Indeed, cosmographer and speculative scientist Charles Fort (1874-1932) published a book entitled WILD TALENTS in which he does discuss the extravagant natural abilities of human beings, but, as enlightening and amusing as Fort can sometimes be as he whacks us, it is probably wise not to travel down that road in this discussion.
Instead, I suggest we take a long look at THE CREATED SELF, REINVENTING BODY, PERSONA AND SPIRIT by psychologist Robert J. Weber, who reminds us that we are now at a stage in our evolution where our self-awareness, imagination, intelligence and "wild talent" are developed to such an extent that we can go about consciously re-constructing ourselves.
Kenneth Gergen says of THE CREATED SELF:
"In today's culture, the self is considered largely a work in progress. Our bodies can now be altered and extended in ways previously undreamed of; our personas are constantly assuming multiple roles in the course of our daily lives; and we seek spiritual fulfillment in myriad traditional and nontraditional cultures, both sacred and secular. Yet as we constantly reinvent ourselves, how do we balance freedom and flexibility with integrity and unity? Using the insights of William James and evolutionary psychology as a springboard, the innovative psychologist Robert J. Weber explores the new, shifting self."
THE CREATED SELF (and other theoretical readings mentioned in this blog) opens the discussion about contemporary humans becoming equipped to self-consciously manipulate their bodies, personas and spirituality.
How this is accomplished operationally, as we have begun to sketch and will continue to explore, is another matter.
