Just as giraffes evolved longer necks to give them an advantage in survival, so too did evolution and natural selection give rise to Homo sapiens. However, we are now using science to create ourselves, and to cross the boundary between biology and humanity through intelligent design, including genetic manipulation, cyborg engineering, and non-organic engineering. This suggests the possibility of new life beyond the laws of nature, and the day is coming when humanity will spontaneously evolve into a superhuman species.
Just as long-necked giraffes have survived because they have an advantage in survival, so too have species with an advantage in survival been selected to survive, and eventually Homo sapiens, the current human species, became the masters of the Earth. This process was the result of a long history of evolution and natural selection, but for today’s humans, natural selection may no longer be an absolute law of survival. In the past, humans believed that the world was brought into existence by a Creator, but today science has replaced that belief, and humans are now exploring the role of the Creator.
What this shift suggests is that new life forms may no longer be the result of natural selection or chance, but of humanity’s deliberate design. Current biological experiments are already hinting at this possibility. For example, genetic manipulation has allowed us to create animals with specific traits and even modify desirable social characteristics. Examples such as the “green fluorescent rabbit” created by humans or the “friendly field mouse” with enhanced social habits show that humans can design not only biological traits but also social traits. If these techniques are applied to humans, we could see the emergence of superhumans with genius intelligence and superior physical abilities. Furthermore, if the technology evolves further, it could evolve beyond biological boundaries to the point where we can design our minds and emotions.
Some of the areas that this intelligent design could lead to include biotechnology, cyborg engineering, and non-organic engineering. With biotechnology, we have entered the realm of genetic manipulation. The creation of a cloned sheep named Dolly shocked the world, but we’ve long since moved beyond that stage. More recently, researchers have been working to restore the genes of extinct mammoths and bring them back to life. If these attempts are further developed, it may be possible to go beyond simply restoring extinct species and bring back the Neanderthals, the ancient hominids that we lost. While they were lost to modern humans, we can now take the next step and even imagine bringing them back to life.
Cyborg engineering has long captured the human imagination in science fiction and movies. But the field is gradually becoming a reality. Already, technologies like bionic ears for the deaf, retinal implants for the blind, and mechanical arms that can be controlled by thought are being developed. As these technologies become more advanced, humans will be able to combine themselves with machines to complement their physical abilities and gain new senses and capabilities. This is not just a physical expansion, but may even reach a stage where we can connect our thoughts and emotions, allowing us to share memories and experiences with each other. This could lead to the creation of a kind of “network of minds,” where individual identities do not exist in isolation, but rather form a vast collective intelligence that is interconnected.
Finally, inorganic engineering aims to create completely inanimate entities. A classic example is computer viruses, which, similar to real viruses, adapt to their environment and grow stronger. Despite being a man-made artifact, it mimics some of the characteristics of living things, demonstrating the possibility of evolution of inanimate objects. This possibility means that humanity can move towards creating non-organic life forms, and some researchers are working on creating artificial intelligence similar to the human brain. This research, which began with a computer virus, could lead to the creation of computer humans or artificial intelligence humans in the future. This new being would not just be an extension of humans, but another life form with the potential to replace us.
In many ways, humanity has never stopped trying to outdo itself. The time that Homo sapiens has been kept alive by natural selection may be coming to an end as our own efforts to become superhuman come to fruition.
