Pu—the primordial, unmodified state—as a reference point for evaluating what enhancement actually adds or removes.
Pu, the uncarved block, represents original simplicity and potentiality before modification. In human enhancement discourse, this concept challenges the assumption that all intervention is progress. Before modifying a biological system, the Laozian asks: what original capacity or resilience are we replacing? What flexibility do we lose by specializing? This isn't an argument against enhancement but for conscious choice. A child's developing brain possesses remarkable neuroplasticity—the uncarved block's adaptive power. Enhancement protocols should ask whether they preserve this potential or trade it for specific capabilities. The framework invites practitioners to understand their baseline not as deficiency but as intact wholeness, making enhancement a deliberate addition rather than presumed improvement of something broken.
Peri can explain this concept, give practical examples, help you decide whether it applies to your situation, or recommend a journey if appropriate.
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