The Transhuman Movement

Fig.1 Posthumanism (2011)

Transhumanism is a intellectual movement that has slowly developed over the last 20 years. The goal? to alter the human condition by using technology to considerably improve human ability, mentally and physically. "Transhumanists view human nature as a work-in-progress, a half-baked beginning that we can learn to remold in desirable ways." (Bostrom, 2008). Transhumanists are working on developing technologies that will enhance the human race, they are looking for ways to maximize human potential and to give us greater control over our own lives. 

One example of transhuman technology would be cybernetic implants. Michael Chorost was born completely deaf but thanks to a cochlear implant he received in 2001 he was able to hear again. In his memoir titled Rebuilt: My Journey Back to the Hearing World he talks his feelings towards becoming "a cyborg. Not the Hollywood kind, but a real one nonetheless" (Chorost, 2005). He describes his uncertainties towards the surgery, he states that at first he was upset, uncertain about the device and its capabilities. He was unsure about the control he would have if part of him was a computer but ultimately the device would give him back independence, Michael would be able to hear for the first time. Cybernetic systems are there to improve everyday experience, to help people (like Michael) medically and to ultimately prolong human life. 

Nick Bostrom talks about prolonging lifespan in his 2008 article, "transhumanism stresses the moral urgency of saving lives, or, more precisely, of preventing involuntary deaths among people whose lives are worth living". Bostrom talks about the advantages of immortality and post humanism, he asks us to imagine all the things we could achieve and learn if we had unlimited time available to us, who knows what could be possible (see Fig. 2). However on the other side of things Bernard Williams argues that "immortal life would become tedious" (Williams, 1973), if immortality happens he states that life would lose its importance and interest as there would be no rush or urgency to do anything. 

Fig. 2 The Space of Possible Modes of Being (2008)

Not everybody is for the transhuman movement, many people are unsettled and even frightened by the changes in technology and the effect it could have on human life. "Genetic engineering is widely seen as interfering with God's designs" (Transhumanism.org, 2014), for some people transhumanism is not accepted for cultural reasons, many think the advanced technology prevents God doing his job, and worry that transhumanism could create some sort of 'superhuman race'.

In an recent article written by Andrew Smart he suggests that the 'transhuman movement' could just be a ploy... "Could it be that we've been tricked into pouring out innovative energy into making ourselves better slaves? If the digital elite achieves its dream of a perfect union with machines, what becomes of the rest of us who either can't afford cyborgification or who actually enjoy life as a regular human being?" (Quartz, 2014) Smart brings up the topic of wealth and different social classes. What happens to those with very little, can they be a part of the transhuman movement too or will they simply be left behind?

Bibliography

Figure 1. 'Posthumanism" (2011) [illustration of technological evolution] At: http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111027033258/litinawiredworld/images/6/6e/Posthuman.jpg. [Accessed 26 Oct. 2014]

Figure 2. Space of possible modes of being (2008) [diagram] At: http://www.fhi.ox.ac.uk/transhumanist-values.pdf [Accessed 28. Oct. 2014]

Williams, B. (1973). "The Makropulos Case: Reflections on the tedium of immortality" In problems of self. London: Cambridge University Press.

Bostrom, N. (2002). Transhumanist Values. 1st ed. [ebook] Oxford. Available at: http://www.fhi.ox.ac.uk/transhumanist-values.pdf [Accessed 16 Nov. 2014].

Transhumanism.org, (2014). Transhumanism?. [online] Available at: http://www.transhumanism.org/resources/transhumanism.htm [Accessed 26 Oct. 2014]

Chorost, M. (2005). Rebuilt: My Journey Back to the Hearing World. 1st ed

Quartz, (2014). Don’t be afraid of robots—be afraid of becoming one. [online] Available at: http://qz.com/205880/dont-be-afraid-of-robots-be-afraid-of-becoming-one/ [Accessed 26 Oct. 2014]