Among the various predictions of the end of humanity, we explore the possibility that advances in science and technology will allow Homo sapiens to evolve into new, godlike beings. It explains how biotechnology, cyborg engineering, and non-organic engineering can overcome the limitations of Homo sapiens and transform it into a new form of being.
The end of humans, or Homo sapiens, has been a major concern of futurists, anthropologists, and scientists since time immemorial. Will it ever happen? The answer to this question has become a resounding yes in the 21st century, thanks to the development of various biotechnologies. However, the end of Homo sapiens does not refer to the extinction of the species as we usually think of it, such as the domination of an external entity, but rather to the departure from Homo sapiens due to the development of science and technology. Why and how will the end of Homo sapiens occur?
The main reason for the extinction of Homo sapiens is the tremendous advancement of science and technology. The continuous development of science and technology is making it possible to create beings with higher, god-like functions than Homo sapiens. In other words, Homo sapiens is breaking its own limits. By breaking free from the traditional laws of nature, such as natural selection, Homo sapiens is moving from the position of creator to the position of designer of life. In more detail, Homo sapiens is becoming a designer, creating new forms of existence that have never existed before. And this is what is leading to the end of Homo sapiens.
While the exact timing and methods of the end of Homo sapiens are difficult to predict at this point, there are a few key technologies that we should keep an eye on. Biotechnology, cyborg engineering, and non-organic engineering are three of the most important technologies that will hasten the end of Homo sapiens.
Biotechnology is literally the intentional design of biology by humans. These biotechnologies are meant to modify existing things rather than create new ones. Among biotechnologies, genetic engineering is the most important because it shows that Homo sapiens are capable of intelligent design. Genetic engineering has helped humans in many ways, such as growing prosthetic ears on the backs of mice by controlling the growth of mouse tissue and creating insulin by manipulating fungal genes. But it also raises political and ethical questions. It’s not just that Homo sapiens shouldn’t usurp the role of God, but that scientists are taking over the role of nature, and that they don’t think about the suffering of animals. However, in the end, these biotechnologies not only show that Homo sapiens are capable of direct intellectual design, but also that we can genetically manipulate not only individual behavior but also social structures.
In cyborg engineering, a cyborg is an entity that combines organic and inorganic matter, and in a sense, we are all cyborgs. We have glasses, pacemakers, computers, and cell phones to augment our abilities. It’s only a matter of time before we acquire inorganic attributes such as abilities, desires, and personality. A more concrete example of how Homo sapiens are turning into cyborgs is state-of-the-art hearing aids. These devices absorb sounds, identify the human voice among them, and translate them into electrical signals that are then transmitted to the brain. If cyborg technology becomes more advanced and allows multiple brains to be directly connected to computers, or if the brain can access a memory bank of multiple memories, Homo sapiens will undergo a wide range of changes in memory, consciousness, and identity.
Non-organic engineering refers to the creation of completely inanimate objects. An example of this is computer viruses, which spread through endless self-replication, competing with other viruses for cyberspace, despite being chased by antiviruses. In the realm of non-organic engineering, the Blue Brain Project, which aims to recreate the entire human brain inside a computer, would bring life into the realm of the non-organic if successful. Homo sapiens would then become a new species, a complete departure from what it already is.
Of course, at the moment, all three of these methods are only marginally successful. However, the fact that science and technology are actively working in more and more areas suggests that the end of Homo sapiens is very close. If Homo sapiens is indeed coming to an end, we will have to answer the question, “What do we want to be and what do we want to do?” before we do. And the answers to these questions will guide us in how Homo sapiens will change.
In the aggregate, the end of Homo sapiens is not simply the end of a species, but the evolution of a new form of existence. It is part of the process of Homo sapiens overcoming its limitations, acquiring new abilities, and transforming into a higher level of being. While these changes can illuminate the future of humanity, they can also create many challenges and problems. Therefore, we will need to prepare for these changes and find ways to manage them responsibly. The end of Homo sapiens requires deep reflection on what we will eventually evolve into.
