The power of the human brain
The human brain is outperforming every technical device available to date. It is the most complex organ in our bodies, comprised of 100 billion nerve cells, each having 1000 to 10000 connections to other brain cells on average. Despite advancements and successes in brain research in the last years it is still not fully known how our memory works and how exactly the brain does what it does. However, it is clear, that one of the most important capacities of the brain, is its ability to learn.
By learning how to speak different languages, learning how to build a car or how to use electricity our brain allows us to adapt to our environment, to simplify our life und makes us the top of the evolution. Equipped with our superweapon brain, humankind solved many scientific, economic and social problems.
The discovery of X-rays did not only improve the diagnosis of broken bones and tuberculosis, it is additionally used in cancer therapy to destroy malignant tumours. Equally, the discovery of radioactivity led to nuclear power plants, producing our electricity. If we use the power of our brains properly, we might have the ability to solve every mystery, to simplify our live wherever we can. At least, we are trying to.
Discovering CRISPR led genetic engineering to the next level by making it possible to fight hereditary diseases or even HIV and cancer and repairing genetic defects. Our brains created artificial intelligence, addressing automating intelligent behaviour and machine learning. Artificial intelligence is not only used in smartphones and driverless cars, but also in medical diagnostics.
The implementation of these techniques are results of our brains’ work. We truly posses the power of making the world a better place. Unfortunately, we also posses the power of destroying ourselves and our world because our brains can convert every technique into a weapon.
Accordingly, X-rays were used for abortions and forced sterilization during the Nazi era in Germany, the knowledge of nuclear power was and is misused to build atomic weapons. In an attempt to stop the design of babies and experimentation on human embryos the discoverers of CRISPR pled for an international agreement of researchers. Misusing of CRISPR means violations of ethical and moral principles of science. However, those principles seem to founder first.
Our brains’ ability of exploration of matter and to learn is our greatest asset. Nevertheless, exactly this asset needs to be tamed sometimes and must not fall in the hands of someone with misled intentions. Otherwise we might be the only species blowing itself out because our superweapon brain was not used accordingly to our values and human nature but utilized to nurse egotism and to divide humankind.
We should always remember to apply technical or scientific accomplishments in a way that proves beneficial to every human being on earth in accordance with the values making us human, instead of causing harm or suffering.
