Human 2.0: The coming age of upgrading minds
Earlier this year I wrote about mental performance enhancing drugs, an area of interest and research that is exploding like plastics a few decades prior. The allure of it is simply too great; who wouldn’t want to be smarter, more able to focus, more efficient at getting things done? A significant fraction of each day is completely wasted for me; imagine if I was able to use all of that time solely for productive endeavors like writing and programming?
Back in high school and early college I was on ADD drugs (with a doctor’s supervision, of course). I can definitely say that they worked, but they also had rather unpleasant side effects. It felt like I was barreling through each day at an uncomfortably rapid pace. In the end, I decided I’d rather just be myself. I made it through college with a respectable GPA, having survived some severe procrastination crises that I’m sure the drugs would’ve helped. Even now at my job I get the haunting suspicion that I could be a lot more focused, and thus get things done more quickly, with ADD medication. Luckily caffeine is a decent substitute. And I do think most humans have some “form” of ADD; our brains simply weren’t wired by evolution for the kinds of things we use them for in every day working life, and there is so much room for improvement.
So imagine my fascination when I read about one man’s experimental usage of Provigil, an anti-narcolepsy medication that also has the amazing effect of making people smarter (and without any speedy side-effects). Go read about his experiences and ask yourself if it doesn’t sound appealing. If someone handed you a bottle of Provigil, could you resist the urge to try it out? I know I would try it, but I’m kind of afraid of finding out how productive I can really be.
The first stage of humanity, what really separated us from the rest of the animals, was when we developed the ability to hack our environment. Then, through science, medicine, and good-old fashioned body body modification, we started hacking our bodies. The next stage in human-lead human evolution will be hacking our minds. We’re just on the cusp of a revolutionary break-through in this area. Imagine how society will change when the average person will be able to afford mind upgrades to Einstein-levels of genius! The pills we have now are but a first step.
And don’t say we shouldn’t do it. Our present human society is built on a sturdy foundation of violating as many natural constraints as possible (think surgery, medicine, air conditioning, and laws). Surpassing the constraints on the mind is just the next step.
May 16th, 2008 at 13:19
Someone on Slashdot commented that Provigil is apparently a safer drug than caffeine. Take that with more than a grain of salt, of course. This is also the point usual point in the discussion when I bring up Paul Erdos’ regular use of amphetamines, although his mind was rather unusual to begin with.
As for “severe procrastination crises,” well, welcome to being a college student. There’s no doubt that there are drugs, like the ones for ADD, that will improve things in the short-term. But I’m more curious about the long-term effects. Some of these are pretty well known for Ritalin/Adderall, etc., due to their chemical similarities with speed. What happens in ten years if a regular person keeps using Provigil every day, and then stops or can’t get it any more? Are they curled up in a ball in the corner? That is to say, are the repercussions of discontinuation too strong to justify voluntary dependence?
Put another way — I find that I often think more clearly when I’m exercising regularly and keeping a good sleep schedule (even as my body tells me to stay up late, sit on the couch, etc.). If I stop exercising and go to McDonald’s every day, I’m still going to be functional for quite a while before those cheeseburgers catch up to me. Moreover, this health regimen improves my overall well-being, which will probably have long-term benefits; the health of body and mind are rather hard to separate. It’s not clear that body hacking has that kind of benefit yet for those of us with decently functional bodies already, at least until the long-term repercussions are known.
Don’t get me wrong, I think that we will get there eventually, but today’s systemic drugs often target one body mechanism at the expense of many others. I saw a report recently that over half the insured population of the US is on a prescription drug at any given time, so, clearly, the stigma is going down. The big, and very valid, remaining concern is how these drugs affect our personality, both positively and negatively; would a Prozac nation end war or just allow society to fall apart?
May 19th, 2008 at 13:10
This sounds eerily like chapter one of a flawed-utopian novel.
Realistically, some people are always willing to take risks–sometimes very large risks– to get ahead. There is no doubt in my mind that many people will be willing to risk their health and sanity to gain focus and IQ. With that said, many side effects of drugs do not manifest themselves for decades. Even with FDA approval and the benefit of careful physicians there is no telling how drastic the fall out from rampant use of these drugs could be.
Simply put- it is highly likely that in the near future humans will have to choose between a life full of the health risks that come with drug use or a second rate brain.
…not a decision I look forward to.
May 20th, 2008 at 06:40
I’m happy to know about the existence of this drug not because it may make you smarter, but because I am fairly certain I am narcoleptic. I didn’t think there was anything they could do for you, so I haven’t talked to a doctor. Conveniently, Japan’s health care system will pay 70% of anything right off, so I should be able to get my hands on some of this stuff without too much trouble. Assuming it’s not considered a recreational drug here or something.
May 20th, 2008 at 10:29
No! Bad William! You’re not allowed to use this drug for what it’s intended for!