Kristine Latham
September 30, 2008
English Composition
Dr. Adam Johns
What are people for?

Humans are an evolutionary mistake. After thinking over what people could possibly be for, I have finally concluded that we simply have no purpose. It just so happened that at some point along the line our caveman ancestors reproduced mutated DNA. Something about the mistake made it easier for the species to survive, and so the ones who had the mistake in their DNA were the ones to reproduce, thus passing the gene to the next generation. There never was a master plan for the human species, there especially was no master plan for every individual. Humans are no more than the product of genetic malformations; malformations that allowed our species to dominate other species. Humans have large complex brains, opposable thumbs and the capabilities of written language. These characteristics lead us to be a dominating species that got lucky with our DNA mutations. Since humans are the first known species that has all of these things the myth about a purpose began. People began to think about why we can think so well and why we seem to dominate the entire Earth. Not only are we, as a species, devoid of purpose but we have created a monster that may or may not kill us all.

If someone offered you something that has the potential of either killing the entire species or making humans immoral would you be for or against it? What if someone offered you something that would either eliminate all of your physical and emotional pain or disable you permanently would you take the risk? The limits on the benefits of technology are endless while the consequences are the biggest threat of all: extinction.

In the Bill Joy’s article Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us he expressed his beliefs that technology will lead to the demise of humans. This would mark us the very first species to cause our own extinction. He goes on to prove that due to our species history in making war and the new found means of terrorism it is possible for our species to kill ourselves out. Deadly weapons have been created through technology. Likewise, technology has created the ability to clone one’s self and to alter DNA. The combination of free access to deadly weapons and the ability to clone one’s self into a walking destruction has the potential of killing off the species.

Lee Silver, author of Challenging Nature, believes that nature is random and cruel. It was random that the human species came to be. It was random how the human species has died from natural destruction and disease. Silver presents that perhaps, it does not have to be random how humans become extinct. While technology is extremely dangerous and potentially devastating, we might as well try it because either we will die thanks to moody Mother Nature or do to our own inadequacies. Technology can make our lives easier, longer and less painful. It would be foolish to ignore these advantages simply out of fear of offsetting some sort of balance or plan. There is no plan, we are a genetic mutation. It was an accident that we came to dominate the world. So why should we hold back from experimenting with what else we could become. Imagine a life in which work is obsolete because there is an unlimited about of food and shelter. Now consider this a possibility. As soon as we let go of the belief that we were planned and admit to being accidents we can begin to explore the boundaries of genetics.

Bill Mckibben likes to be challenged. In his book Enough: Staying Human in an Engineered Age, he continuously refers back to the importance of competition through the example of running. So far, there has been no other species that has been on this planet for all of time. There is a challenge to survive as a species that drives all earthly happenings.

But what does it even mean to be human? It means that we, just like every other species, are forced to reside on this earth, but since we’re human we get to dominate. Why stop with domination of other species? What if we used technology to make the ultimate challenge: making a perfect life. What if technology was so wide spread that people could alter DNA at their will? The sky is the limit. Perhaps taking the evolutionary process into our own hands could be a good thing. We could make a life that has no worries, pain, regrets or sadness. We could reach a point where not only do humans dominate but they also have complete control over the world.

Life is random, unpredictable and challenging. The question that we are all faced with as we approach a time of rapid and novel technological growth is whether or not we like life the way it is. Would our lives be bettered if we accept the challenge of technology instead of backing down due to fear? Is it so important that we roll the dice, or should we instead choose the face we’d like? While technology is dangerous and potentially devastating, couldn’t lack of technology be just as dangerous and potentially devastating? Are there not times when doing nothing is just as bad as doing the wrong thing? Silver, McKibben and Joy alike recognize that technology is unstoppable. So let us take this final challenge, let go of our fears, and fight for survival.