Human Evolution
In 2045, an unprecedented disaster struck as the moon unexpectedly veered off its orbit, triggering global tornado attacks that lasted for three agonizing years. The relentless onslaught not only devastated the environment supporting life, but also claimed innumerable human lives. Shockingly, 66% of the human population succumbed to the destructive forces, while the remaining 34% endured various degrees of injury. The world was forever changed as communities grappled with the aftermath of this catastrophic event, facing the somber reality of loss, survival, and the daunting task of rebuilding what was once familiar.
Undoubtedly, the disaster dealt a devastating blow to humanity. However, in the face of adversity, people united as one, setting aside discrimination, economic disparities, and national boundaries. Survival and fighting against the tornadoes became the primary focus. To withstand the fierce winds and repair the physical damage caused by the tornadoes, ingenious mechanical limbs and organs with low energy loss and high efficiency were invented.
Intelligent mechanical limbs and organs offered several advantages over natural cells - they were easier to control and fix. Unlike natural cells, an intelligent machinery body wouldn't experience pain itself, but it would transmit data on the degree of pain to its host's mind, allowing them to gauge the level of danger and discomfort. The ultimate goal was to minimize or eliminate pain altogether. As a result, over time, humans embraced this technological evolution, opting to replace body parts and organs with intelligent machinery in pursuit of a pain-free existence.
However, just as humans thought their lives would continue in this new normal, an unexpected event occurred. On March 14, 2048, the moon miraculously returned to its original orbit, bringing an end to the disastrous tornado attacks. As the tornadoes subsided, the world slowly began to heal, with trees, grass, and flowers regaining their lush vitality. The disaster seemed to be over, but an unforeseen consequence emerged - the once united human society began to splinter into two distinct factions.
One faction strongly advocated for the development of an intelligent machinery body, viewing it as the natural evolution of humanity. They believed that relying on nature's gifts had its limitations, and the moon's deviating orbit presented an opportunity for humans to become independent and embrace human-made advancements. With the matured science and technology of the machinery body, humans could implant chips of their minds, allowing control through thought. The durable and strong machinery body rendered the nature-made body obsolete, while preserving the essence of human life. In their view, this transition represented a progressive step, where humans were still alive, but now with the potential for enhanced capabilities and a liberated future.
Another faction strongly opposed developing an intelligent machinery body, arguing that it wouldn't be truly human. They emphasized the clear distinctions between humans and machines - human bodies could grow and adapt with skins, bones, organs, muscles, and a circulatory system that allowed for expansion. In contrast, machines were limited to fixed components like chips, currents, and metals, unable to experience organic growth but instead updated through component replacements. The faction believed that loading human minds into machines could give them thoughts and consciousness, blurring the line between artificial and human intelligence. They feared the reign of artificial intelligences, created by humans, would lead to the extinction of true humanity. The ethical implications weighed heavily on their minds as they grappled with the consequences of their actions.
Which path will humanity choose, and what will be the outcome of this momentous decision? Only time will tell how the future unfolds and what it holds for the evolution of humanity.