Bionics and our biophysical future

Would You Support the Development of a Bionic Person?

As I understand it, bionics is meant to replace and/or enhance anatomical structures or physiological processes. I don't have an issue with replacing an anatomical structure or physiological process that is either missing or not working properly. It is easy for me to accept this position when I imagine having a disabled child. I think I would want to do everything possible to restore his or her full capabilities.

However, enhancing normal functioning of the human body seems to contradict nature. It scares me to think about what could result from this. It's bad enough that athletes use steroids to enhance their performance. It’s the same with cosmetic surgery (and I'm not talking about the variety that is done to repair burn damage or some grotesque feature which makes life exceedingly difficult). Cosmetic surgery is becoming more and more commonplace because our society is so attached to looking a certain way. This mentality leads to more insecurity which leads to more surgery. I think there is a point when artificial intervention of any kind becomes pointless and even counterproductive because it does not allow us to accept our natural limitations. Of course everyone's definition of extreme is different and that is one of the things which makes this issue so complicated.

How Would You Rate the Control of Artificial Limbs by Thought Alone?

I support more scientific research in the area of implants. Obviously this technology is still in its infancy, but I think there is great potential for it to help many people who would be otherwise unable to function. It's exciting to think that a person's brain may have the potential to assimilate an artificial limb, making it his or her own. It’s also promising that parts of the human brain, given the right stimulus, can be awakened after being unused for a long time.