Man creates 'god' 3

[guestgulkan]

It promises we can be whatever we want to be (genetic engineering),
It promises immortality (or as nears as) (genetic engineering and cloning),
It promises total control.

Are we witnessing the birth of a future divine entity??

 

[CajunCenturion]

Agreed maxq - you'll get no arugement from me. That which is divine is outside the comprehension of humanity.

Someone once said "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." To that I agree, but what I'm not ready to conceed is that such magic equates with the divine, as has been, at least implied, by some of the posts in this thread.
Good Luck
--------------
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

 

[Tarwn]

CC: In other words, being outside our comprehension doesn't necessarally classify something as divine, correct?
Good point (as well as maxq's point on superhuman being that which is beyond humanity).

I would have to agree, humanity cannot turn lead into gold (yet), but that does not mean it is divine, there was a point we couldn't turn milk and bread into those nifty glazed doughnuts, and while some people may consider them to be divine, I believe they are operating under another definition

Divinity is that which we are incapable of, superhuman is either that which humans cannot do, or that which the average human cannot do, but is possible for a limited few (depending on context, you will often see extreme acts of courage, strength, or ability lauded as "superhuman&quot.

One portion of divinity, as mentioned above, is total knowledge. Even if somehow humans will one day understand everything, I believe that if humanity does reach divinity it will be for about 100 years before it goes extinct out of sheer boredom, not that I believe we could reach that point.

Now one issue I haven't seen many people mention yet is the issue of the people capable of the technologies mentioned above thinking they are gods. I could definately understand this occurring (hubris). And in fact expect at least a few people to fall under the misunderstanding.

All in all, quite a good topic, enjoyed the posts,
-Tarwn --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
For my next trick I will pull a hat out of a rabbit (if you think thats bad you should see how the pigeon feels...)

 

[Craftor]

In line with the whole cloning debate - here is an article on CNN.com about scientists creating a new life form ...

http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/science/11/21/science.cell.reut/index.html

 

[guestgulkan]

The Frankenstein scenario come ture ??

What's to stop any scientist gene slicing and splicing at random just to see what turns out?

 

[Craftor]

And more from our dear friends the scientists:

Cloned baby due in 2003

http://www.news24.com/News24/Technology/0,1113,2-13_1290337,00.html