A Human or Not?

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In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of replacing human body parts with mechanical devices or non-organics and how much of a human's body can be replaced before they are no longer considered human. The idea of what makes someone human is subjective and may vary from person to person. The Turing test is mentioned as a way to determine if a computer can be considered human. The importance of retaining memories is also brought up. However, the legal status of personhood does not currently consider prosthetic replacement and this topic may require speculation on future technologies. The thread is then closed.
  • #1
JulieVA
How much of a human's body can be replaced with mechanical devices / non organics before the human is no longer considered human?

Which parts of a human's body must remain organic for a human to still be considered human?
 
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  • #2
This is really a subjective question, what one person thinks is human another might say is not and perhaps in the future will be coded into law.

The Turing test comes to mind which means a computer that passes the test could be considered human, right?

However if someone were to see the computer then only if it looks human, has human-like skin and hair and acts like a human then we would view it as human.

Back to your question, my guess is if the person retained his brain and memories then he/she would still be considered human although recently I read an article where the heart plays a major role in providing input to the brain so it may be needed too. Now you could dice the brain down to smaller components as long as the memories were retained then the person would still be a person which then brings you to a computer that can retain your memories.

So in the end, maybe its our memories that make us human no matter what hardware or wetware technology is used.
 
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  • #3
The legal status of personhood doesn't bother to take into account prosthetic replacement. As the amount of biological components we can replace is pretty small (and replace effectively is practically nil) this topic would require us to speculate on technologies that are nowhere near the horizon, which I'm afraid isn't a suitable topic.

Thread closed.
 

1. What is a human?

A human is a member of the species Homo sapiens, characterized by advanced cognitive abilities, bipedal locomotion, and a large brain relative to body size.

2. How are humans different from other animals?

Humans are different from other animals in several ways, including their ability to use language and tools, their advanced cognitive abilities, and their complex social structures.

3. Are there any physical characteristics that distinguish humans from non-human primates?

Yes, there are several physical characteristics that distinguish humans from non-human primates, including an upright posture, opposable thumbs, and a relatively hairless body.

4. Is there a definitive line between humans and non-human animals?

No, there is no definitive line between humans and non-human animals. The evolution of human characteristics and abilities has been a gradual process, and there is much overlap between humans and other animals.

5. Can a human have non-human characteristics?

No, a human cannot have non-human characteristics. However, there is much variation within the human species, and individuals may exhibit different physical or behavioral traits, but they are still considered fully human.

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