Transhumanism: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:33, 30 December 2024

Philosophical movement advocating for the transformation of the human condition

Transhumanism is an intellectual movement and philosophy that advocates for the transformation of the human condition by developing and making widely available sophisticated technologies to greatly enhance human intellect and physiology.

Overview

Transhumanism seeks to improve human capacities through advanced technologies. It aims to eliminate aging and enhance human cognitive abilities, physical abilities, and emotional well-being.

Key Concepts

Human enhancement: The use of technology to improve the human body and mind beyond their natural state.
Life extension: Efforts to extend the human lifespan through biological and technological means.
Artificial intelligence: The development of machines that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence.
Mind uploading: The hypothetical process of scanning a human brain and transferring it to a digital medium.

Technologies Involved

Transhumanism involves various technologies, including:

Ethical Considerations

Transhumanism raises several ethical issues, such as:

The potential for social inequality if enhancements are only available to the wealthy.
The risk of losing human identity and individuality.
Concerns about safety and unintended consequences of new technologies.

Criticism

Critics of transhumanism argue that it could lead to a loss of humanity and moral values. They also express concerns about the environmental impact and the potential for technological dystopia.

References

External Links

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-[[File:Hux-Oxon-72.jpg|thumb]] [[File:2001 NAL.jpg|thumb]] [[File:PPTCountdowntoSingularityLog.jpg|thumb]] [[File:Amish vs modern transportation.jpg|thumb]] Transhumanism
-Transhumanism is an intellectual and cultural movement that advocates for the transformation of the human condition by developing and making widely available sophisticated technologies to greatly enhance human intellect and physiology. The movement is based on the premise that humans can and should use technology to transcend the limitations of the human body and mind.
+{{Short description|Philosophical movement advocating for the transformation of the human condition}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
+{{Philosophy sidebar}}
-== Overview ==
+'''Transhumanism''' is an [[intellectual movement]] and [[philosophical movement|philosophy]] that advocates for the transformation of the [[human condition]] by developing and making widely available sophisticated technologies to greatly enhance [[human intellect]] and [[physiology]].
-Transhumanism seeks to improve human capacities through advanced technologies. It is often associated with the study of the potential benefits and dangers of emerging technologies that could overcome fundamental human limitations, as well as the ethics of using such technologies.
-== History ==
+==Overview==
-The term "transhumanism" was first coined by [[Julian Huxley]] in 1957, who described it as "man remaining man, but transcending himself, by realizing new possibilities of and for his human nature." The movement gained momentum in the late 20th century with the advent of new technologies and the increasing interest in [[artificial intelligence]], [[biotechnology]], and [[nanotechnology]].
+Transhumanism seeks to improve human capacities through advanced technologies. It aims to eliminate aging and enhance human [[cognitive abilities]], [[physical abilities]], and [[emotional well-being]].
-== Core Concepts ==
+==Key Concepts==
+* '''[[Human enhancement]]''': The use of technology to improve the human body and mind beyond their natural state.
+* '''[[Life extension]]''': Efforts to extend the human lifespan through biological and technological means.
+* '''[[Artificial intelligence]]''': The development of machines that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence.
+* '''[[Mind uploading]]''': The hypothetical process of scanning a human brain and transferring it to a digital medium.
-=== Human Enhancement ===
+==Technologies Involved==
-Human enhancement refers to any attempt to temporarily or permanently overcome the current limitations of the human body through natural or artificial means. This includes physical, cognitive, and emotional enhancements.
+Transhumanism involves various technologies, including:
+* [[Genetic engineering]]
+* [[Nanotechnology]]
+* [[Biotechnology]]
+* [[Neurotechnology]]
-=== Technological Singularity ===
+==Ethical Considerations==
-The technological singularity is a hypothetical point in the future when technological growth becomes uncontrollable and irreversible, resulting in unforeseeable changes to human civilization. This concept is closely associated with the development of [[superintelligent]] machines.
+Transhumanism raises several ethical issues, such as:
+* The potential for [[social inequality]] if enhancements are only available to the wealthy.
+* The risk of losing [[human identity]] and [[individuality]].
+* Concerns about [[safety]] and [[unintended consequences]] of new technologies.
-=== Life Extension ===
+==Criticism==
-Life extension is a significant focus within transhumanism, aiming to extend human lifespan through various means such as [[cryonics]], genetic engineering, and regenerative medicine.
+Critics of transhumanism argue that it could lead to a loss of [[humanity]] and [[moral values]]. They also express concerns about the [[environmental impact]] and the potential for [[technological dystopia]].
-== Ethical Considerations ==
+==See Also==
-Transhumanism raises numerous ethical questions, including concerns about inequality, the potential for coercion, and the loss of human identity. Critics argue that enhancing human capabilities could lead to new forms of discrimination and exacerbate social inequalities.
+* [[Posthumanism]]
+* [[Bioethics]]
+* [[Singularity (technology)]]
-== Criticism ==
+==References==
-Critics of transhumanism often point to the potential risks of emerging technologies, including the loss of privacy, the potential for misuse, and the ethical implications of altering human nature. Some argue that transhumanism could lead to a devaluation of human life and dignity.
+{{Reflist}}
-== Also see ==
-* [[Bioethics]]
-* [[Cyborg]]
-* [[Futurism]]
-* [[Posthumanism]]
-* [[Singularitarianism]]
-{{Transhumanism}}
+==External Links==
+* [https://www.humanityplus.org/ Humanity+]
+* [https://www.transhumanism.org/ World Transhumanist Association]
-[[Category:Philosophy]]
+[[Category:Transhumanism]]
-[[Category:Technology]]
+[[Category:Philosophical movements]]
-[[Category:Future studies]]
+[[Category:Emerging technologies]]
+[[Category:Human enhancement]]