Transhumanism

Transhumanism is defined as an intellectual and cultural movement that declares the possibility and desirability of transforming the human condition by developing and making widely available technologies to eliminate aging and to greatly develop the human, intellectual, physical, and psychological capacities. To me, transhumanism is a temporary movement transitional. Its role is to help individuals and society transition to living in a world where some portion of society technologically transforms their minds and bodies on both incremental and fundamental levels. The transhumanists consider cautious developments along these lines to be a good thing, and feel that the most pressing objections and concerns have been adequately addressed, including: - What are the reasons to expect all these changes? - Wont these developments take thousands or millions of years? - What if it doesnt work? - Wont it be boring to live forever in a perfect world? - Will new technologies only benefit the rich and powerful? - Arent these future technologies very risky? Could they even cause our extinction? - If these technologies are so dangerous, should they be banned? - Shouldnt we concentrate on current problems? - Will extended life worsen overpopulation problems? - Will post-humans or super-intelligent machines pose a threat to humans who arent augmented? - Isnt this tampering with nature? - Isnt death part of the natural order of things?

The key is to see Transhumanism as a philosophy being just a temporary tool for humanity to safely make the leap to transhumanity. Transhumanism is really only simplified humanism. Eventually, transhumanists hope to see a world where a wide

variety of physical and innovative modifications are available to everyone at reasonable cost, and their use is responsibly regulated. It is also possible to imagine someone who doesnt anticipate taking advantage of transhumanist technologies being in favour of transhumanism nonetheless. Transhumanists competently and openly discuss the potential upsides and downsides of certain ambitious technologies such as life extension and artificial intelligence and make progress towards developing them safely. Transhumanism can also be viewed as a discussion primarily among those who anticipate taking advantage of enhancement technologies before most others. As such, transhumanism forms a signal that alerts the rest of society to likely changes and informs about the kind of people who are most interested in human enhancement. Since certain transhumanist technologies may have decisive power over the course of history in the centuries ahead, it is important to examine the groups pursuing it and their motives. Transhumanism is a developing concept which has various questions to answer. A transhumanist is not just a blind technological cheerleader, enraptured by the supposed inevitability of an abundant future. A transhumanist should acknowledge the hazy and uncertain nature of the future, accepting beliefs only to the degree that the evidence merits, guided not by ideology but by flexible thinking, always welcoming criticism and views contrary to standard orthodoxies.