LogFAQs > #927301161

Mead posted...

Without things like eating/hunger and sleep, Im not sure if Id still feel human

Maybe that's a plus.

I usually shit on Shadow for being a fan of transhumanism, but honestly, if I had the option to download my brain into an android body that felt mostly the same but was immune to disease, aches and pains, and which didn't need to eat or sleep, I'd probably leapt at it in a heartbeat. Or conversely, just plunk me in a pod and download my brain directly into the Matrix (though preferably one that isn't as shitty as the one in the movie).

The real question is, in a scenario like that, where we'd presumably be much more logical creatures (ie, a lot of emotional and irrationality is tied to biochemistry, which would either be strictly controlled or eliminated in that sort of scenario), would we still be "us"? Is a human without anger, fear, or panicked adrenaline rushes still human?

And even if it really isn't, would that be a bad thing? We've done a pretty shitty job of BEING human for a few thousand years now - maybe we'd be better off with a bit less humanity.

Of course, the problem there is that then we also have to ask whether things like joy, love, mercy, or simple contentment are also tied to that biochemistry, and whether we'd have to lose them as well. At which point, the cost might wind up being far worse than the benefits (though some might disagree).



Mead posted...

especially sleep. That break or restart between days seems like a big part of sustaining our consciousness. Existing in just one long endless day for years and years until you die sounds horrifying.

We mostly only tend to think that way because we literally can't imagine a scenario where an alternative exists. We've actually managed to stave off psychosis due to sleep deprivation via certain narcolepsy drugs in experimental tests, but we've never really had anyone live long-term to see how well they adjust. Certainly none of us have ever experienced it for ourselves.

My suspicion is that the main drawback would be that our sense of time would wind up disrupted a bit because we'd lose one of the anchors we use to judge by... but it's also entirely possible that we'd find other ways to adjust. Maybe just more deliberate scheduling and time-management would offset most of the issues.

Without the fatigue effect where we notice our ability to concentrate and focus fading, we might never feel the need for long-term downtime. And even if it turns out we need SOME downtime for some technical reason, it might be possible for us to effectively "power down" for a half hour or so a day rather than needing the full 8-hours of sleep.

All of this is theoretical anyway, because it's not like we'll likely ever be able to overcome the biological issues involved, before we even have to start considering the psychological ones.
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