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Article: Humanity 2.0.(Web Exclusive)(discussion of ethical aspects of technology, civilization and genetic engineering)
- Article from:
- U.S. News & World Report
- Article date:
- August 29, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 All rights reserved. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Today marks the final installment in our Next News debate about whether humankind should embark upon a technological journey to become post-human by radically altering ourselves through genetic engineering or nanotechnology or advanced computing. Simon Smith, editor-in-chief of the webzine Betterhumans is all for it, while Eric Cohen, editor and founder of the journal The New Atlantis has grave doubts.
Cohen: Simon, you have brought our debate to a point: Should human beings "destroy" themselves to become something better? Should the "seed" commit suicide to become the "tree"? Your image of the seed is telling on many levels. For one thing, it suggests that our ...