| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| − | Transhumanism is, at it's core, is a philosophical idea that advances the idea of positively encouraging human development using advanced and emerging technologies. This can encompass life extension or clinical immortality, using technology to augment the human body to solve problems of physical or mental disability and to increase the capabilities of the human body, increasing the efficiency and comfort of human life, decreasing human impact on the environment, or achieving some form of enlightenment or connection with the technological world. | + | '''Transhumanism''' is, at its core, a philosophical idea that advances the idea of positively encouraging human development using advanced and emerging technologies. This can encompass life extension or clinical immortality, using technology to augment the human body to solve problems of physical or mental disability and to increase the capabilities of the human body, increasing the efficiency and comfort of human life, decreasing human impact on the environment, or achieving some form of enlightenment or connection with the technological world. |
| | + | |
| | + | Transhumanism is a partner with [[technocracy]], as both failed mindsets work together towards a [[faith]]less society. |
| | + | |
| | + | Transhumanism attempts to attain immortality through [[atheism|atheistic]] science, without success. For fees of $250,000 and more, a business in Scottsdale, [[Arizona]], will attempt to freeze someone near death for potential resuscitation decades or centuries into the future (if there are no power outages). |
| | | | |
| | ==History of Transhumanism== | | ==History of Transhumanism== |
| | | | |
| | + | [[File:Julian Huxley.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|The atheist [[Julian Huxley]] coined the term transhumanism.<ref>[http://www.nickbostrom.com/papers/history.pdf A HISTORY OF TRANSHUMANIST THOUGHT, Nick Bostrom, Faculty of Philosophy, Oxford University]</ref>]] |
| | + | |
| | + | ''See also:'' [[Atheism and transhumanism]] |
| | + | |
| | + | According to the [[Oxford University]] philosopher Nick Bostrum, transhumanism has its roots in an [[atheism|atheistic]]/[[secular humanism]]/[[evolution]]ary worldview.<ref>[http://www.nickbostrom.com/papers/history.pdf A HISTORY OF TRANSHUMANIST THOUGHT, Nick Bostrom, Faculty of Philosophy, Oxford University]</ref> The atheist, [[evolution]]ist and [[eugenics|eugenicist]] [[Julian Huxley]] coined the term transhumanism.<ref>[http://www.nickbostrom.com/papers/history.pdf A HISTORY OF TRANSHUMANIST THOUGHT, Nick Bostrom, Faculty of Philosophy, Oxford University]</ref> |
| | + | |
| | + | Julian Huxley wrote: |
| | + | {{cquote|The human species can, if it wishes, transcend itself – not just sporadically, an individual here in one way, an individual there in another way – but in its entirety, as humanity. We need a name for this new belief. Perhaps transhumanism will serve: man remaining man, but transcending himself, by realizing new possibilities of and for his human nature.<ref>[http://www.nickbostrom.com/papers/history.pdf A HISTORY OF TRANSHUMANIST THOUGHT, Nick Bostrom, Faculty of Philosophy, Oxford University]</ref>}} |
| | + | |
| | + | The [[pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]] transhumanism movement which desires to transcend being human through technology and become posthuman in order achieve a type of non-theistic immortality is completely unrealistic and is engaging in wishful thinking.<ref> |
| | + | *[http://hplusmagazine.com/2011/05/06/against-naive-uploadism-memory-consciousness-and-synaptic-homeostasis/ Against Naive Uploadism: Memory, Consciousness, and Synaptic Homeostasis], Seth Weisberg, ''H+ Magazine'', May 6, 2011 |
| | + | *[http://futurisms.thenewatlantis.com/2010/06/why-transhumanism-wont-work.html Why Transhumanism Won't Work], ''The New Atlantis'', June 10, 2010 |
| | + | *[http://neurologism.com/2013/12/11/will-we-ever-be-able-to-upload-our-minds-to-a-computer/ Will we ever be able to upload our minds to a computer?] |
| | + | *[http://io9.com/you-ll-probably-never-upload-your-mind-into-a-computer-474941498 You Might Never Upload Your Brain Into a Computer] by George Dvorsky posted at 4/17/13 12:02pm at io9.com |
| | + | *[https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2011/06/24/whats-the-likelihood-of-the-singularity-part-two-uploading-the-brain/ What's the Likelihood of the Singularity? Part Two: Uploading the Brain] by Alex Knapp, Forbes, 6/24/2011</ref> |
| | + | |
| | + | For more information, please see: [[Atheism and transhumanism]] |
| | | | |
| | ==Transhumanist Thought== | | ==Transhumanist Thought== |
| Line 11: |
Line 32: |
| | *Extropianism, an early school of transhumanist thought characterized by a set of principles advocating a guided approach to human evolution. It should be noted that this is not the same as eugenics, Extropianism advocates assisting those with disabilities with advanced technology rather than the removal of individuals from the gene pool | | *Extropianism, an early school of transhumanist thought characterized by a set of principles advocating a guided approach to human evolution. It should be noted that this is not the same as eugenics, Extropianism advocates assisting those with disabilities with advanced technology rather than the removal of individuals from the gene pool |
| | *Transhumanistic Socialism, a combination of Transhuman ideas with Socialist thought, it involves using advanced and emerging technology to help create and sustain a Socialist society. | | *Transhumanistic Socialism, a combination of Transhuman ideas with Socialist thought, it involves using advanced and emerging technology to help create and sustain a Socialist society. |
| − | *Immortalism, a ideology based upon the belief that technological immortality is possible and desirable with the use of advanced medical technology. | + | *Immortalism, an ideology based upon the belief that technological immortality is possible and desirable with the use of advanced medical technology. |
| | *Libertarian Transhumanism, a political ideology combining Libertarianism and Transhumanism. | | *Libertarian Transhumanism, a political ideology combining Libertarianism and Transhumanism. |
| | *Singularitarianism, an ideology based upon the belief that a technological singularity is possible, and advocating deliberate action to effect it and ensure its safety. | | *Singularitarianism, an ideology based upon the belief that a technological singularity is possible, and advocating deliberate action to effect it and ensure its safety. |
| Line 21: |
Line 42: |
| | The Singularity is a point in human development where our technological capability will be so rapid that it becomes impossible to predict what will occur next. In the words of Ray Kurzweil, "The Singularity is a future period [in] which technological change will be so rapid and it's impact so profound that every aspect of human life will be irreversibly transformed." | | The Singularity is a point in human development where our technological capability will be so rapid that it becomes impossible to predict what will occur next. In the words of Ray Kurzweil, "The Singularity is a future period [in] which technological change will be so rapid and it's impact so profound that every aspect of human life will be irreversibly transformed." |
| | | | |
| − | Almost all forms of Transhumanist thought encompass the idea of a technological singularity. A technological singularity works off of the fact that our current capability to process and access information, both technologically and as human beings, is increasing at an exponential rate. At some point in the future, we will reach a point of critical mass where the rate of intelligence growth, both biological and technological, becomes so fast that it becomes impossible to predict anything beyond that point. After that point, it is believed that many of the barriers we face when dealing with advanced technologies will be gone. | + | Almost all forms of Transhumanist thought encompass the idea of a [[Technological Singularity]]. A technological singularity works off of the fact that our current capability to process and access information, both technologically and as human beings, is increasing at an exponential rate. At some point in the future, we will reach a point of critical mass where the rate of intelligence growth, both biological and technological, becomes so fast that it becomes impossible to predict anything beyond that point. After that point, it is believed that many of the barriers we face when dealing with advanced technologies will be gone. |
| | | | |
| | Transhumanists in general disagree as to what the singularity will look like or when it will occur, but it is a key component to almost all Transhuman thought. | | Transhumanists in general disagree as to what the singularity will look like or when it will occur, but it is a key component to almost all Transhuman thought. |
| Line 35: |
Line 56: |
| | This aspect of Transhumanism is highly speculative and many Transhumanists disagree as to what exactly "posthuman" will look like, but all agree that it is a goal of Transhumanism. | | This aspect of Transhumanism is highly speculative and many Transhumanists disagree as to what exactly "posthuman" will look like, but all agree that it is a goal of Transhumanism. |
| | | | |
| − | ==Practice== | + | == Notes == |
| − | | + | {{reflist|2}} |
| − | ==Arguments Against Transhumanism==
| |
| | [[Category:Medicine]] | | [[Category:Medicine]] |
| | [[Category:Technology]] | | [[Category:Technology]] |
| | + | [[Category:Postmodernism]] |