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The Cost of Progress – Addressing inequality, power dynamics, and existential risks

Progress often comes at a cost. As we embrace human enhancement, we must grapple with its consequences: inequality, power concentration, and existential threats to humanity itself.
December 29, 2023 by
The Cost of Progress – Addressing inequality, power dynamics, and existential risks
Plena Project, Laura Arango Eusse

Scenario:

Mara lived in a divided world. The enhanced elite dominated every sphere, from politics to science, while the unaugmented majority struggled to compete. Disillusioned, Mara joined a growing movement demanding regulation of enhancement technologies, fearing they could erode democracy and justice.

State of the Art:

The enhancement revolution is already highlighting disparities. Access to cutting-edge technologies often depends on wealth and privilege. Additionally, ethical lapses in AI, genetic editing, and other fields threaten to deepen these divides.

Philosophical and Ethical Considerations:

Philosophers warn of a future where the gap between enhanced and unenhanced creates a new caste system. Torres emphasizes the existential risks posed by poorly regulated advancements, while Bohan underscores the urgency of creating equitable systems that ensure everyone benefits.

Closing Thought:

Progress is powerful but precarious. As we shape the future, we must ask: Who benefits, who gets left behind, and at what cost?

The Cost of Progress – Addressing inequality, power dynamics, and existential risks
Plena Project, Laura Arango Eusse December 29, 2023
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