How much of the human body can be replaced by machines?

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I'm sorry, I am not talking about Sci-fi, I am talking about modern science. How far have they gone in real life to replace a human body with machine parts? Removing the brain from the head seems sci-fi.

Ok, here are my thoughts.

We are talking about how far modern science has gone in replacing the body parts and organs.

The arms and legs have been replaced only to a certain extent. Otherwise, how many bodily organs need to remain intact to keep the head going?

To give up the lungs and diaphragm means losing the ability to speak. Could the head conceivably be hooked up so that at least the eyes could move?

Perhaps there is some way to block up the mouth and sinuses so that there is no difficulty there. Perhaps there is some way to hook something into the head that would operate a speaking apparatus and a speaker system rather than using the mouth. Perhaps artificial blood could be pumped into the head to keep everything alive there.

If the machines to keep the head alive are too big, then the head would have to remain stationary.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Even if they are able to replace the 100% of the body by machines someday, they'll not have any access to the soul which is the real traveler in the body, of course unless they take to the process of self realization.

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Asker's Comment:

Thanks for the panacea comments. Yes, there are ethical, moral, spiritual, and theistic questions that might arise.

Thanks for your response Nora Explorer!

Sorry, no, this is not really about SciFi...

Answer 2

I see this more as a question of at what point do we stop being human and become something else. Can a machine house a human soul? Do we begin to loose our free will as in the case of the Borg in Star Trek TNG? It is not so unusual to look to Sci Fi for a glimpse of our future when you consider Jules Vern and all his imaginings that have come to pass.

Answer 3

My guess would be everything but the brain. Something can be put in for the heart to continue the blood pumping, same with other things..

if you wanted to be all SciFi, one day I'm sure you could have every part of your body, stomach, etc.

But "today" I think most of the basic stuff that doesnt involve TOO much technology..

Answer 4

almost everything , i read this article about a blind person who had the sight part of her brain replaced by a robot, but it's quite dangerous so they dont use the technique of replacing parts of the brain in hospitalls. She called herself robochick!

Answer 5

Pretty much anything except the Brain.

Answer 6

All including the brain.
Not yet, but someday.

Answer 7

all but the brain. kinda scary huh?