Will we uplift other species to sapience? Consider whether humanity might someday... or even should... meddle in other creatures on this planet and bestow upon them the debatable gift of full sapience -- the ability to argue, ponder, store information, appraise, discuss, create, express and manipulate tools, so that they might join us in the problematic task of being worthy planetary managers. Some other authors (e.g. H.G. Wells, Pierre Boule, Mary Shelley, and Cordwainer Smith) dealt with this general concept before, but always by assuming the process would be abused -- that the humans bestowing this boon would spoil things by enslaving their clients of creations. Of course that is one possible (and despicable) outcome. Those were good warning stories with wholesome messages. But I wondered -- what if we someday begin modifying higher animals -- and I think we clearly will -- guided by the morality of modern liberal society? Filled with hyper-tolerance and eager for diversity? My uplift novels portray a future in which sapient dolphins and apes serve on our councils, offer their own styles of wisdom, art and insight, enriching an Earth civilization that is no longer only human. Its an attractive outcome... ...but the path to get there is fraught with dangers and moral hazards.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 16:41:38 +0000
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