Experimenting Throughout the Ages

With new discoveries come new technologies and procedures that have the ability to extend or improve human life. The belief of humanity being affected by science is called Transhumanism. They also believe that any discovery can have an affect on humans as a whole. In Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dr. Jekyll also does some human experimentation. He even goes as far as to make a potion to create a whole new entity to house his evil, devious side in to et out all of his desires, but still remain a proper Victorian gentleman. Not all human experimentation is beneficial, though. The advancement of new technologies such as life-extension strategies, the experimenting of human genetics, and the refusal to believe that not all change is progress pose consistent threats to humanity.
Both Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and the Transhumanist organization believe in the idea of life-extension activities. Dr. Jekyll used it to be able to still do the activities he did when he was young by making Hyde young. He was an old man, and he could not do a lot of the things Hyde was doing, not only because they were socially unacceptable, but also because they were too exerting and strenuous on his old body. He was younger and had less strain on his joints, so he was able to do more. And this way, he could be the old Victorian man he was and be polite, but also be a younger rebel that did crimes when he was stressed, or just felt like it. This all led to Jekyll being able to create the perfect creation to do his dirty work and get his desires out, while still keeping his reputation, and himself, alive. If he got caught doing these crimes, the public would surely have him tried and most likely killed for what Hyde did. So Jekyll created Hyde to keep himself alive.
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...change is progress. Although human generic engineering can have positive effects, and it truly does work, it can have negative side affects and could greatly affect humanity. Using life-extension strategies can be helpful, but only if they are used correctly and not in a way that will endanger the human species. One can use them to try to keep loved ones alive as well as make sure people appreciate the good moments in life, as well as keep ones reputation alive, as was in Dr. Jekyll’s case. With the developments of new technology, it is important to understand the side effects it can have on humanity and our future.

Works Cited

Stevenson, Robert Louis. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. New York, New York: Bantam Dell, 1981. Print.
"Transhumanist FAQ." Humanity+ Transhumanist FAQ Comments. Web. 25 Feb. 2014.
"Transhumanist Values." Transhumanist Values. Web. 25 Feb. 2014.