Theological and Ethical Aspects of Mind Transfer in Transhumanism

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12775/SetF.2021.005

Keywords

Neuroscience, transhumanism, artificial inteligence algorithms, antropology

Abstract

Mind transfer is the most important concept of transhumanists. Its tech­nological implementation is to copy and transfer the human mind to a computer, by exact mapping of all neural connections in the human brain and their precise copying in a computer simulation. The idea of mind transfer also brings some dangers, related to the denial of human nature, the placing of hopes for future life in digital spaces and the liberation from the limitations imposed on man by his biological structure. Transhumanists believe that in order to achieve mind transfer, various technologies defined by the acronym NBIC (Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Information Technology, Cognitive Science) currently available, should be used. The very dynamic development of these technologies in recent years, and in particular the latest AI (Artificial Intelli­gence) algorithms seem to be very fast approaching the moment when practical mind transfer will be possible. The paper contains a very brief description of these technical capabilities with the necessary short commentary on their ethical aspects.

Author Biography

Grzegorz Osiński, WSKSiM Toruń

Computer scientist, cognitive scientist and quantum physicist. Head of Computer Science Institute at the Collage of Social and Media Culture in Toruń. Scientifically involved in the analysis of non-linear chaotic models in medical sciences and experimental psychology. In the years 2001–2002 he was a scholarship holder of the National Research Council in NASA / JPL laboratories in Pasadena, California. Author of numerous scientific publications on the use of numerical algorithms in experimental brain research. Currently deals with cognitive issues of perception in the reception of visual messages. Co-author of the monograph Information Visualization Techniques in the Social Sciences and Humanities, IGI Global 2018 and "Clinical Neurology in Practice. Brain Homeostat ”Aspektpress 2016. Author of popular science books, among others "Transhumanism. Retiarius contra Secutor. Volume 1", "Chaos in the head. Brain and life." Co-author of the visualizacjainformacji.pl and transhumanizm.edu.pl portals.

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2021-03-14

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OSIŃSKI, Grzegorz. Theological and Ethical Aspects of Mind Transfer in Transhumanism. Scientia et Fides. Online. 14 March 2021. Vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 149-176. [Accessed 26 March 2025]. DOI 10.12775/SetF.2021.005.

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