Transhumanism
Sarah Kahn

18 July 2017
One part philosophy, two parts futurist—this is the essence of Transhumanism. 
 
A far-out movement that began in the 1990s and has steadily grown thanks to social media, Transhumanism is centered on the ethos that “the human species in its current form does not represent the end of our development but rather a comparatively early phase.” 
 
Transhumanists are made up of technologists, futurists, and life-extensionists who seek to use science and technology to improve the human condition. Zoltan Istvan, a leader in the Transhumanist movement, wrote that their main objective is to conquer human mortality, perhaps by 2045. 
 
It may not be ludicrous to believe that science and technology can be leveraged to better human life. However, what may be ludicrous is the thought that improving human life necessarily involves the eradication of death. One might argue that living forever would render life meaningless. 
 
So, what is the connection between life, death and meaning? How can science and technology be leveraged responsibly and reflectively to promote human flourishing?
 
Curious about the particulars of the Transhumanist position? Check out Zoltan Istvan’s 2014 article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zoltan-istvan/a-new-generation-of-trans_b_4921319.html.

Comments (1)

Harold G. Neuman's picture

Harold G. Neuman

Tuesday, July 25, 2017 -- 12:21 PM

Random thoughts:

Random thoughts: Conquering human mortality seems about as likely as either proving (or disproving) that time and space are the same.
Life, death and meaning are merely parts of the total human experience. Meaning, itself, changes with the advance of human consciousness. Science and technology will not in and of themselves promote human flourishing until it is fully realized that they have the potential to do just the opposite. Living forever would not "render life meaningless", it would only serve to further the problem of finite resources.

 
 

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