It is apparent that the status of the human body is becoming increasingly blurred as technological advancements become more frequent, consequently transforming what were initial human possibilities and reinterpreting what it means to be human. The essay would argue in support of Haraway’s statement, arguing that a person’s humanness does not end at the skin, and our humanness isn't intrinsically linked to our physical body. In the construction of any essay, one of the most important, yet also time consuming tasks is the finding of sources to utilise. Finding sources which focus on the ideas being investigated and also sources that are credible is becoming increasingly difficult in todays technocentric world, something extremely relevant in relation to this essay question. The rise of the internet plays a huge role in this, with very few restrictions existing in terms of placing information and opinions on the internet, making the credibility and relevance of internet based sources two very essential aspects of any research.
Reading Notes on Donna Haraway's Cyborg Manifesto
In terms of sourcing articles regarding this essay question, it was useful to first research the terms and ideas behind Haraway’s quote. Theresa Senft’s essay could be described as an overview of Donna Haraway’s text “A Cyborg Manifesto”, although it does contain brief comment by Senft herself. With the question that I’m addressing including a qoute from Haraway’s manifesto, I found this essay particularly useful in condensing Haraway’s ideas of the cyborg as the ideas were presented in a structured and straight forward manner. Senft’s use of headings and summary notes at the end of each section of her essay lead me to gaining a much clearer grounding in terms of Haraway’s ideas and this would allow me to further expand on Haraway’s ideas in the essay. This further understanding of what is discussed in “A Cyborg Manifesto” would certainly allow me to expand further on the concept of humans as cyborgs in my essay. Whilst mainly a summary of Haraway’s manifesto, Senft also makes a brief critique of Haraway’s manifesto, describing it as “non – linear” and I would agree, often finding it difficult to follow. Thus makes Senft’s essay a great source to begin with when researching for this essay and exploring the concepts mentioned in the essay question.
Revenants: The Visible Human Project and the Digital Uncanny
Catherine Waldby’s article is also useful, as it outlines the significance of the Frankenstein narrative and the V.H.P, both which concerns the concept of flesh and future human embodiment. Waldby offers a detailed account of the V.H.P and the controversy it aroused regarding human ontology and the status of the flesh and the skin in terms of technology in our culture. I drew particular value from Waldby’s questioning of whether all life can in fact be digitalized, because it brings to the fore questions of existence and identity. Is a digital mind a human mind, and is an AI created to think, feel and act like a human still human, despite not having a body of flesh?
The Duplicates Paradox
The Duplicates Paradox by Ben Best looks at the use of technology in correlation with human identity and embodiment. He explains that the Duplicate paradox is that, if you could create a perfect duplicate of a person, their identity would be as a duplicate and not as the original person, despite having all the molecules in place so as to provide them the exact memories of the original. This raises interesting implications for human embodiment, because considering Best’s argument, one could maintain their identity even if their body didn’t exist, or if one persons mind was places in another body, or even in a robotic body. This article implies that it is the mind which gives us our humanity, not our skin or our body. This essay would be useful in advancing my argument that the body is not the limit of our humanity.
On Being Human
Dr. Sam Vaknin’s review ‘On Being Human’ goes into detail on the meaning of being human. He defines what he means by ‘human’ before delving into his arguments and whilst he did not go into an in depth analysis of the physical humanness, I like that he explained what it means to be human in more of what behavior gives us our humanness. His review also points out arguments that can act as counter points to what I would argue, including arguments from Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas and points out the parallels of Frankenstein and androids, that they are both human creations, modeled in our image. Vaknin’s review could be used as the supporting evidence for defining what it means to be human in the essay.
Artificial Intelligence, Real Issue
Finally, “Artificial Intelligence, Real Issue” by Neil Osterweil discusses artificial intelligence and simulated life, and whether or not artificial and simulated life can be considered human if they possess the basic characteristics that are seen to epitomize what it is to be human – sentience, autonomy and the ability to make decisions. If this is seen as being true, then the need for a physical human body would not be a restriction. The general consensus of the article is however that simulated life forms cannot essentially be human; particularly because Osterweil and is interviewees place importance on human interaction and appearance. The article, whilst being interview based and seemingly arguing against my essay’s thesis statement, is still useful, because the arguments raised provide key points for further exploration, and the interviewees themselves seem credible as they are PhD holders and lecturers at various universities throughout the world.
From researching possible answers and arguments to address my question, it is evident that the status of the skin, the human body and “our” future embodiment is a highly complicated issue. We seem to have evolved from the technology fearing society we once were to embracing the potential possibilities technology can offer our bodies. However, with this comes the perception of a potential danger due to increasing human and machine interaction, for it seems there may be a potential for humans to become blinded by the tempting prospects technology offers, perhaps disregarding the originality of the imperfect human body and embracing the so called perfection of a machine body, or perhaps even no body at all. This essay would attempt to come to the conclusion that whilst the body and the skin is an important part of being human, what really makes “us” human is those psychological actions and it is these distinctly human behaviors that set “us” apart as being human.
Reference List
Best. Ben, “The Duplicates Paradox”, http://www.benbest.com/philo/doubles.html (accessed 2 September 2010)
Osterweil. Neil, ‘Artificial Intelligence, Real Issue’, Web MD, http://www.webmd.com/content/article/11/1668_51243?z=1728_00000_1000_pl_02, (accessed 3 September 2010)
Senft, Theresa. ‘Reading Notes on Donna Haraway's 'Cyborg Manifesto.’http://www.terrisenft.net/students/readings/manifesto.html (accessed 4 September 2010)
Vaknin, Sam. ‘On Being Human’,http://samvak.tripod.com/human.html (accessed 5 September 2010)
Waldby, Catherine. ‘Revenants: The Visible Human Project and the Digital Uncanny’. Murdoch University Culture and Communication Reading Room. http://wwwmcc.murdoch.edu.au/ReadingRoom/VID/Uncanny.html (accessed 4 September 2010)
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