Uncanny Realm – The Extension of The Natural

One of the typical binaries existing in western society is the division between natural and artificial. But similarly biological and technological are often seen as oppositions. In today’s world, it is increasingly difficult to tell the difference between naturalbiological entities from artificially constructed ones with human cognitive abilities. This is due to the development of biotechnological methods to manipulate or construct new kinds of living organisms that are purposely designed by humans. Likewise, artificial intelligence-systems are being developed to become more autonomous and life-like with their sensing and learning abilities. These developments point out that our perceptions of the concepts of natural and artificial are radically changing. Traditionally natural is understood as something coming from nature and not made or caused by humans; and artificial is understood as the opposite – not natural, but produced, created or caused by