The future of humanity vs replacing ourselves out of the future - an edited free-write

Basic Premise:    

     I think that in the near future, i.e., around 50 years from now, we (the human race) should start concerning ourselves with the threat of destroying our future as a species through replacing ourselves in general, with our creations which are more efficient. 


Elaboration and Extrapolation:


     Of course we have already done so in certain areas- robotics; the simple and complex computer, the internet (replacing, or an attempt to replace significant pieces of culture); the internet search engine; "Wal-Mart"'s.  But I say in general, because I speak to beyond us using "tools in humanity's tool-belt".  I speak to a time and a situation when we are no longer the future; when our creations truly take over- become the progeny and inheritors of the potential of the human race, rather than humans. 


     We will continue towards this future as we follow our greed; our sloth, or drive for greater productivity; our quest for more power; for greater protection.  Of course these things will start with the miracle of creation from the mind- that is fundamental to our species, but the in-general implementation will come from greed, etc.


     We have created so many things that are simply better at doing their jobs than we are, that I think it's hard to not admit that every task we might put ourselves to, can be more efficiently done by other things.  So where does this end?  A time when our creations think for us, act for us (in almost all ways), make war for us, colonize the cosmos for us?  I think in this end we see our race slowly whither away- no great apocolypse of a human / robot war, but a slow whithering away of a species such as the body whithers away when given a wheelchair / crutch.


     Is there a way to keep us from going down this path?  I don't think there is.  I think it will happen- we will fundamentaly and truly replace ourselves; our greed, and other character-traits, will drive us inevitably.  I think there is no use to attempt to get off this progression- through doing so we may delay it, but I think that is all.  I feel it is man's fate to destroy himself, and that our measure of achievement is the length of time before we do so.


     In free-writing this, an answer has occured to me- that a solution may lie not from without, but from within.  If it is man's fate, given what man is, to destroy himself, then there may be hope in changing man; to fight or eliminate greed, sloth, our drive for ever greater and greater productivity, and our quest for more power; to give up our fear that spurs greater and greater protection.  Yes, I think that's the answer-  change ourselves; Change what our species is, or be eliminated.


     Given this, I feel the future doesn't look bright as greed owns the present, as capitalism takes over our world.


     As I said I think this is something we should be concerned with in the near future, not today.