Unless the alteration is "inheritable", it wouldn't make a difference, children would be born without it. Redesigning the genetic structure of course, would ensure that.
But I think that is a lot further away than control through drugs. (Which, as Plissken points out, we're already doing to some extent, and which is probably only going to increase.)
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Human extinction
Moderator: Fist and Faith
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Zarathustra
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Well, I'm jumping into this one late. But, here it goes.
Though evolution is not teleological (goal-oriented), it does make it possible for increasing levels of complexity and organization to arise. After all, isn't this exactly what has happened on our planet? From single-celled organisms came everything afterward. Sure seems like progress to me--if "increasing levels of organization and complexity" can be accepted as evidence of progress.
On our planet, matter has gone from non-living, to living, to sentient, to "intelligent." And arguably, we are in a new stage beyond mere "intelligent" to the point where we are bringing forth artificial intelligence to suppliment our biological awareness. We are linking up our sentience in ever increasing levels of communication (Internet, telecommunication, and eventually VR) on an increasing scale. We are producing a globally interconnected society.
Surely, in some sense, this is progress. It is certainly more advanced than cavemen. Now whether or not you want to say this is BETTER is up to you. Personally, I prefer my home over some cave, so I say it is better.
Sure, it is not happening equally everywhere. But it is the case that ON AVERAGE, humans now have greater lifespans, better health, better food, more education, more leisure opportunities, and more freedom than humans have ever had in our entire history. I say that's better.
Now, what are we going to become? Masters of the universe, of course! There are basically three things which humans needed to discover in order to master physical reality: the basic laws of physics (how matter works), the laws of biology (how living matter works), and the laws of computer science (how information can be manipulated/used). With quantum mechanics, genetics, and computers, we have discovered the three main "pillars" of knowledge that will allow us, in the coming centuries to shape ourselves and our world. Now all that is left is to figure out all the different ways in which to apply this knowledge. But these are the main building blocks.
Though evolution is not teleological (goal-oriented), it does make it possible for increasing levels of complexity and organization to arise. After all, isn't this exactly what has happened on our planet? From single-celled organisms came everything afterward. Sure seems like progress to me--if "increasing levels of organization and complexity" can be accepted as evidence of progress.
On our planet, matter has gone from non-living, to living, to sentient, to "intelligent." And arguably, we are in a new stage beyond mere "intelligent" to the point where we are bringing forth artificial intelligence to suppliment our biological awareness. We are linking up our sentience in ever increasing levels of communication (Internet, telecommunication, and eventually VR) on an increasing scale. We are producing a globally interconnected society.
Surely, in some sense, this is progress. It is certainly more advanced than cavemen. Now whether or not you want to say this is BETTER is up to you. Personally, I prefer my home over some cave, so I say it is better.
Sure, it is not happening equally everywhere. But it is the case that ON AVERAGE, humans now have greater lifespans, better health, better food, more education, more leisure opportunities, and more freedom than humans have ever had in our entire history. I say that's better.
Now, what are we going to become? Masters of the universe, of course! There are basically three things which humans needed to discover in order to master physical reality: the basic laws of physics (how matter works), the laws of biology (how living matter works), and the laws of computer science (how information can be manipulated/used). With quantum mechanics, genetics, and computers, we have discovered the three main "pillars" of knowledge that will allow us, in the coming centuries to shape ourselves and our world. Now all that is left is to figure out all the different ways in which to apply this knowledge. But these are the main building blocks.
Success will be my revenge -- DJT