Surrendering Humanity
Many of the authors which we examined over the semester, namely Chris Hables Gray's "Cyborg Citizen" readings, details the ethical and practically challenges which we face in the advancement of technology and our own humanity. Some have brought up the question of how far one can go before they are no longer human. What bionic parts can be installed or organs substituted before someone is "no longer human"? These people are cyborgs, part machine and part human. Others have debated whether extending life indefinitely through technology has deprived us of our humanity. Some would consider mortality to be an integral (and perhaps defining) part of our humanity.
One author in particular argued that technological developments have made us slaves. We medicate away our problems and prolong our lives through self-mutilation and the transformation into a cyborg. Despite what the author may argue, most people would agree that our quality of life has improved from the earlier years of civilization when people died of painful and debilitating diseases and medical conditions which can now be easily treated. Nevertheless, each individual must come to their own conclusion as to how far they are willing to go before they deprive themselves of their "humanity" or whether they are comfortable transforming themselves into a so-called cyborg.