2024-06-01
Five years ago the notion of transcendence was not exactly on anybody's lips, beyond perhaps some religious cults or eastern faiths.
It is true that the Bible relates that Christ ascended into Heaven after reappearing to his apostles following his resurrection, but modern day Christians have in general no expectation of ascending/transcending in like manner.
I believe that the Buddha is believed to have transcended into Nirvana, although I could be wrong about this and the precise meaning of words here is probably elusive to most modern western populations.
It appears however that "transcendence" (whatever its meaning) may be on offer from an unsuspected source, namely technology ... according to the good folk who are intent to bring us the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
" 'Enhanced' humans ... will possess new superhuman abilities and will defeat their own mortality with routine nano-upgrades"
Call me old-fashioned (thank you!), but I don't feel inclined to put myself unreservedly into the hands of the transhumanist transcendence technologies just yet - particularly if it depends upon "routine nano-upgrades" - bearing in mind the first immutable law of computing (and technology in general): "If it can go wrong, it will!".
So "after you, Yuval" - but if you're inclined and impatient (not to mention reckless), you can read all about it here.
Bonne chance!
