What is transhumanism? | Albert Lin | Storytellers Summit 2019

Summary

In this thought-provoking talk, the speaker explores the intersection of transhumanism, technology, and human transformation. Drawing from personal experiences, including a life-altering accident and subsequent adaptation with prosthetics, the speaker delves into the power of technology to reshape the human body and mind. The talk also touches on ancient rituals, psychedelics, and modern neuroscience to explore how transcendence can transform perception and reality. Ultimately, the speaker calls for a collective effort to imagine a better future by embracing technology, ritual, and self-transformation as tools for human evolution.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker defines transhumanism as the transformation of the human condition through technologies that enhance human intellect and physiology.
• 😀 The speaker reflects on how technology, particularly prosthetics, has played a crucial role in overcoming personal challenges after a life-changing accident.
• 😀 The speaker introduces the idea that technology may shape humanity as much as humans shape technology, questioning the relationship between the two.
• 😀 40 million people globally live without prosthetics due to accessibility issues, leading the speaker to innovate low-cost 3D-printed prosthetics using cell phone technology.
• 😀 The speaker experienced a phenomenon of feeling pain in a body part that no longer existed, prompting an exploration of how the mind maps the body.
• 😀 Mirror therapy, pioneered by neuroscientist V.S. Ramachandran, helped the speaker address phantom limb pain by creating a new mental narrative for the brain.
• 😀 The use of psychedelics like psilocybin in clinical trials offers a potential shortcut to healing by directly altering the brain’s perception of pain.
• 😀 The speaker explored ancient practices such as shamanism, music, and dance to understand states of transcendence and flow that facilitate mental and spiritual transformation.
• 😀 The power of altered states, such as those induced by drumming and trance, is explored as a tool for ego death and collective transformation.
• 😀 The speaker highlights the story of Genghis Khan as a model of how the mind can break through limitations and imagine a new reality, creating a powerful new identity and empire.
• 😀 The conclusion emphasizes that humanity must collectively imagine a better future, harnessing transformative and transcendent states to create new realities and push the human frontier forward.

Q & A

What is the main focus of transhumanism, as discussed in the transcript?

Transhumanism focuses on the transformation of the human condition through technologies that enhance human intellect and physiology. The aim is to push the boundaries of human capabilities through technological advancements.

How did the speaker's personal journey relate to the concept of transhumanism?

The speaker’s personal journey of recovering from a life-threatening accident and using prosthetics highlights the real-world application of transhumanism. It emphasizes how technology can transform the human body and improve mobility, as well as the challenges that still remain for many amputees.

What role do technologies like photogrammetry and 3D printing play in transforming the prosthetics industry?

Technologies like photogrammetry and 3D printing allow for more accessible and affordable prosthetics by using smartphones to map the human body and repurpose waste materials. This innovation could make prosthetics available to millions of people who currently lack access to them.

What is the significance of the speaker's experience with feeling sensations in limbs that no longer existed?

The speaker's experience of feeling sensations in absent limbs, known as phantom limb pain, led to an exploration of the connection between the mind and body. It raised questions about how the brain maps the body and how new technologies and therapies can help remap this connection.

What is 'mirror therapy,' and how did it help the speaker with his pain?

Mirror therapy is a treatment that helps individuals reframe their perception of body parts that are missing or paralyzed. The speaker used this therapy to trick his brain into letting go of phantom limb pain, though it only provided temporary relief until other therapies were explored.

How did the speaker's involvement with psychedelic research contribute to his recovery?

The speaker participated in research involving psilocybin, a psychedelic compound, which led to a significant reduction in his pain. This experience showed the potential of psychedelics to assist in therapeutic settings, offering a shortcut to transformative mental and physical states.

What did the speaker learn about the connection between ancient rituals and modern technology?

The speaker observed that ancient rituals, like drumming and trance states, serve as a form of technology that connects the mind and body, much like modern techniques such as meditation and psychedelics. Both facilitate profound mental transformations and are tools for transcending the limitations of the physical body.

What is the significance of the speaker’s experience with shamans and their drumming ritual?

The speaker’s encounter with shamans and their drumming ritual served as a powerful demonstration of how ancient practices can induce trance-like states that promote transformation. It also highlighted the concept of ego death and the loss of self in transcendent moments, connecting these practices to the broader theme of human transformation.

How did Genghis Khan’s story influence the speaker’s perspective on transformation?

The speaker reflected on how Genghis Khan, through a transformative moment, reimagined his reality and built the largest empire in history. This story underscored the importance of envisioning new possibilities and the power of transformation, both on an individual and societal level.

What message does the speaker want to convey about the future of human transformation?

The speaker emphasizes that we are at a pivotal moment where we must use both technological advancements and ancient practices to transcend current limitations and collectively imagine a better future. The human frontier, according to the speaker, is about harnessing the power of transformation to create new realities.