Oct 13, 2021
By Milo Thomas
Transhumanism
The Transhumanist movement involves advocacy of progressive ideology towards the efforts of human ‘enhancement’ via technological or scientific means. A member or supporter of the movement, a ‘Transhumanist’, adopts a futurist-optimist stance on technological development. Transhumanists generally consider the enhancement ideology as part of human evolution and our developing symbiotic relationship with technology.The Extropian Principles were the precursing concepts to Transhumanism during the 1980s, acting as an evolving framework of values, representing the continuous improvement of humanity. Endless eXtension, Transcending Restrictions, Overcoming Property, Intelligence and Smart Machines was the EXTROPISM anagram.In 2006, the Extropist Institute and the World Transhumanist Association (WTA) merged and rebranded to form the current international leading organisation of Transhumanim, Humanity+. This organisation has released a manifesto, along with a number of Transhumanist declarations which can be found on their website.Some individuals argue that Transhumanism emerged during the late 1800s, where the infamous literature of Friedrich Nietzsche described the concept of the superhuman. This ideology was also infamously recognised and adopted as part of the agenda of the far-right in 1940s Germany. Due to concepts and affiliations such as these, naturally the Transhumanist ideology is scrutinised ethically for their advocacy of biological alterations. Transumanist supporters have separated Transhumanism into three areas of human enhancement known as the three Ss (or Supers) of Transhumanism, including Longevity, Intelligence and Wellbeing. These areas of enhancement are represented often by Transhumanist optimists and supporters who interpret the movement’s ideology into technological research that adheres to the Transhumanist ideology.
The concept of Super-Longevity refers to the extension of human lifespan, in some cases comparing aging to a disease or increasing longevity indefinitely through progressive concepts such as mind-uploading or waiting for a time where technology is more proficient through cryopreservation.Super-Intelligence is connected with improving human cognition or awareness. Transhumanists have interpreted this ideology in a number of ways, such as pharmaceutical supplements or merging with advanced AI. Again this area of improvement can be associated with mind-uploading to a cloud based approach, allowing an infinite number of non-physical individuals to exist through digital form. This philosophy has been discussed by a number of Transhumanist supporters such as profound AI researcher, Ben Goertzel.Super-Wellbeing is a more complicated, philosophical approach to human enhancement. A strong example of wellbeing enhancement speculation would be Transhumanist and philosopher David Pearce, who published his paper The Hedonistic Imperative in 1995, describing conceptual approaches to biologically altering the hedonic treadmill. Pearce discusses how genetic engineering and nanotechnology will abolish suffering in all sentient life. In 2007, Pearce’s ‘The Abolitionist Project’ focussed closely on the ideas behind abolishing the biology of involuntary suffering and radical hedonic recalibration. Pearce also discusses the concept of hyper-thymic individuals, the difference between psychological and physical wellbeing.In all, the Transhumanist movement encompasses a range of fascinating philosophical ideology, directing us towards an envisioned Transhumanist foreground of evolutionary improvement, involving a wide range of optimistic and progressive methodology to ensure a positive outcome for humankind.