http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2008/01/05/futurist-therapy-what-role-will-therapy-have-in-a-post-human-future/ <<exploring healthy therapy & counseling>> Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:06:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2008/01/05/futurist-therapy-what-role-will-therapy-have-in-a-post-human-future/#comment-5987 Greg Madison Sat, 19 Jan 2008 15:35:40 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2008/01/05/futurist-therapy-what-role-will-therapy-have-in-a-post-human-future/#comment-5987 Hello All. Very interesting reactions to my article. I also find these prophecies of the future to be quite unsettling and disturbing. Then I ask myself 'why?'. What am I afraid of losing? I studied with an old Norwegian philosopher, Herman Tennessen, who wrote an article in the mid-1970s entitled 'Language and the Dying of Death' in which he argued that 'in principle' humans might soon live forever (in practical terms of course there may be unforeseen insurmountable obstacles). His concern was that our way of thinking and the assumptions built into our language would prevent us from seeing clearly the new choices we will encounter. We are facing a new world but trapped in old thinking. Indeed an interesting and unsettling time to be alive. Greg Madison Hello All.
Very interesting reactions to my article. I also find these prophecies of the future to be quite unsettling and disturbing. Then I ask myself ‘why?’. What am I afraid of losing? I studied with an old Norwegian philosopher, Herman Tennessen, who wrote an article in the mid-1970s entitled ‘Language and the Dying of Death’ in which he argued that ‘in principle’ humans might soon live forever (in practical terms of course there may be unforeseen insurmountable obstacles). His concern was that our way of thinking and the assumptions built into our language would prevent us from seeing clearly the new choices we will encounter. We are facing a new world but trapped in old thinking. Indeed an interesting and unsettling time to be alive. Greg Madison

]]> http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2008/01/05/futurist-therapy-what-role-will-therapy-have-in-a-post-human-future/#comment-5773 avery Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:46:33 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2008/01/05/futurist-therapy-what-role-will-therapy-have-in-a-post-human-future/#comment-5773 I find this whole blog to be very disturbing. I do like the illusion of control I have over my life. It seems like this sort of "living" would create a lot of chaos which is far from appealing to me. I hope none of this happens and we can remain fully human. Yes, we have pain and sorrows, but I think that it would be a mistake to lose that sense of ourselves. On the other hand, there may be a more vested interest in taking care of the planet. Suddenly, some of the predicted environmental tragedies won't seem so far off. Instead, it is something we will have to deal with. By the way, where will everyone live? I find this whole blog to be very disturbing. I do like the illusion of control I have over my life. It seems like this sort of “living” would create a lot of chaos which is far from appealing to me. I hope none of this happens and we can remain fully human. Yes, we have pain and sorrows, but I think that it would be a mistake to lose that sense of ourselves. On the other hand, there may be a more vested interest in taking care of the planet. Suddenly, some of the predicted environmental tragedies won’t seem so far off. Instead, it is something we will have to deal with. By the way, where will everyone live?

]]> http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2008/01/05/futurist-therapy-what-role-will-therapy-have-in-a-post-human-future/#comment-5771 Christie Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:44:01 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2008/01/05/futurist-therapy-what-role-will-therapy-have-in-a-post-human-future/#comment-5771 As I read the section on the possibility of curing basically any human malady and living forever, I was struck by a thought. What effect will this type of change have on crime? I wonder whether the rate of crime will go up or down. If we live forever, will some people become hopeless? Many in destitute circumstances find great comfort in religion and the after life. If there is no after life promised, how will these people deal with their circumstances? Or, will they see that they have more than a lifetime to create a better reality for themselves? It seems that the oppressed might be ones lining up for the death option. I guess that's where the new types of therapy come into play! As I read the section on the possibility of curing basically any human malady and living forever, I was struck by a thought. What effect will this type of change have on crime? I wonder whether the rate of crime will go up or down. If we live forever, will some people become hopeless? Many in destitute circumstances find great comfort in religion and the after life. If there is no after life promised, how will these people deal with their circumstances? Or, will they see that they have more than a lifetime to create a better reality for themselves? It seems that the oppressed might be ones lining up for the death option. I guess that’s where the new types of therapy come into play!

]]> http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2008/01/05/futurist-therapy-what-role-will-therapy-have-in-a-post-human-future/#comment-5769 Heidi Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:40:48 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2008/01/05/futurist-therapy-what-role-will-therapy-have-in-a-post-human-future/#comment-5769 Yes, time will certainly tell! I personally don't think our world will be unrecognizable in ten years. I do think that the face of psychotherapy will have to change in order to keep with the times. But, as with any profession, continuing ed courses will be developed as needed by those who have expert knowledge and experience in the area in question. I don't think there is a need to panic about what lies ahead for the human race. I personally think we believe the extent of our control over these matters to be much greater than they really are. Yes, time will certainly tell! I personally don’t think our world will be unrecognizable in ten years. I do think that the face of psychotherapy will have to change in order to keep with the times. But, as with any profession, continuing ed courses will be developed as needed by those who have expert knowledge and experience in the area in question. I don’t think there is a need to panic about what lies ahead for the human race. I personally think we believe the extent of our control over these matters to be much greater than they really are.

]]> http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2008/01/05/futurist-therapy-what-role-will-therapy-have-in-a-post-human-future/#comment-5767 Laura Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:38:25 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2008/01/05/futurist-therapy-what-role-will-therapy-have-in-a-post-human-future/#comment-5767 That was an extremely interesting article. A lot of good points were made. But, I'm sure there are some major holes in some of these futuristic theories. Do you really think we can or ever will be able to alter a person's feelings? I guess we know what area of the brain is responsible for the feeling and what the brain does when it has that feeling. But, I just don't know if we can change it all that much. I guess only time will tell... That was an extremely interesting article. A lot of good points were made. But, I’m sure there are some major holes in some of these futuristic theories. Do you really think we can or ever will be able to alter a person’s feelings? I guess we know what area of the brain is responsible for the feeling and what the brain does when it has that feeling. But, I just don’t know if we can change it all that much. I guess only time will tell…

]]>