REQUIEM FOR HUMANITY Alan Hoshor eBook
Download As PDF : REQUIEM FOR HUMANITY Alan Hoshor eBook 
Thanks to genetics and efforts of humans to re-design humanity the human race is heading for widespread and revolutionary changes in its very nature that's the premise of REQUIEM FOR HUMANITY, a short collection of essays that review the humanity-changing topics that will prove hot and controversial subjects in years ahead.
Chapters pose the idea that our children will have a more direct influence - and choice - in humanity's nature than any generation has ever before held, and Alan Hoshor reviews the nature of these choices and their social and ethical impacts.
The sciences of genetics and artificial intelligence together will place new stresses on the planet's systems and will foster an actual new species blending human biology with nanotechnology and machine intelligence.
From ecological impacts of genetic manipulation on the planet's existing systems and evolutionary processes to the development of new kinds of biological weapons, new agricultural systems, and new blends of man and machine, essays offer an in-depth focus on the ultimate effects of genetic manipulation on the nature of humanity and its impact on the planet.
The inclusion of ethical considerations in the entire process adds a wider dimension to these hard-hitting articles, which seek a balanced view of the pros and cons of genetic manipulation. It's far more studied and logical than most, offering a scholarly, reasoned consideration of humanity's evolution, changes, and its drive to control not just its environment, but its very genetic makeup.
Any collection strong in science, ethics, social issues and concerns about humanity's evolutionary progress will relish Alan Hoshor's powerful consideration of the forces that make us human and that affect humanity itself.
_______
Diane Donovan, eBook Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
REQUIEM FOR HUMANITY Alan Hoshor eBook
The book is approximately 90 pages or so, and it reads well and deeply. Though the author disclaims on his writing abilities--while acknowledging the help of several others in that department--I find the prose flowing and strong. He makes his case, which, although on the pessimistic-as-precautionary side, gives us the benefit of a breadth of understanding of the few guiding lights who have written in the field. For me, the book is a lesson that as a futurist or speculator or one who is concerned about conceptually conscious beings of the near future one needs to not dwell solely on 'familiarity with one great author' for informed thinking. [I have always favored Kurzweil's technical optimism... yet my reading is quite slim compared to where serious and caring students of the future need to be.]Product details
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REQUIEM FOR HUMANITY Alan Hoshor eBook Reviews
This is an excellent and compelling book. For a person who would like to learn of the extent of the extraordinary developments the future may bring and for one whom has the objective openness and interest to hear its premise this book presents a view of how the future may unfold. The author has done the considerable and time consuming research to acquaint himself with the views and ideas of the leading writers in this field and then written this summary so that others
can more easily learn about this fascinating subject. Overall a highly recommended read. Makes a unique gift choice.
My views in regard to Alan's Forecast for our future are the same in regard to the War based on Oil / energy and then one based on Water (resource). The idea of nano-probes is interesting and i'm interested to see this materialise. imagine if nano-probes could kill cancer - then the life expectancy of man could breech 100 (on average). this would change the whole model for finance and other businesses.
This is a thoughtful analysis of humanity's future in the age of the Technology Augmented Bioengineered (TAB) Humans, where science and survival determine the evolution of humanity (and the possibility that there is no room for emotion, spirituality or the soul). It seems a plausible assertion in the age of genome mapping and nanotechnology, however, the elimination of the emotional connection of human beings is a sobering thought. I believe there is some "competitive" advantage that humans gain in being able to emotionally connect with one another and to something (perhaps God) outside of ourselves, that will ultimately determine our ability to compete and survive. It is "illogical" but evident every time one person puts his life on the line for someone else including a stranger (such as firefighters and policemen). The logical thing to do is to only protect your ability to continue living. Why we do this I don't have an explanation for, but I believe it makes us stronger as a society to care for, and about, someone other than ourselves.
Mr. Hoshor's book is thought provoking and very logical. It is a warning to our society to pay attention to these upcoming changes and to prepare now for the changes that are coming. I agree with that but I hope he is ultimately wrong.
Scenarios are developed to alert us to the prospect of certain possibilities. What we have to keep in mind though, is that how such scenarios are constructed and evaluated depends upon the basic premises used to create and interpret them. There are no "value-free" scenarios.
Science fiction scenarios are usually presented to warn us about the consequences of scientific and technological extremism. The implicit message is, "When we over-do it, we could encounter unexpected and undesirable results." However, this begs the questions of why such things are "unanticipated" and what results are "undesirable."
As Michael Smithson shows us, in Ignorance and Uncertainty, even when we appear to be "totally ignorant" about some event or situation, we likely do know something - not everything possible is equally probable, and not everything probable is equally plausible. The problem is not that "we don't know" but rather than we are not thinking about what we do know. Of course, this does require thinking - and that's the problem - we don't practice thinking often enough.
But what about when something comes totally "out of the blue?" In his book Out of the Blue, futurist John Petersen shows that even big surprises are not all that surprising to those who cultivate the appropriate framework for anticipation. But this too requires thinking, and once again we don't have enough practice. However, that is rectifiable!
Even more challenging is the issue of "desirability." We are often told that this is just a question of personal preference, and that there are no standards whereby to judge alternatives. But by prioritizing, we do (implicitly) judge. This is the issue of "substantive rationality" - choosing between qualitative alternatives (different outcomes) as well as deciding the quantity (more or less) that we seek. There are ways of doing this as well.
Hoshor's scenarios explore the process and consequences of human genetic engineering for the structure and operation of future human society. What he contends is that in the process of "redesigning humanity" we will likely lose the kind of survival instincts that have underpinned our biological and social evolution to date. After that technology is applied, further developments in nanotechnology (micro machines) and robotics (human replacements) will be implanted into the newly designed human beings, producing a new set of races that has various specialized capabilities. They will battle it out for space and resources, and in the process engage in such things as bio-war and space war.
Hoshor's concern is that we are totally unprepared for this kind of challenge, and in bungling through the process we will unleash forces that will create a race of amoral cyborgs who will subordinate "ordinary humans" to the role of a domestic species that is kept alive simply as an historical artefact. In other words, "real humans" will only live in protected preserves, while the various cyborgs will lay waste to a good part of the rest of the world in an attempt to dominate it.
Other science fictions scenarios have given us similar plots. We are warned to be suitably afraid. But we should remember that we ourselves have already been through this process numerous times with less developed societies throughout human history. Furthermore, none of the science fictions novels ever make accurate predictions - some of what they forecast happens, most of it doesn't. So, Hoshor is basically catastrophyzing about the future. Undoubtedly some genetic re-engineering will occur, some problems and challenges will arise, mistakes will be made, solutions will be found, certain segments of the public will, on balance, be satisfied, while other segments of the public will continue to be unsatisfied. The Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, Huns, Moguls, British, and Americans have all experienced similar situations.
Is all of this inevitable? No. Is some of it likely? Yes. Can anything be done to alter the course of events? Yes. Will we organize and take the actions necessary to avoid the possibilities raised? THAT is the "Sixty-Four Thousand Dollar Question!" What could we do? Since we cannot rely on either business or government (they are part of the problem) this has to be done through a "grass-roots movement." How can that happen? To actually occur would require that a variety of Social Entrepreneurs worldwide take up the issue and help organize a large-scale social movement with the agenda of forcing a change from the bottom, up into the social and political agenda of policy-makers in every country in the world. Since this involves the future of humanity, every single human being on the planet has a stake in this issue. Those who want to get a head start on becoming a part of this social movement can do so by reading Social Entrepreneurship What Everyone Needs to Know by David Bornstein & Susan Davis.
There will, of course, be resistance from those Hoshor identifies as the perpetrators of this "trans-human conspiracy." But if the people of this planet cannot cooperate to insure their future, they don't deserve to have one! Mr. Hoshor himself seems the best candidate to begin the process. I will, of course, be here to offer whatever assistance I can, and to see the process through to whatever conclusion eventuates.
William Sheridan is a Knowledge Engineer who has been anticipating "the genetic revolution" and its aftermath ever since reading Genetic Prophesy twenty-eight years ago.
The book is approximately 90 pages or so, and it reads well and deeply. Though the author disclaims on his writing abilities--while acknowledging the help of several others in that department--I find the prose flowing and strong. He makes his case, which, although on the pessimistic-as-precautionary side, gives us the benefit of a breadth of understanding of the few guiding lights who have written in the field. For me, the book is a lesson that as a futurist or speculator or one who is concerned about conceptually conscious beings of the near future one needs to not dwell solely on 'familiarity with one great author' for informed thinking. [I have always favored Kurzweil's technical optimism... yet my reading is quite slim compared to where serious and caring students of the future need to be.]
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