I was remembering an article in The Atlantic from a while ago, but I can’t seem to find it now. All I can find now is this, which doesn’t have the same power because it’s the result of an after-the-fact search: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/brain.2013.0172
I see how it follows that it will be “attacked” on such grounds.
I don’t follow why “thinks differently” implies “neurological differences”. Why should we suppose it is hardware rather than software? I would be interested in seeing those studies, as well.