This article explores whether the birth of superhumans could mean the end of Homo sapiens as we know it. It analyzes the ethical and social implications of the emergence of a new species, made possible by advances in science and technology, and asks whether the rise of superhumans will be a new beginning in human evolution or a prelude to the end.
It’s been said that humans are the warrant of all things. If you look up the word “lord” in the dictionary, it’s defined as “a chief who possesses subtle powers,” and it refers to man. In other words, man is superior to all other creatures. Whether or not we dare to describe ourselves as the most superior being is debatable, but no one would argue that any other animal has reached the same level of civilization as humans. If anyone has seen a monkey launch a spaceship or a rabbit master calculus, please get in touch. It’s undeniable that humans are the most intelligent species on the planet, but we’re not far off from seeing something superior. Will we be invaded by more intelligent aliens? Instead of an E.T. invasion, the development of biotechnology will give birth to a new, superior species. And the emergence of these superior beings will spell the end of Homo sapiens, including me as I write and you as you read. Will the new species that will fill the void left by Homo sapiens have superpowers, and what will they look like? We’ll answer these questions one by one.
Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that the new species will be magical. However, they could be similar to Superman, the protagonist of the movie Superman. Except for his flying abilities, of course. They have superhuman physical abilities that are beyond the limits of humanity, such as the ability to stop a falling airplane with both arms, or highly developed visual abilities that allow them to see objects hundreds of meters in front of them. Except for their intellectual abilities. Maybe they’re so intelligent that 10 Einsteins can’t compete with them. I can imagine 10 Einsteins looking on in disbelief at a new species that understands and proves general relativity in the blink of an eye. If you’re disappointed that physical and intellectual prowess alone spells the end of homo sapiens, don’t be. They may be romantics who only have eyes for one person in their lives. They are capable of anything you can imagine, not only intellectually and physically, but also emotionally.
But is it really possible to create such superior beings? As we said before, is it just a figment of our imagination? However, the groundwork is already in place to give these new species superhuman abilities. Genetic engineers have succeeded in creating mice with greatly enhanced memory and learning abilities. They’ve also isolated the gene responsible for monogamy in field mice, so it’s possible that we could find the gene responsible for the cheetah’s 100-kilometer-per-hour speed and the secret to his strong leg muscles. With the right combination of these genes with human genes, it’s only a matter of time before we can create a so-called superhuman. In addition, scientists are still trying to solve the problem of eternal life. This could lead to the creation of an immortal superhuman. Biotechnology has advanced endlessly and has given us the ability to “intelligently design” creatures, redefining their characteristics. And it will never end. Biotechnology holds the key to bringing Superman out of the movies and into reality, and it’s only a matter of time before the imagination becomes reality.
The new humanity can be viewed as “superhumans” who are far more capable in many ways than we are today. However, they are not likely to look like us, nor are their brains likely to weigh much more than ours. It’s not as if an ice age is coming to Earth in a few years, wiping out all of us Homo sapiens, and superhumans will emerge. So why do we see the emergence of superhumans as the end of Homo sapiens? The answer to the question “Why don’t we call them Homo sapiens?” is simply, “Because they are too different.” Their intelligence and physical abilities are beyond ours. And if they discover the secret of eternal life, become immortalized, and are able to control their minds and emotions, changing the way we and our descendants think, we will not be able to call these “different” beings Homo sapiens.
So, will superhumans appear in a few decades and spell the end of the world for us? At the rate of science and technology, it could be possible, but it would take a lot of ethical debate and discussion to answer whether it would be socially feasible. In order to continue researching the creation of superhumans, animal testing is inevitable. However, animal rights activists strongly criticize the suffering of animals and oppose animal testing, and human rights activists oppose the creation of cloned humans on the grounds of human dignity. In other words, there are still ethical barriers to using humans as objects of intellectual design. But if society can come to terms with this, it’s only a matter of time before we create descendants that are even more advanced than us.
The end of Homo sapiens does not mean that a meteorite will hit the Earth one day, wiping out the human race in one fell swoop, and a new form of life will take its place. Instead, we will no longer be a species called Homo sapiens, but a new species called superhumans that will have intelligence and physical capabilities that are so much greater than Homo sapiens that we will no longer be the same as Homo sapiens. However, we can’t say that the creation of superhumans is 100% possible. At some point, we’ll have to overcome major barriers in science and technology, and for now, we’ll have to overcome societal opposition. And while some may envision the creation of the perfect superhuman as a way for us humans to transcend our planet and become masters of the universe, others may envision the horror of one day enslaving Homo sapiens. It remains to be seen whether the appearance of these new species will be a stepping stone for Homo sapiens to leap forward, or whether human greed and unethical ideas will create a new class of ‘superhumans’. However, we hope that the birth of superhumans will not be a catastrophic end for Homo sapiens, but a new biological beginning.
