Gould’s theory of discontinuous equilibrium argues that evolution does not occur gradually, but rather that new species emerge through abrupt changes, and suggests that humans are not the end goal of evolution. It emphasizes that evolution has no progressive direction and proceeds unpredictably by chance. Throughout history, newly discovered scientific facts have surprised and...
Drawing on Yuval Harari’s Sapiens, this course explores the possibility that advances in biotechnology could lead to the end of Homo sapiens and the social and ethical issues that arise, and discusses new forms of human evolution. At some point in our lives, the question has crossed our minds: what will happen to humans and the world after an unimaginable amount of time has passed...
Quantum mechanics has been debated and developed over the course of its 100-year history, and is now focused on engineering applications with the development of quantum computers. However, it is still questionable whether quantum computers can fully simulate and predict all phenomena in the universe, and this is complicated by human and math limitations. Quantum mechanics has developed...
Paradise for Sale: A Parable of Nature is a book that explores the dilemma of environmental degradation and sustainable development, and seeks a harmonious coexistence between nature and humans. Through the story of a small Polynesian island, the author vividly depicts the impact of human overdevelopment on ecosystems and livelihoods. With the development of advanced science and...
In the possibility of a society dominated by superhumans and A.I. as presented in the book Homodeus, humans will seek coexistence through a new form of resistance, the anti-datacratic movement, to defend their rights and selfhood. Based on historical examples, such resistance movements are inevitable, and the power of the human majority will push society toward a symbiotic relationship with...
In Intelligent Design, William A. Dembski discusses the complexity and specificity of life that cannot be explained by evolutionary theory, and argues that an intelligent designer intentionally designed life. Through the concepts of irreducible complexity and specified complexity, Dembski argues that intelligent design does not hinder scientific inquiry, but rather can provide new directions for...
This article challenges Yuval Noah Harari’s argument, questioning the notion of algorithms dominating humanity, and comparing the role of algorithms to human autonomy. The author, Yuval Noah Harari, chose to write his book in a structure that starts in the future, returns to the past, and ends in the future again. He begins the book by presenting the problems of the new humanity that...
As Homo sapiens becomes increasingly mechanized through the development of cyborg engineering and artificial intelligence, will it spell the end of life as we know it? It may not be the end, but rather the beginning of the evolution of a new form of existence. Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens offers insight into how the convergence of technology and humans will change the future of humanity...
Cyborg engineering changes human identity by expanding human capabilities and creating collective memory banks through brain-computer connections. It changes the nature of human existence, eventually evolving us into new beings and leading to our own demise. In Yuval Harari’s “Sapiens,” there’s a line that reads. “Attempts to improve us will inevitably fail, because even if the...
Richard Dawkins’ “selfish gene” theory argues that all human behavior is determined by the survival strategies of our genes. However, there are counterexamples that cannot be explained by genetic theory alone, such as transgenderism, homosexuality, and altruistic behavior toward others not related to us by blood, showing that human free will and a variety of social and cultural factors work...