If given the choice I would choose the brain to be improved.
My reasoning for this is that our brain is our control centre. What I mean is that our brain controls almost all of our bodies functions apart from those governed by the peripheral nervous system. The brain also is the reason for human creativity, ingenuity and individuality. Even with today's advanced medicine the brain is one of the only organs that we cannot transplant. Improving it would mean that we could think faster and more efficiently. Every single person could be the brightest mind leading to a rapid increase in humanities technological and biological developments. Furthermore having a better brain would mean that we could rapidly progress to improving the rest of the body. Without a brain we can’t think and with a better brain we can think better, be smarter, think bigger. Imagine if every single person was as smart as Einstein. However turning the brain into the universe’s ultimate computer is not without its downsides. With every single person being as smart as each other we would in a way loose our identity. For many being a genius is what defines them. Conversely being less intelligent is what makes a person unique for a multitude of reasons.
The education system would have to be completely reformed. In theory we would all be getting the same test scores so how could society rationally allow every single person to do what it is they desire? Undoubtedly there is a real possibility that this higher intelligence could be industrialised or privatised. It may have to be payed for or earned and this leads to countless ethical and moral dilemmas as to who has control. This then leads to who would have the right to decide the best way to allow every single person to have this higher brain ability. In line with current political dogma we would elect or choose someone or conversely have one chosen for us. In reality though, even with the best intentions, no single individual would be given the right to dispense this power because knowledge is power. At best this question is one for society. Factors such as humanity, morality and ethics would have to be considered. A selected leader would have to consider the impact this higher intelligence would have on the broader society. Is there a way to categorise those who are deemed worthy or unworthy of this intellectual gift? Ultimately it will come down to a leader or leaders making hard choices. Society will have to endure the consequences
I'm sure that as you read this you believe that something else which makes us tick is more worthy of augmentation. Truly the brain is my preference but there is equal argument to enhance the heart so it never stops or the arms and legs so we have super strength. A very real future proposed by human augmentation is one where we no longer are closely related to our organic relatives but to our human computer.
Here is an interesting article on the subject and i urge you to read it if their blog post has sparked your curiosity on the subject.
On a side note if you want to, please make a comment below on what you would choose to augment and why. Thank you!
