Transhumanism Options

[Culture]

Recennly I read a bit of provocative Marxist-feminist-transhumanism called the Cyborg Manifesto.
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/HPS/Haraway/C...gManifesto.html

It was written by Donna Haraway, a professor and biologist and philosophy scholar.


The World Transhuman Association http://www.transhumanism.org/index.php/WTA/index/

says that a posthuman is completely different species of human. They believe this could be a synthetically artificial intelligence. Or it could be "enhanced uploads". No one is sure about what a posthuman is. But a transhuman is the intermediate stage between humanism and posthumanism. It's the early manifestation of new evolutionary beings.

Genetic transhumans don't exist now. But there are cultural transhumans, who adopt a philosophy which says that someday everyone ought to have the chance to grow beyond present human limits.

Transhumanism is a principle of freedom: people are generally happier when they are in control of the natural and social forces of their lives. This is coupled with an enthusiastic support of the so called "emerging technologies" like nanotechnology, stemcells and other human enhancements. But not just that. They are really interested in integrated these technologies with humans, to make cyborgs.

It appeals to feminism because the cyborg is a creature in a "postgender world." Haraway uses a Marxist criticism of the birth of cyborgs. She says they are the illegitimate offspring of state socialism, patriarchical capitalism, and militarism. She somewhat talks about a labour theory of value as well.

Is this something others are familiar with?

Are we all as eager as the transhumanists are about the emerging technologies? Should we become cyborgs? Are we going to inevitably?

[dutch84]

I don't think we're going to become cyborgs.

[joes mama]

I don't think we're going to become cyborgs.

Actually, it is becoming more and more a reality. DARPA is funding the research for all kinds of stuff to make *super humans*--research from extremely respected professors at extremely respected universities. It's kind of sad though that the DoD gets 22 times as much $ as does the NIH..