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It's no great secret that every year, millions, if not billions of pounds are spent globally researching the human brain, trying to unlock its deepest secrets. The research is aimed to find out why we do this and that, and what happens in the brain to make us do it.
Obviously, after decades of research, we know the basics. We know what memory is composed of, we know that chemical reactions decide our moods, and we know that electrical impulses to and from the brain decide our reflexes, movement, senses and pain reception. As far as many are concerned, this is all we need to know.
But anyone in medicine will disagree with that. Surely, unlocking the deepest secrets of the brain will make leaps and bounds for medical science. Designer brain surgery anyone? Surely, we can find one-stop cures for psychological problems, like depression, pschitzophrenia etc, as well as for things like dementia.
But it could go further than this. We know that chemicals decide our moods and reactions, and with the proper knowledge and technology, we can help reform people. Turn thieves into charity workers, and murderers into samaritans. If only we can unlock the brain, it can be done. We can find what best stimulates the brain, feeding it to our children to speed education. As the research world will often quote, you need but "imagine the possibilities".
Are you imagining? Because I am. Scientists always say it. Just use your imagination. And with such great medical, psychological and societal gains to be had from unlocking the brain, why shouldn't we try and do it? Well, for once, instead of "imagining the possibilities", imagine if you will, how the knowledge can be abused.
If we know exactly how the human brain works, and by the time we have this knowledge, doubtless we will also ave mapped the human genome, what does the combination of these two technologies scream out to you? Genetically modified human beings. Designed to be born with brains that can outsmart anything ever naturally born, without the possibility of psychological side-effects. And these people wouldn't be used to do more research. No, these people would belong to the military. Planning, plotting, scheming. Imagine Grand Admiral Thrawn, only better. Any military force with this kind of talent, will be incredibly formidable.
But the abuse doesn't end with genome manipulation. If we can reform murderers, surely there is a political side that can be abused. Governments are paranoid, and if a simple drug can change someone actively speaking against the government into a quiet, lonesome soul, caring nothing for the politics around them, why wouldn't a government stoop so low? It's quick, easy, and painless. The person involved probably never knows what's happened. If that can be done, what else? Governments can covertly sway the hand of anyone they choose. The abusive uses for the secrets of the human brain are as numerous as the potential benefits.
With that in mind, should we unlock the secrets? Our technology has always advanced faster than our society, and at present, our society just isn't ready for the advancements that unlocking the human brain will provide us with. We are fortunate that the human brain is as complicated as it is, otherwise it would have been unlocked by now, and already we would be under the influence of it's effects - and we probably wouldn't even know it. Perhaps we already are. Maybe the secret is already out there, and we are being afflicted with its abuse. Are we in the matrix?
Probably not, but that's what life would be like if we were. We go about our lives, day to day, thinking we are perfectly normal, and in control of our actions. But the truth would be that we are all just puppets. Voters when needed, assassins when called for, alibis when required. Sure, should you crack under the strain of life and have a mental breakdown, technology can put you back together good as new. But your life isn't yours, you are a government tool, just like everyone else, and just like everyone else, you will never even know about it.
It's so tempting to go for the technology, since it can save us so much suffering. But how much are we willing to pay to relieve the pain? Is it worth being the consequences? Is it worth being a tool for people you don't care for? Is it worth our humanity?
IB
Obviously, after decades of research, we know the basics. We know what memory is composed of, we know that chemical reactions decide our moods, and we know that electrical impulses to and from the brain decide our reflexes, movement, senses and pain reception. As far as many are concerned, this is all we need to know.
But anyone in medicine will disagree with that. Surely, unlocking the deepest secrets of the brain will make leaps and bounds for medical science. Designer brain surgery anyone? Surely, we can find one-stop cures for psychological problems, like depression, pschitzophrenia etc, as well as for things like dementia.
But it could go further than this. We know that chemicals decide our moods and reactions, and with the proper knowledge and technology, we can help reform people. Turn thieves into charity workers, and murderers into samaritans. If only we can unlock the brain, it can be done. We can find what best stimulates the brain, feeding it to our children to speed education. As the research world will often quote, you need but "imagine the possibilities".
Are you imagining? Because I am. Scientists always say it. Just use your imagination. And with such great medical, psychological and societal gains to be had from unlocking the brain, why shouldn't we try and do it? Well, for once, instead of "imagining the possibilities", imagine if you will, how the knowledge can be abused.
If we know exactly how the human brain works, and by the time we have this knowledge, doubtless we will also ave mapped the human genome, what does the combination of these two technologies scream out to you? Genetically modified human beings. Designed to be born with brains that can outsmart anything ever naturally born, without the possibility of psychological side-effects. And these people wouldn't be used to do more research. No, these people would belong to the military. Planning, plotting, scheming. Imagine Grand Admiral Thrawn, only better. Any military force with this kind of talent, will be incredibly formidable.
But the abuse doesn't end with genome manipulation. If we can reform murderers, surely there is a political side that can be abused. Governments are paranoid, and if a simple drug can change someone actively speaking against the government into a quiet, lonesome soul, caring nothing for the politics around them, why wouldn't a government stoop so low? It's quick, easy, and painless. The person involved probably never knows what's happened. If that can be done, what else? Governments can covertly sway the hand of anyone they choose. The abusive uses for the secrets of the human brain are as numerous as the potential benefits.
With that in mind, should we unlock the secrets? Our technology has always advanced faster than our society, and at present, our society just isn't ready for the advancements that unlocking the human brain will provide us with. We are fortunate that the human brain is as complicated as it is, otherwise it would have been unlocked by now, and already we would be under the influence of it's effects - and we probably wouldn't even know it. Perhaps we already are. Maybe the secret is already out there, and we are being afflicted with its abuse. Are we in the matrix?
Probably not, but that's what life would be like if we were. We go about our lives, day to day, thinking we are perfectly normal, and in control of our actions. But the truth would be that we are all just puppets. Voters when needed, assassins when called for, alibis when required. Sure, should you crack under the strain of life and have a mental breakdown, technology can put you back together good as new. But your life isn't yours, you are a government tool, just like everyone else, and just like everyone else, you will never even know about it.
It's so tempting to go for the technology, since it can save us so much suffering. But how much are we willing to pay to relieve the pain? Is it worth being the consequences? Is it worth being a tool for people you don't care for? Is it worth our humanity?
IB
I want a clone army....
Lets just leave the brain alone.......its more complex than the universe, so although brain research could save lives, it could also open up 'designer' brains (perfect brains etc) and military psychological control........or not. :)
And only 1 of them needs to use 1 or have an accident and we could end up with some very large very desolate areas of the planet.
I would not be so hasty to make an accusation. The atomic bomb is the most powerful weapon on earth, but only 8 countries in the world have atomic weapons.
But the effect it will have on society is not only profound, it's perverse. Make no mistake, the militaries and the governments of the world WILL abuse the technology.
Of course we should unlock the secrets of the brain, it is the next significant adavancement in science.
It's part of my plan for world domination.
First, I take over Luxemburg, then I use genetic engineering to spice bits of my own genome into ladies cosmetics, which will make women the world over obey my every word. Now, you may be thinking I've got filthy plans for my army of amazonian lipstick-slaves, but oh no.
They'll rampage over the planet, spreading the word of Jonman wherever they go, and before long, I'll be the Big Ceese, the Top Banana, the Big Kahoona and the Chief Monkey, all rolled into one.
Mwahahahahahaha
First, I take over Luxemburg, then I use genetic engineering to spice bits of my own genome into ladies cosmetics, which will make women the world over obey my every word. Now, you may be thinking I've got filthy plans for my army of amazonian lipstick-slaves, but oh no.
They'll rampage over the planet, spreading the word of Jonman wherever they go, and before long, I'll be the Big Ceese, the Top Banana, the Big Kahoona and the Chief Monkey, all rolled into one.
Mwahahahahahaha
No we shouldn't go down that road, we would end up with some Matrix style world with our whole lives predetermined for us.
It's no great secret that every year, millions, if not billions of pounds are spent globally researching the human brain, trying to unlock its deepest secrets. The research is aimed to find out why we do this and that, and what happens in the brain to make us do it.
Obviously, after decades of research, we know the basics. We know what memory is composed of, we know that chemical reactions decide our moods, and we know that electrical impulses to and from the brain decide our reflexes, movement, senses and pain reception. As far as many are concerned, this is all we need to know.
But anyone in medicine will disagree with that. Surely, unlocking the deepest secrets of the brain will make leaps and bounds for medical science. Designer brain surgery anyone? Surely, we can find one-stop cures for psychological problems, like depression, pschitzophrenia etc, as well as for things like dementia.
But it could go further than this. We know that chemicals decide our moods and reactions, and with the proper knowledge and technology, we can help reform people. Turn thieves into charity workers, and murderers into samaritans. If only we can unlock the brain, it can be done. We can find what best stimulates the brain, feeding it to our children to speed education. As the research world will often quote, you need but "imagine the possibilities".
Are you imagining? Because I am. Scientists always say it. Just use your imagination. And with such great medical, psychological and societal gains to be had from unlocking the brain, why shouldn't we try and do it? Well, for once, instead of "imagining the possibilities", imagine if you will, how the knowledge can be abused.
If we know exactly how the human brain works, and by the time we have this knowledge, doubtless we will also ave mapped the human genome, what does the combination of these two technologies scream out to you? Genetically modified human beings. Designed to be born with brains that can outsmart anything ever naturally born, without the possibility of psychological side-effects. And these people wouldn't be used to do more research. No, these people would belong to the military. Planning, plotting, scheming. Imagine Grand Admiral Thrawn, only better. Any military force with this kind of talent, will be incredibly formidable.
But the abuse doesn't end with genome manipulation. If we can reform murderers, surely there is a political side that can be abused. Governments are paranoid, and if a simple drug can change someone actively speaking against the government into a quiet, lonesome soul, caring nothing for the politics around them, why wouldn't a government stoop so low? It's quick, easy, and painless. The person involved probably never knows what's happened. If that can be done, what else? Governments can covertly sway the hand of anyone they choose. The abusive uses for the secrets of the human brain are as numerous as the potential benefits.
With that in mind, should we unlock the secrets? Our technology has always advanced faster than our society, and at present, our society just isn't ready for the advancements that unlocking the human brain will provide us with. We are fortunate that the human brain is as complicated as it is, otherwise it would have been unlocked by now, and already we would be under the influence of it's effects - and we probably wouldn't even know it. Perhaps we already are. Maybe the secret is already out there, and we are being afflicted with its abuse. Are we in the matrix?
Probably not, but that's what life would be like if we were. We go about our lives, day to day, thinking we are perfectly normal, and in control of our actions. But the truth would be that we are all just puppets. Voters when needed, assassins when called for, alibis when required. Sure, should you crack under the strain of life and have a mental breakdown, technology can put you back together good as new. But your life isn't yours, you are a government tool, just like everyone else, and just like everyone else, you will never even know about it.
It's so tempting to go for the technology, since it can save us so much suffering. But how much are we willing to pay to relieve the pain? Is it worth being the consequences? Is it worth being a tool for people you don't care for? Is it worth our humanity?
IB
Obviously, after decades of research, we know the basics. We know what memory is composed of, we know that chemical reactions decide our moods, and we know that electrical impulses to and from the brain decide our reflexes, movement, senses and pain reception. As far as many are concerned, this is all we need to know.
But anyone in medicine will disagree with that. Surely, unlocking the deepest secrets of the brain will make leaps and bounds for medical science. Designer brain surgery anyone? Surely, we can find one-stop cures for psychological problems, like depression, pschitzophrenia etc, as well as for things like dementia.
But it could go further than this. We know that chemicals decide our moods and reactions, and with the proper knowledge and technology, we can help reform people. Turn thieves into charity workers, and murderers into samaritans. If only we can unlock the brain, it can be done. We can find what best stimulates the brain, feeding it to our children to speed education. As the research world will often quote, you need but "imagine the possibilities".
Are you imagining? Because I am. Scientists always say it. Just use your imagination. And with such great medical, psychological and societal gains to be had from unlocking the brain, why shouldn't we try and do it? Well, for once, instead of "imagining the possibilities", imagine if you will, how the knowledge can be abused.
If we know exactly how the human brain works, and by the time we have this knowledge, doubtless we will also ave mapped the human genome, what does the combination of these two technologies scream out to you? Genetically modified human beings. Designed to be born with brains that can outsmart anything ever naturally born, without the possibility of psychological side-effects. And these people wouldn't be used to do more research. No, these people would belong to the military. Planning, plotting, scheming. Imagine Grand Admiral Thrawn, only better. Any military force with this kind of talent, will be incredibly formidable.
But the abuse doesn't end with genome manipulation. If we can reform murderers, surely there is a political side that can be abused. Governments are paranoid, and if a simple drug can change someone actively speaking against the government into a quiet, lonesome soul, caring nothing for the politics around them, why wouldn't a government stoop so low? It's quick, easy, and painless. The person involved probably never knows what's happened. If that can be done, what else? Governments can covertly sway the hand of anyone they choose. The abusive uses for the secrets of the human brain are as numerous as the potential benefits.
With that in mind, should we unlock the secrets? Our technology has always advanced faster than our society, and at present, our society just isn't ready for the advancements that unlocking the human brain will provide us with. We are fortunate that the human brain is as complicated as it is, otherwise it would have been unlocked by now, and already we would be under the influence of it's effects - and we probably wouldn't even know it. Perhaps we already are. Maybe the secret is already out there, and we are being afflicted with its abuse. Are we in the matrix?
Probably not, but that's what life would be like if we were. We go about our lives, day to day, thinking we are perfectly normal, and in control of our actions. But the truth would be that we are all just puppets. Voters when needed, assassins when called for, alibis when required. Sure, should you crack under the strain of life and have a mental breakdown, technology can put you back together good as new. But your life isn't yours, you are a government tool, just like everyone else, and just like everyone else, you will never even know about it.
It's so tempting to go for the technology, since it can save us so much suffering. But how much are we willing to pay to relieve the pain? Is it worth being the consequences? Is it worth being a tool for people you don't care for? Is it worth our humanity?
IB