Edge Foundation`s World Question Center has
a very interesting question this year: What have you changed your mind
about?. Some of the answers are very interesting and a lot of
interesting people are answering. Surprisingly, I have met quite a few
of them at Scifoo 2007.
Martin Reese's answer surprised me a lot, even if it should not:
We Should Take the 'Posthuman' Era Seriously
(...)
Human-induced changes are occurring with runaway speed. It's hard to
predict a mere century from now, because what will happen depends on us
— this is the first century where humans can collectively transform, or
even ravage, the entire biosphere. Humanity will soon itself be
malleable, to an extent that's qualitatively new in the history of our
species.
(...)
We are custodians of a 'posthuman' future — here on Earth and perhaps
beyond — that can't just be left to writers of science fiction.
Slowly,
H+ is spreading among intellectuals and scientists, slowly we are
getting to the point where our views of the future will get more
attention and respect.