freeradical, I agree with your premise that unless we evolve we, as a species seem destined to extinction through selfishness and ignorance.
I disagree with the synopsis though that 'Which is why we have to intelligently design our ourselves beyond humanity as we know it. That is, we must merge with our machines so as to evolve into truly rational beings, beings driven first and foremost by reason, so that our emotional lives can extend beyond the "getting and spending" by which we "lay waste our powers —' merging with machines as opposed to merging with nature, merging with our communities, merging our brain hemispheres, merging with our own inner selves. There are many options when it comes to evolving and personally I would rather merge with the energy of the ocean or my own community, transforming ourselves and the world around us through contributive interactions, taking steps on the evolutionary path naked and real, with heart and mind.
I liked the article though and grok the transhumanist attraction, looking to get fixed from outside ourselves. Its kind of like thinking religion can fix us, or the aliens are going to fix us..... I believe we are who we have been waiting for....... with respect, oc