[Russkie]

Anyone played Return To Castle Wolfenstein from ID software? On one of the missions you enter a secret Nazi science laboratory. They are designing a super human race of cyborg soldiers. You are confronted the Pinnacle of Nazi research - Das Uber Soldat - The Super Soldier.

My question is does anyone like the idea of genetically creating a super human race? Upgraded Brain capacity, more memory, bigger muscles ect.

And will you replace the current population in your country/world?
Or will we might see that Nazi scenario above I mentioned?

[Einherjar]

Absolutely not..
I think you're assuming that with his better intellect and strength he'll do good things.
But look at present man.. see how he ruined the world..
Now making man smarter would mean he'll ruin the world more!

[Toxeus]

Hm, yes I have played Return To Castle Wolfeinstien for a short time once, and I Know the concept. FIght enhanced/mutated and or magical weapons and soldiers created by the Nazis. Now, on to your question

Genetics should be used to cure things that are found in the genes and chromosones such as mental retardation. If everyone was genecticly enhanced, then everyone would be back to here. Or dead. Geneticly mutating someone is very risky, but has good results if done right. I'm really not very knowlaigible on the topic.

And remember those cases of people who can replay music that they've never seen on a sheet or heard before or are mathmaticle genuises, but are severly retarded? Yes, this is were genetic enhancement comes into play. There have been studies that (I heard of this awhile ago, and can't remember any deatils) somehow magnectly stimulate the brain to be able to do these things, yet they're not retarded. Now, if everyone could wear an appuratus that constantly kept this in effect (the results lasted for no more than 5 minutes) then would society be better off? Maybe. If used in the right way, it could turn the world into a better place. But if they're too smart, then people can question the established governments and economic systems and everything will collapse. But make them smart, but not smart enough to question athurity? This idea is ridiculous and can never work, leaving only one option, don't do it. But genetic enhancements should be used to help those with diseases like retardation and such.

[Russkie]

Why can't we all just have an IQ of 450 and make calculations faster than a super computer in our heads? Then we will come up with more technology with that knowledge thus more genetic engineering ect.

[Mecha]

Creating a super soldier is significantly easier than creating an "upgraded" person. A soldier has a significantly easier problems to be solved by genetic changes (ie easier to kill them by being stronger, lack of psychological damage from grisly sights, loyalty, able to cope with not having food for periods,ect) as opposed to people (people who are not just soldiers) who would not have criteria to meet. There are plenty of things that are "upgradeable" like health/disease resistance (which is directly genetic, the major reason we bother with the whole sexual reproduction thing). Greater inherent intellect would be very good, except the sociological changes that would result would need serious consideration (if EVERYONE is very smart, it may result that NO ONE would be non-Qualified enough for minimum wage jobs). This would then get us into the problem of what KINDS of intellect to put into people, how many people, and related characteristics. Thankfully it is a long way off for such perfect manipulation of humans on the genetic level.

Kolzene is so very very right: there is not a single government on this planet we can trust with this technology (I'd be relieved to hear of one...).

Reminds me of a scifi where people where made into idiot savant slaves who would rebel if *they weren't given their work*, and they devolved into jargon in their speaking very quickly. Something by Victor Vinge, I think. I personally think idiot savants for the sake of society would be highly unethical.

Adjusting the drives that make a person make themselves smart, look for sex, want to eat meat/unhealthy foods, or whatever little drives that are manipulatable on the genetic level is a highly dangerous proposition with any sort of power structure, but one we seem to inevitably have to make an answer for. My guess is that we simply have to wait for what the scientists say is possible, but how that works will be in relation to other developments by then. With the statism pervading advanced civilization (not just Western: China, Japan) it will likely be perverted. Ever see that Arnold movie, The 6th Day? Touches on a few themes like this.

I suppose this is one more reason why technocracy (or another solution) must be acheived.

~Mecha

[Russkie]

Why do we need low paying jobs to fill in? Isn't that th product of evil capitalism, that system lives off the low paying jobs.

Can we have a society consisting entirely of smart/talented people.

[Mecha]

Well, nothing seems to be uprooting capitalism, so it goes to follow there will be low paying jobs until technology replaces them. Of course, in a capitalist society it would mean that class of people would simply be useless to the economy, but that is another discussion.

Could a society of entirely smart/talented people be at peace with itself? The only problem I see would be that economic problem. I suppose another problem with a society of smart people would be that there would then be more evil smart people running around

~Mecha

[Toxeus]

I apolagize for my delyaed response

There should be a proccess in order to determine to who and by how much genetic traits will be altered. It would be like this:

A certified pyscologist would recommend a patient to a board of specialists, who in turn would a hold hearings to decide whether this person needs genetic enhancement. Finally, another pyscologist will evaluate and okay (Or deny, where the process starts all over again) the patient for genetic enhancement.