I’ve only lost my body once. I was thirteen, four days into a weeklong trip to the East Coast with my eighth-grade class. We’d just visited the Liberty Bell, I think, and my friends had already gathered in the back row of the Peter Pan bus that would take us to our next destination. We’d all stayed up late the night before, and I was exhausted, half-sleepwalking down the bus aisle. My friend Carly stood with her back to me. That morning, she’d borrowed my shirt. Seeing her from behind, in my clothes, slouching the way all teen girls do, I suddenly felt as though I was standing behind myself.
I enjoyed the piece but I wonder about this line: "This “neural resource allocation problem” may prevent us from ever becoming cyborgs." Here I am thinking about the work of disabled scholars and theorists who identify as cyborgs already (such as Jillian Weise): https://www.wired.com/story/cyborg-brain-mind-pandemic-philosophy/
Good point—"cyborg" may be the wrong word. Thanks for the reference. Although our brains may not be able to take on additional limbs without sacrificing control of existing limbs, there seems to be quite a bit of cognitive flexibility when it comes to what form those existing limbs can take, so long as the input they provide our brains plugs into existing sensorimotor loops. I get into that a little in the Pioneer Works piece—the idea of "soft" embodiment. Still lots more to learn though.
I enjoyed the piece but I wonder about this line: "This “neural resource allocation problem” may prevent us from ever becoming cyborgs." Here I am thinking about the work of disabled scholars and theorists who identify as cyborgs already (such as Jillian Weise): https://www.wired.com/story/cyborg-brain-mind-pandemic-philosophy/
Good point—"cyborg" may be the wrong word. Thanks for the reference. Although our brains may not be able to take on additional limbs without sacrificing control of existing limbs, there seems to be quite a bit of cognitive flexibility when it comes to what form those existing limbs can take, so long as the input they provide our brains plugs into existing sensorimotor loops. I get into that a little in the Pioneer Works piece—the idea of "soft" embodiment. Still lots more to learn though.
no prob and definitely super interesting topic! very interesting newsletter, as always!