Humans: Chimpanzees of the future?

The human form has been the centre of many pursuits, from art to science, individuals have strived to enhance the body and its capabilities. The results of these collective imaginings have been varied, from the experimental art of Stelarc, who continues fascinate and repulse, to the number of filmmakers who create the iconic cyborg characters that dominate our psyche.

In my research on the cyborg the most radical theorist I came across was Kevin Warwick. Warwick is a passionate scientist who strives to become a cyborg. He declares,

"If you are happy with your state as a human then so be it, you can remain as you are. But be warned – just as we humans split from our chimpanzee cousins years ago, so cyborgs will split from humans. Those who remain as mere humans are likely to become a sub – species. They will, effectively, be the chimpanzees of the future" (4).

To be honest I’m not sure what to make of this provocative statement as it seems so over the top. However to start with the difference between Warwick and other theorists such as Donna Haraway and Chris Hables Gray is that he perceives cyborgism as a choice (albeit it a forced one, as to make the ‘wrong’ decision ensures some form of doom!). Haraway and Gray argue that we already are already cyborgs due to the high interaction we have the technology that not only surrounds us but infuses with our bodies. The choice here is whether accept this ‘condition’ or not.

Although I have no idea what the future will hold for the human race, it is clear that there are many and varied ideas about which direction we are headed. In the case of Warwick, we could potentially be headed for a Terminator – esque world where humans are second to cyborgs. On the other hand those in the Haraway/Gray camp suggest that we are already cyborgs and that we need to accept that cyborgs are much more than military or capitalist machines. In this instance it is evident that an evolution of the human species is occurring, however it appears not be so dramatic.

Make of it what you will, cyborg or chimpanzee, choice or no choice, we do need to acknowledge the fact that technology has become an integrated part of our lives and holds a significant amount of power over our bodies.

Reference

Warwick, K. (2004) I, Cyborg Urbana, Ill: University of Illinois Press