Would you like to be an android?

[Old Rabbit]

I think most healthy people would probably choose to keep their biological body, but
if you were handicapped you might feel different.

A android body could have a incredibly long life span without pain or handicaps.

I imagine as time passes many people will be more like a syborg, with artificial
parts to keep them active or alive.

I would be happy to be an android as long as I could work and play as any
human could. I would even trade with some limitations to be independant.

[Loc]

Yes. I would be an adroid or a cyborg in a heartbeat.

[Kobuk]

No, absolutely not. Our "humanity" is what makes us who we are. Sure, it's fun to think about what could be if we could live longer and better with android/cybernetic bodies and implants and all sorts of other sci-fi stuff. But at what cost? As soon as we become something else, we lose a part of ourselves and what makes us who we are. I would never give that up.

[Foxpup]

On the one hand, biological bodies have their perks (which is why my fursona kept as much of his as practical). On the other hand, they don't last forever. I'll have to upgrade eventually.

No, absolutely not. Our "humanity" is what makes us who we are.

I never understood how anyone could have such a limited view of their own identity. Always defining who they are in terms of what they are. Besides, the essence of humanity lies in our ability to change ourselves through the application of our intelligence. That's what separates us from the animals.

I would never give that up.

Not even to save your own life?

[Old Rabbit]

Independance is very important to most people. I remember when
I had to quit driving, it was hard to ask others for help, and it still is.

I think most of us would accept artificial vision if we were blind.
The same with hearing I am sure.

Not counting mobility.
Some must live with constant pain.

I understand what Kobuk is saying, but who we are is more than a body. It's
our personality, self thought, and our memories. It's so sad to see people loose
their mind with Alzheimers and other mental deficiencies that often come with
age or injury.

[GrayWolf448]

depends on what type of android. if its body i robot like, metal/alloy/plastic there is a chance i might be fine with it, if the body is similar to a human's with actual "skin", feeling, ect. then there is a higher chance id be fine with it.

though this really depends on how my life goes in the next few years. if things dont go well i might as well become and android and spend my life helping others since i dont really have anything to do. if things do go well then there is a higher chance i would stick with my biological self (though there are other factors that will have effect)

[Varg the wanderer]

I think augmenting for things lost: Sight for the blind, walking for the crippled, internal dialysis for those with failed kidneys, etc. Is a good thing that improves people's quality of life where they might suffer otherwise.

To replace a person with a machine is not to have a person with a mechanical body, but a machine that represents a person that once was.

I don't know about you, but I am more than just a sum of my memories and experiences. That "more" will cease to exists (at least here in the physical world) when this organic machine called a body dies. I like my OEM equipment, even if some of it is flawed, and even if some of it is showing signs of wear. Like my truck, it's great to be able to replace parts I can't repair. That high odometer is a source of pride, not shame, and when the tires are balding or the brakes squeak I thing about all the places I've gone on them.

At what point does replacing parts become rebuilding? Unlike a car, if you pull the driver out of a body it doesn't just climb into another.

[Old Rabbit]

Religious beliefs aside a human is a brain in a vehicle with sensors for sight,
hearing, smell, taste, and feel.  Some of the sensors are for the benifit of the
vehicle. To see to it's protection and feeding. The brain also provides controls
to keep the vehicles functions operating properly. Most of which are automatic.

Considering all this it's the brain that is the person, the thought the memories,
and personalities. The brain it's self is a complex machine. Constantly changing,
updating processes allowing for new stimulus and responding according to learned
experiences. Some responses are automatic, pre wired so to speak.

At this point one might think a human is nothing but a souless machine. This is
where religion gives us something to believe in to hang onto. A reason to care for
others, if for no other reason than to provide help for each other. We are social
beings, we need others of our kind to stay mentally healthy. Even social animals
need others of their kind to stay mentally healthy. A baby of man or of some
animals need the warmth and touch of a parent to survive and to learn.

I would not wish to be a pure android, one like Data of star trek who has no
emotions or feelings. Only to be nothing more than a thinking machine without
reason for being or purpose. Sometimes when people grow old and alone they
loose reason for living. We need to be needed, when we loose that we truly
become nothing more than a machine that is slowly shutting down.

All this said do we really don't know for sure what consciousness  truely is. Our
waking thoughts according to what our sensors tell us. Untill we prove the
existance or not of living spirits, man will hope and some with faith will hold to
the idea there is some higher purpose for life. I do as well.

[Foxpup]

At this point one might think a human is nothing but a souless machine.

One might also ask what exactly is a soul, and why can't a machine possess one? Most religions don't actually provide a clear answer on that point, since they rarely talk about souls explicitly; instead the concept of souls must be inferred from their other doctrines (and usually stops making sense when you try to apply those inferences outside of their original context).

Mind uploading is going to confound a lot of theologians.

[9141702]

No, with exceptions.

I'm quite alright with having a limited lifespan. I'll have my time, make the best of it, grow old and die. But if I was injured or suffered from illness, I would definitely want to replace faulty meat-peripherals with cybernetic ones! (Think more Deus Ex and less Star Trek TNG).

[Old Rabbit]

At this point one might think a human is nothing but a souless machine.

One might also ask what exactly is a soul, and why can't a machine possess one? Most religions don't actually provide a clear answer on that point, since they rarely talk about souls explicitly; instead the concept of souls must be inferred from their other doctrines (and usually stops making sense when you try to apply those inferences outside of their original context).

Mind uploading is going to confound a lot of theologians.

The idea of who or what has a soul depends on who you talk to. If it
exists what is it, a life force? How can we tell if a being has one? I read
once a scientist placed a dying man in a closed space to see if he could
catch a soul, Or even to see if the man lost any weight at death. People
used to believe they should leave a window open when a person dies. So
the soul could leave.

If in the future we create a android body we can transfer what makes us
special to ourselves into it. Would a soul follow if there was one? Personally
I don't worry about growing old and dying. If I have a soul I am sure it will
do what souls do when we die. Death to me is no different than what I was
before birth. If there isn't a life beyond this one, we won't know anyway. I had
to have my heart started with shock several years ago. I don't remember seeing
any light tunnel or even an out of body experience. The last thing I remembered
was blacking out. Then waking up with a very sore chest.

We shouldn't embrace death, but it's a fact of life as we know it. I think using
tech to give us a longer more viable life is fine, and I would be happy to have
mine extended with technology if possible. But not unless the tech gave me a
worth while life.

[RakshaTheCat]

Sure, would happily put my brain into a better body (would rather not end up as a Roomba if I can help it). And if I can pick its shape, make it nice and fluffy and feline looking, then would happily get rid of my current one even now >:3

I'm not really keen on dying part. I mean, being dead is kind of boring, had no fun before I was born, I usually have no fun while sleeping (if my consciousness is shut down completely, like, not dreaming), and there would be no more fun possibilities after death either...

[Loc]

Locked due to gravedigging.