I am writing this after having responded to a respected “bioethicist” friend with whom I am connected via Facebook. In his photo albums, he has a picture of a protected area for dogs in Thailand. This got me thinking. Being the “internet savvy” and “digitally addicted” personality that I am, I immediately commented on the photograph with my personal reflection that dogs within protected enclosures only creates “secluded love”. I went on to state that real love towards these animals would be to watch them roam around freely, whilst still being protected from harm ! I did receive a very nice reply from him saying that such protective measures for animals showcase the hope for a basic love towards all kinds of life. I liked his reply on the re-affirmation of hope. However, I was not completely satisfied with the promise of hope and love. Why ?
You see, Thailand incidentally happens to be one of the major sources for "Dog meat" in Asia, especially Vietnam. (read about it here). Dogs evoke such strong emotions in us because they express to us, a lot of love. My own departed canine friend was like a brother to me for over 14 good years ! Therefore, we are naturally inclined to protect those animals which respond to us with love, intelligence and in many cases, obedience. However, the entire world is not so rosy. Members of the canine species have long been used as meat, experimental animals and for sadistic sports; which are often direct reflections of our barbaric instincts. To those among us who love our canine friends, such cruelty is horrifying. However, our sympathy alone will not do any good. What else is needed ?
Given a choice between protecting a crocodile and a cute puppy , 90 % would choose the puppy. If given the information on a greater importance of the crocodile to the balance of the ecosystem compared to the thoroughbred puppy, the percentage of “puppy protectors” may or may not drop down. But if given the choice our survival in the planet would be severely challenged in the next week without the crocodile; most of us would willingly sacrifice the puppy and embrace the crocodile!
Are we truly the altruistic beings we portray ourselves to be ? I think not. We may pride ourselves as being the only living being that provides protection for other forms of life. But sadly, we are much further from the truth. We protect and conserve wildlife and natural resources because of our own selfish need to survive as a species. Modern ecological science has taught us that the future of mankind in this planet is bleak if we keep destroying the other inhabitants of this life, irrespective of their “cuteness”. Take the most basic example from India. A rice farmer tolerates an abundance of poisonous snakes only because they keep the rat population at check. If the same farmer moves to a protected rodent proof greenhouse, protection of the snake species would not be such an important criteria.
Okay. Enough with the usual sentiments of protecting the flora and fauna of our planet. What does all of this have to do with a posthuman future ? The transhuman or the posthuman future would be manifested on this, and other planets. How would we treat our current planetary co-habitants then ? Would we still offer refuge and protection ? I am not so optimistic. We would probably at best do what we have continued to do thus far. We would accelerate the growth and multiplication of species which are of the most beneficial and eradicate those that are not. Locusts and other traditional pests that include the ubiquitous mosquito would be a distant memory. So would parasites which sustain the life of pathogenic micro-organisms. We would re-engineer several species as we have been doing currently to our livestock. This is not a prediction. It is already happening. Hybrid and genetically altered livestock are being used by us on a normal basis. Every living creature is allowed life solely for the preservation of the human species. Am I going too far ? I don’t think so.
Let me make one thing very clear. We are neither the angels nor the demons to this planet. We are merely an intelligent species. Therefore, all these excuses about us loving our planet for it’s beauty and splendor are an absolute delusion that we place, upon our fundamental nature and instinct to survive as a species. If given the technological capacity of planetary population control , we would readily sterilize all other species and allow procreation of our species alone. This is not a “wrong” thing to do if understood very carefully and logically. The fundamental purpose of every civilization’s growth in human history has been to preserve human life. If we do not build fences, the other animals would not hesitate to make short work of our resources. This is the law of nature and we are also subject to the oldest law “survival of the fittest”. Are we no better than parasites or viruses then? I think not.
(Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sus_scrofa_domestica.jpg)
The ongoing evolution towards Technological posthumanism is bringing several positive changes. We are harnessing energy from resources more efficiently. The old notions that technology will bring unprecented disaster upon the planet should be put into reserve in face of technologies that are becoming cleaner every year if not every decade ! Very soon, synthetic biology shall enable us to “create” our requirements rather than modify or enhance the existing gene pool of this planet’s biodiversity. The Bioethical principles are rapidly becoming outdated and must be renewed in face of a glorious future for our species. We will be able to communicate and incorporate our sentient qualities onto the animals we find useful for our survival.
The true test to our morality and altruistic nature would come as we race towards the technological singularity. Would we bother about other life forms in this planet when we have no need of them for our sustenance ? Would we “love” them then ? Would they have “hope” for a “basic life” ?The answers are available now, every time we choose a meat product or a vegetable from the supermarket. What are our present choices ? Organic or non-organic ? To most, it is a question of the amount of money in one’s wallet relative to the number of family members to feed. When the questions and the answers become as simple as this, what would be the reason for “hope” and “love” towards animals and other life forms in the posthuman future ? THINK.
