TRANSHUMANISM
THE WORLD MOST DANGOURUS IDEA?
Million Years before the Homo Sapiens evolved, there were two really big technologies language and fire. They shaped our evolution.
“Transhumanism want to apply technology to overcome limits imposed by our biological and genetic heritage. Transhumanism regard human nature not as an end in itself, not as a perfect, and not as having any claim on our allegiance. Rather, it is just one point along an evolutionary pathway and we can learn to reshape our nature and ways we deem desirable and valuable. By thoughtfully, carefully, and yet boldly applying technology to ourselves, we can become something no longer accurately described as human – we can become posthuman”
Max More, “The Philosophy of Transhumanism,” in the Transhumanist Reader (2013)
The philosopher David DeGrazia, writes in “Prozac, Enhancement, and Self-Creation (2000)”, about a imagine Woman Marina.
Marina has anxieties and is unhappy with herself. She wants to take antidepressants
Even without a mental illness. She wants so be a better version of herself. That why she is using technology, because thinks her issues are not a part of her core self. She uses technology to get rid of them and go beyond her limitations. DeGrazia asks: Is she still the same person afterwards? What is our authentic self? DeGrazia says self, the Human subject is not fixed and given to us. Self-creation is part of what we do.
“It is as if man had been suddenly appointed managing director of the biggest business of all, the business of evolution – appointed without being asked if he wanted it, and without proper warning and preparation. What is more, he can’t refuse the job. Whether he wants to or not, whether he is conscious of what he is doing or not, he is in point of fact determining the future direction of evolution it and starts believing in it, the better for all concerned.”
Julian Huxley, “Transhumanism”(1968) << klick
Critics say that when it comes to new technology, we know that we have technically a choice, but in reality, it will be compulsory/mandatory (for example the use of internet).
We have to have this in mind when it comes to “cognitive enhancements” or “genetic engineering”.
The philosopher Don Idhe says in “Technology and the Lifeworld” (1990) that technology can open or close possibilities. Its not just about its function or who controls it. He says technology can provide a framework for action.
An example technology framework for society is modern contraception which allows people a control over when they become pregnant. The tech allows you to make a choice. In this particular case things used to be just become an option rather the way things have to be.
You can say that modern feminism which has a big focus on making choices about her own body is clearly enabled by technology.
The German philosopher Heidegger for example is talking about technology withdrawing from our attention. Others say that technology becomes transparent. After a while we don’t experience the tech itself, rather we experience the world through it.
Thought experiment: Have you ever heard a driver talking about how he can feel the road?
Technology expands our body. We get used to them. Whether it's just a big hat that we initially bump against the door frame until it becomes part of our own bodily experience or the car that we drive every day. We forget about the voluminous growths and integrate them naturally into our movement patterns.
We become one with the new technology.
“What kind of people will this turn us into?”
Peter – Paul Verbeek, Moralizing Technology (2011)
............ and what does POSTHUMANISM, TRANSHUMANISM, AND HUMANISM actually mean? And what is meant by DIGITAL HUMANISM.