‘Digital dust’
A foray into the poetry of transhumanism
Now for something completely different – at least for BioEdge: bioethics-inspired poetry. Johann Roduit sent us some thoughts in verse about “enhancement, transhumanism, immortality … “ Dr Roduit is Managing Director of the Institute of Biomedical Ethics and History of Medicine, at the University of Zurich, in Switzerland.
Responses? Comments?
Digital dust
A creature of clay. I am
Shattered so easily.
Delicate dust,
Facing Pompeii's destiny.
A man of steel. I desire
An artificial heart.
Simulated soul,
Chasing the philosopher’s stone.
A ghost in a shell. I become
Deprived of my flesh.
Digital dust,
Dissolving under Icarus’ sun.
A creature of steel. I remain
Fragile undoubtedly.
Digital death,
Hoping for the Potter’s breath.
“Digital Dust” was first published in the journal Medical Humanities.
Copyright
https://www.bioedge.org/images/2008images/FB_digital_dust.jpg
immortality
poetry
transhumanism
- How long can you put off seeing the doctor because of lockdowns? - December 3, 2021
- House of Lords debates assisted suicide—again - October 28, 2021
- Spanish government tries to restrict conscientious objection - October 28, 2021
More Stories
Assisted suicide numbers in Oregon continue to rise
In 1997, Oregon became the first jurisdiction to legalise physician-assisted suicide for people with a terminally illness. Since then numbers have increased...
Belgian softens penalties for illegal euthanasia deaths
Belgian doctors can be prosecuted if they administer euthanasia without regard to the specified conditions. But however serious the infraction...
What does the world’s ‘low-fertility’ future look like?
Decades of fretting about over-population and encouraging contraception and abortion have succeeded. But the dream of zero population growth has...
Contradictory attitudes towards people with Down syndrome
March 21st was World Down Syndrome day. The event is supposed to foster awareness of Trisomy 21, as the condition...
The Gambia on track to reverse ban on female genital mutilation
In the United States, Australia, and Europe there can be no cause more popular, more humane, and more progressive than...
Some Americans are disposing of their costly frozen embryos
The cost of storing frozen embryos is steadily rising in the United States, prompting some people to have them destroyed....