Biological uplift
Encyclopedia
In science fiction
, uplift is the development or transformation of animals into an intelligent race by other, already-intelligent beings. The concept appears in David Brin
's Uplift series
and other science fiction works.
' novel The Island of Doctor Moreau
(1896), in which the eponymous scientist transforms animals into horrifying parodies of men through surgery and psychological torment. The resulting animal-people obsessively recite the Law, a series of prohibitions against reversion to animal behaviors, with the haunting refrain of "Are we not men?" Wells' novel reflects Victorian concerns about vivisection
and of the power of unrestrained scientific experimentation to do terrible harm.
Another well-known early literary example can be found in the underpeople of Cordwainer Smith
's Instrumentality of Mankind
series. In Smith's universe, the underpeople were created from animals through unexplained technological means explicitly to be servants of humanity, and are often treated as less than slaves by the society that uses them. However, Smith's characterizations of individual underpeople are frequently quite sympathetic, and one of his most memorable characters is C'Mell, the cat-woman who appears in The Ballad of Lost C'Mell
(1962) and Norstrilia
(1975).
David Brin has stated that his Uplift universe
was written at least in part in response to the common assumption in earlier science fiction such as Smith's work and Planet of the Apes that uplifted animals would, or even should, be treated as possessions rather than people. As a result, a significant part of the conflict in the series revolves around the differing policies of Galactics and humans toward their client races. Galactic races traditionally hold their uplifted "clients" in a hundred-millennium-long indenture
, during which the "patrons" have extensive rights and claims over clients' lives and labor power. In contrast, humans have given their uplifted dolphin
s and chimpanzee
s near-equal civil rights
, with a few legal and economic disabilities related to their unfinished state.
In the universe of Mass Effect
, it is implied that in permissive regions on Earth, in the early 22nd Century, it was quite common to uplift animal species and even have custom-built lifeforms, but that this practice was eventually outlawed over the ethical questions raised by such acts. Roughly a millennia before the events of the first game the Salarians uplifted the Krogan, who were at the time living on the nuclear-ravaged Tuchanka, to fight against the aggressive Rachni. The Drell were uplifted from the industrial stage by the Hanar when some of them were saved by catastrophic climate changes on their homeworld. At the end of Mass Effect 2
, Commander Shepard is asked by the Illusive Man to acquire Collector technology in order to uplift humanity so that they may use it to fight the Reapers.
2001: A Space Odyssey implies at least cultural uplift if not outright biological uplift of humanity by the monoliths
. The novel's sequels imply that, later, life forms indigenous to Europa
are uplifted by the same alien technological artifacts.
Dean Koontz's
1987 novel Watchers
deals with genetic engineering that uplifts a Golden Retriever
named "Einstein" to near-human intelligence for the purpose of espionage
. In a separate experiment, a hominid creature with near-human intelligence and crude language ability is also engineered, destined for potential use as a guard or attack creature.
In a similar manner to 2001: A Space Odyssey, players in the game Spore
can use monoliths to uplift species for fun or for other purposes. In the space opera
webcomic Schlock Mercenary
, humans have uplifted elephants and gorillas, who appear to enjoy equal social status to other species.
In Race For The Galaxy
, uplift is a major theme. Some cards have "UPLIFT" highlighted in the title and can help score points and achieve goals. Designer Tom Lehmann attributes the inspiration for uplift from David Brin's Uplift series.
In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
, the Founders, a shapeshifting species that founded the Dominion
, genetically engineered the formerly primitive Vorta
into an intelligent species who then served as Dominion
administrators and politicians.
Season One of the TV series Eureka
includes a genetically modified dog named "Lojack" who is said to have an IQ of 130.
Several UFO cults including Raelianism believe that humanity was biologically uplifted in the past or will be uplifted in the future. The Urantia Book claims Adam and Eve were beings whose job it was to biologically uplift humanity.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, uplift is the development or transformation of animals into an intelligent race by other, already-intelligent beings. The concept appears in David Brin
David Brin
Glen David Brin, Ph.D. is an American scientist and award-winning author of science fiction. He has received the Hugo, Locus, Campbell and Nebula Awards.-Biography:...
's Uplift series
Uplift Universe
The Uplift Universe is a fictional universe created by science fiction writer David Brin. A central feature in this universe is the process of biological uplift.His books which take place in this universe:* Sundiver...
and other science fiction works.
History of the concept
The concept can be traced to H. G. WellsH. G. Wells
Herbert George Wells was an English author, now best known for his work in the science fiction genre. He was also a prolific writer in many other genres, including contemporary novels, history, politics and social commentary, even writing text books and rules for war games...
' novel The Island of Doctor Moreau
The Island of Doctor Moreau
The Island of Doctor Moreau is an 1896 science fiction novel written by H. G. Wells. It is told from the point of view of a man named Edward Prendick who is shipwrecked, rescued by a passing boat, and then left at the ship's destination by the crew along with the ship's cargo of exotic animals...
(1896), in which the eponymous scientist transforms animals into horrifying parodies of men through surgery and psychological torment. The resulting animal-people obsessively recite the Law, a series of prohibitions against reversion to animal behaviors, with the haunting refrain of "Are we not men?" Wells' novel reflects Victorian concerns about vivisection
Vivisection
Vivisection is defined as surgery conducted for experimental purposes on a living organism, typically animals with a central nervous system, to view living internal structure...
and of the power of unrestrained scientific experimentation to do terrible harm.
Another well-known early literary example can be found in the underpeople of Cordwainer Smith
Cordwainer Smith
Cordwainer Smith – pronounced CORDwainer – was the pseudonym used by American author Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger for his science fiction works. Linebarger was a noted East Asia scholar and expert in psychological warfare...
's Instrumentality of Mankind
Instrumentality of Mankind
In the science fiction of Cordwainer Smith, the Instrumentality of Mankind refers both to Smith's personal future history and universe and to the central government of humanity...
series. In Smith's universe, the underpeople were created from animals through unexplained technological means explicitly to be servants of humanity, and are often treated as less than slaves by the society that uses them. However, Smith's characterizations of individual underpeople are frequently quite sympathetic, and one of his most memorable characters is C'Mell, the cat-woman who appears in The Ballad of Lost C'Mell
The Ballad of Lost C'Mell
"The Ballad of Lost C'Mell" is a science fiction short story by American writer Cordwainer Smith. It was first published in October 1962 in Galaxy Magazine, and since reprinted in several compilations and omnibus editions....
(1962) and Norstrilia
Norstrilia
Norstrilia is the only novel published by Paul Linebarger under the pseudonym Cordwainer Smith, which he used for his science-fiction works...
(1975).
David Brin has stated that his Uplift universe
Uplift Universe
The Uplift Universe is a fictional universe created by science fiction writer David Brin. A central feature in this universe is the process of biological uplift.His books which take place in this universe:* Sundiver...
was written at least in part in response to the common assumption in earlier science fiction such as Smith's work and Planet of the Apes that uplifted animals would, or even should, be treated as possessions rather than people. As a result, a significant part of the conflict in the series revolves around the differing policies of Galactics and humans toward their client races. Galactic races traditionally hold their uplifted "clients" in a hundred-millennium-long indenture
Indenture
An indenture is a legal contract reflecting a debt or purchase obligation, specifically referring to two types of practices: in historical usage, an indentured servant status, and in modern usage, an instrument used for commercial debt or real estate transaction.-Historical usage:An indenture is a...
, during which the "patrons" have extensive rights and claims over clients' lives and labor power. In contrast, humans have given their uplifted dolphin
Dolphin
Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from and , up to and . They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating...
s and chimpanzee
Chimpanzee
Chimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:...
s near-equal civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
, with a few legal and economic disabilities related to their unfinished state.
In the universe of Mass Effect
Mass Effect
Mass Effect is an action role-playing game developed by BioWare for the Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows by Demiurge Studios. The Xbox 360 version was released worldwide in November 2007 published by Microsoft Game Studios...
, it is implied that in permissive regions on Earth, in the early 22nd Century, it was quite common to uplift animal species and even have custom-built lifeforms, but that this practice was eventually outlawed over the ethical questions raised by such acts. Roughly a millennia before the events of the first game the Salarians uplifted the Krogan, who were at the time living on the nuclear-ravaged Tuchanka, to fight against the aggressive Rachni. The Drell were uplifted from the industrial stage by the Hanar when some of them were saved by catastrophic climate changes on their homeworld. At the end of Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 is an action role-playing game developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The game was released for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 on January 26, 2010 and for PlayStation 3 on January 18, 2011...
, Commander Shepard is asked by the Illusive Man to acquire Collector technology in order to uplift humanity so that they may use it to fight the Reapers.
2001: A Space Odyssey implies at least cultural uplift if not outright biological uplift of humanity by the monoliths
The Monolith
Monoliths are fictional advanced machines built by an unseen extraterrestrial species that appear in Arthur C. Clarke's Space Odyssey series of novels and films....
. The novel's sequels imply that, later, life forms indigenous to Europa
Europa (moon)
Europa Slightly smaller than Earth's Moon, Europa is primarily made of silicate rock and probably has an iron core. It has a tenuous atmosphere composed primarily of oxygen. Its surface is composed of ice and is one of the smoothest in the Solar System. This surface is striated by cracks and...
are uplifted by the same alien technological artifacts.
Dean Koontz's
Dean Koontz
Dean Ray Koontz is a prolific American author best known for his novels which could be described broadly as suspense thrillers. He also frequently incorporates elements of horror, science fiction, mystery, and satire. A number of his books have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List, with...
1987 novel Watchers
Watchers (novel)
Watchers is a 1987 suspense novel by American author, Dean Koontz. Along with Strangers, Lightning, and Midnight, Watchers is credited with cementing Koontz's status as a best-selling author.-Plot Summary:...
deals with genetic engineering that uplifts a Golden Retriever
Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a medium-sized breed of dog. They were historically developed as gundogs to retrieve shot waterfowl such as ducks and upland game birds during hunting and shooting parties. As such, they were bred to have a soft mouth to retrieve game undamaged and have an instinctive love...
named "Einstein" to near-human intelligence for the purpose of espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
. In a separate experiment, a hominid creature with near-human intelligence and crude language ability is also engineered, destined for potential use as a guard or attack creature.
In a similar manner to 2001: A Space Odyssey, players in the game Spore
Spore (2008 video game)
Spore is a multi-genre single-player god game developed by Maxis and designed by Will Wright. The game was released for the Microsoft Windows and Macintosh operating systems in September 2008 as Spore...
can use monoliths to uplift species for fun or for other purposes. In the space opera
Space opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap...
webcomic Schlock Mercenary
Schlock Mercenary
Schlock Mercenary is a comedic webcomic written and drawn by Howard Tayler. It follows the tribulations of a star-travelling mercenary company in a satiric, mildly dystopian 31st-century space opera setting...
, humans have uplifted elephants and gorillas, who appear to enjoy equal social status to other species.
In Race For The Galaxy
Race for the Galaxy
Race for the Galaxy is a card game designed by Thomas Lehmann that was released in 2007 by Rio Grande Games. Its theme is to build galactic civilizations via game cards that represent worlds or technical and social developments...
, uplift is a major theme. Some cards have "UPLIFT" highlighted in the title and can help score points and achieve goals. Designer Tom Lehmann attributes the inspiration for uplift from David Brin's Uplift series.
In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
, the Founders, a shapeshifting species that founded the Dominion
Dominion (Star Trek)
In the Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races. The Dominion wages war on the United Federation of Planets and its allies in the late 24th century, acting as an antagonist in the TV show Star Trek: Deep Space...
, genetically engineered the formerly primitive Vorta
Vorta
Vorţa is a commune in Hunedoara County, Romania. It is composed of seven villages: Certeju de Jos, Coaja, Dumeşti, Luncşoara, Valea Poienii, Visca and Vorţa.-References:...
into an intelligent species who then served as Dominion
Dominion (Star Trek)
In the Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races. The Dominion wages war on the United Federation of Planets and its allies in the late 24th century, acting as an antagonist in the TV show Star Trek: Deep Space...
administrators and politicians.
Season One of the TV series Eureka
Eureka (TV series)
Eureka is an American science fiction television series that premiered on Syfy on July 18, 2006. Since then four seasons have aired, and a fifth is currently being filmed. The second half of season 4 began on SyFy on July 11, 2011 and ended on September 19, 2011...
includes a genetically modified dog named "Lojack" who is said to have an IQ of 130.
Related terms and ideas
- Orion's ArmOrion's ArmOrion's Arm, is a multi-authored online science fiction world-building project, first established in 2000 by M. Alan Kazlev, Donna Malcolm Hirsekorn, Bernd Helfert and Anders Sandberg and further co-authored by many people since...
uses the term provolution (proactive or progressive evolution) to describe the act of accelerating evolution: a species which has had its evolution accelerated is called a provolve.
- Cultural uplift is distinguished from biological uplift in that it does not physically alter the organism. A real cultural uplift experiment started with bonoboBonoboThe bonobo , Pan paniscus, previously called the pygmy chimpanzee and less often, the dwarf or gracile chimpanzee, is a great ape and one of the two species making up the genus Pan. The other species in genus Pan is Pan troglodytes, or the common chimpanzee...
s in 2005 in Great Ape TrustGreat Ape TrustThe Great Ape Trust is a ape sanctuary and language study in Des Moines, Iowa, that houses orangutans and bonobos. The sanctuary opened to primates on September 28, 2004. The mission of the Great Ape Trust is studying language, culture, intelligence, and tool use in primates...
in IowaIowaIowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, USA.
- In her Canopus in ArgosCanopus in ArgosCanopus in Argos: Archives is a sequence of five science fiction novels by Nobel Prize in Literature-winning author Doris Lessing which portray a number of societies at different stages of development, over a great period of time...
series, Doris LessingDoris LessingDoris May Lessing CH is a British writer. Her novels include The Grass is Singing, The Golden Notebook, and five novels collectively known as Canopus in Argos....
uses the term forced evolution to encompass the conscious influencing of both biology and culture.
- Boris and Arkady Strugatsky coined the term "ProgressorProgressorProgressors in science fiction are people of an advanced space-faring civilization who facilitate progress of less advanced civilizations. It comes from a perspective very much the opposite of what motivates Star Trek's famous Prime Directive....
" for those who carry out this sort of work. Sergey LukyanenkoSergey LukyanenkoSergei Vasilievich Lukyanenko is a science fiction and fantasy author, writing in Russian, and is arguably the most popular contemporary Russian sci-fi writer...
used it also in two of his novels.
- In the graphic novel Grease MonkeyGrease monkeyGrease monkey may refer to :* Grease monkey, a slang term for a mechanic* Grease Monkey , a franchised chain of automotive service centers* Greasemonkey, a Mozilla Firefox extension* Grease Monkey, a comic...
Tim Eldred uses the term "Accelerated" to describe gorillas uplifted in this fashion.
Several UFO cults including Raelianism believe that humanity was biologically uplifted in the past or will be uplifted in the future. The Urantia Book claims Adam and Eve were beings whose job it was to biologically uplift humanity.
External links
- All Together Now: Developmental and Ethical Considerations for biologically uplifting nonhuman animals by George DvorskyGeorge DvorskyGeorge P. Dvorsky is a transhumanist futurist, and author of the Sentient Developments blog. Dvorsky is a co-founder and president of the Toronto Transhumanist Association, and currently serves on the board of directors for Humanity+ and the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies...
- Great Ape Trust
- Fiction with "Uplifted" Animals: An Annotated Bibliography