So, apparently scientists are really close to creating what they call “artificial life.”  What does this mean exactly?  Basically, a synthetic cell of artificial life created out of the same materials in DNA - in other words, microscopic life, not mail-order blonde artificial life brides.

I bring this up because of two collective issues:  it’s important, and it might happen soon.  If this actually does happen in the time frame they say it will, what does that mean for humanity?  Here are my stabs at it:

• Artificial life has the obvious moral issues about whether or not we’re playing God.  But what does “playing God” mean?  Does it mean that we shouldn’t venture into the unknown?  If everyone believed that, then they should think we shouldn’t have iPhones or bows and arrows, either.  Does it mean that we have no right to create life without it being procreation?  What you think about this will probably depend on the fundamental beliefs you’re already bringing to the table.
• Artificial life could lead to synthetic humans.  Would product testing on these synthetic humans be ethical?  Would farm-grown humans have souls, or would they be like crash-test dummies?
• What if the artificial life evolves into a superrace that rises up and destroys us, along with all of the A.I.-proficient robots?

Part of me wants to not deal with these questions and just plead “ignorance.”  But if we have these issues arising in the next three to ten years, we’ll have to form solid opinions on them, just like some of our political beliefs.

So I’m posing this question as a poll attached to the thread for this post (at our political forums).  Would synthetic humans have souls, or could we treat them with total disrespect?

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