Heralding The Era of Transhumanism And Digital Immortality

As a way of introduction, I would like to bring to your cognizance one of nature's finest creatures: "Turritopsis dohrnii" This is a small jellyfish found around the Mediterranean. This creature has the ability to do a very unique thing that has been considered very impossible and has been the point of dialogue for centuries; Immortality.

This creature achieves this by reversing back to the initial stage of its life cycle if it suffers from any form of damage, and it can repeat this process continuously. In theory, it means that the Turritopsis dohrnii has a never-ending life.

Humans could be joining them very shortly in a life that never ends. Well, I humbly welcome us to the era where Transhumanism is being made possible.

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The ability of immortality is a thought that may have been dropped in our minds at some point, but how possible is it for this to become a reality. This is what the theory of transhumanism is trying to explain to us.

Through technology and advanced biomedical technologies and interventions, human may achieve the ability to live indefinitely. - Dr Max More (Transhumanist)

Some other transhumanists have the notion that; even if we don't achieve immortality, we can prolong our life expectancy indefinitely.

Believe me, this is not just a notion or belief, extension of human life has already begun in a small way.

According to research, the life expectancy of an average human 300 years ago was about 50 years, but now it's over 80 years (in some countries). This is partly due to medical interventions. But we're not just talking about life extension, but immortality. 

Here's what Zoltan Istvan (leader of the transhumanist party) said about transhumanism:

By advancing our technology, we can conquer aging in humans. And the mentality of just accepting that humans age and die would be changed.  - Zoltan Istvan [Paraphrased by me]

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Processes that create potential immortal humans

If the thoughts of immortality are to become achieved, there are some processes we will need to consider:

1. Cryogenics

This is actually one of the first advancements towards prolonging life. This is the process of preserving humans at sub-zero degree temperature with the hope of resuscitating them in the future. But is this really immortality of just sleeping through history?

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2. Gene therapy

This is the technology that uses genes to treat certain ailments. But genetic engineers are working to replace genes that have been mutated with the exact copy of the same gene. With this, the gene that causes senescence can be replaced by the genes that don't. Also, scientists are working to hibernate genes that are not needed, and also introduce new sets of genes. All these advances are geared towards achieving immortality.

3. Cybernetics

This, no doubt, is the most interesting of all these advancements. Take for example; Stan Larkin, the man that lived about 18 months without heart. His heart was replaced by prosthesis, pending when a suitable donor will be made available. This tech is advancing rapidly.

A time will come when people that need organ transplant will not just wait for suitable donor, but will be fitted with a prosthetic bionic one (thanks to cybernetics).

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Believe me, when humans get to a point where every organ in the body can be replaced by bionic, then immortality would be around the corner.

These technologies are not just to treat humans, but to enhance humans. Like the bionic eyes that can see through obstacles (x-ray vision, telescopic vision, infrared vision, etc). The potentials are limitless.

In a not so distant future, people will willingly sign up to replace some parts of their body that are working well with robotic ones.

We are really advancing to the era where technology will be preferred over biology.

Welcome to the world of an everlasting race.

Thanks for reading

References for further reading: Ref1, Ref2, Ref3, Ref4