Until this historical moment, mishaps and miscalculations could be contained, but no more. It is within our hands to destroy our species and our planet. Intriguingly, Joy suggests that we could also create animate, robotic or hybrid forms usually called life forms, but we ought to think of them equally as death forms that in effect constitute a successor species , no more related to homo sapiens than Neanderthal, or, indeed, a simian of 5 or 50 million years ago. Contemplating such a possibility, some declare their delight, while many others shrug their shoulders. I am in neither camp.
Biological evolution represents change but by no means always desirable change.
In this instance, again unprecedented, the change could in significant measure be intentional. That is, as a species, we have at least some say in the possibility of our own demise. Like many social analysts, Joy may appear stronger on critique than on cure. He knows that it is hard to stanch human curiosity the classical images of Prometheus, the forbidden fruit of knowledge and Pandora s box loom large. He draws inspiration from ancient practices, like the Hippocratic oath, and from contemporary spirits, like the Dalai Lama.