Catherine Mobley English 111 November 13, 2013 824 words Transhumanism: The Evolution of Modern Man

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The term transhuman may sound like an intimidating concept, usually bringing to mind cyborgs and other half-human atrocities. While the transhumanist movement may have gained popularity over the last few decades, the idea behind transhumanism is not new at all. Transhumanists believe that humans can use technology to alter or accelerate their evolution as a species by extending human capabilities. The Transhumanist Declaration claims that Humanity stands to be profoundly affected by science and technology in the future. We [transhumanists] envision the possibility of broadening human potential by overcoming aging, cognitive shortcomings, involuntary suffering, and our confinement to planet Earth. The ultimate goal of transhumanism is to reach an entirely new classification of human known as posthuman. Looking at transhumanism in terms of its evolutionary value, the consequences of this movement would render humanity obsolete by increasing our physical and mental capabilities to the point where they are no longer considered human. The transhumanist ideology that humans should be able to transcend death is one of the oldest philosophies in history. In ancient times, the fear of death was a huge concern for many people. The acknowledgement of this fear has prompted great literary works that theorize that there is a way for mankind to assume a longer lifespan, or immortality, by altering their form in some way. The Epic of Gilgamesh is an excellent example of one such text because the main character seeks to attain immortality through consuming a magical plant. In addition to the literary evidence of transhumanist values, an archaic division of science called alchemy sought to create an elixir of life in order for humans to live beyond their natural means. Despite the fact that the science of ancient times often took the form of myth and legend, the principle of modifying ones own body to survive is parallel to transhumanist thought (Bostrom 1). One of

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humanitys most defining characteristics is its mortality, to negate that feature by making humans immortal would essentially make humans non-human. Despite its modifications to the human form, being transhuman does not involve the complete obliteration of all human qualities. Even though the final product of transhumanism is a new, posthuman species, it is not certain that the species will not have any discernable similarities to humanity. For instance, during my freshmen and sophomore years of high school, I was homeschooled online. I was forced to utilize the internet to expand my understanding of various subjects. Most of my knowledge today stems from the time Ive spent searching the web when books were scarce. Without technology, I would not be as competent as I am. However, by using technology to extend my mental faculties, I have not altered my person to the point of being non-human. Comparably, by examining the similarities between non-human primates and humans, it becomes evident that even though humans are the more evolved of the two, they do share certain characteristics. The same goes for the posthuman species and modern humans. When analyzing the impact of transhumanism on humanity, we must also consider the issue of human dignity, which many people feel is threatened by transhumanism. Human dignity, which is best defined as a persons sense of self-worth, is a result of that persons moral core. This concept of human dignity has dictated the way biological modifications are perceived on a universal level. There is the question of whether human dignity applies to that which is outside the scope of humanity, or technology that has become one with the human body (Jotterand 4649). In which case, if the technological additions to the human body are treated with the same respect as the person hosting them, the lines between which parts are considered human and which are not become blurred.

Mobley 3 Inadvertently, transhumanism has had an effect on almost everyone in modern society. Individuals with missing limbs who receive prosthetics have technically enhanced themselves using technology. People who use pacemakers, take performance enhancing medication, or have received gene therapy have altered themselves to extend their capacities. As modern medicine becomes more and more dependent on technology to improve the lives of humans, the more humans begin to rely on technology to survive. At which point, our physical and mental faculties will become attuned to our technological environment to the extent that it affects our evolution. If humanity is defined by its physical and mental limitations as well as its innate abilities, then by actively changing these qualifying factors, transhumanism is creating a species that can no longer be defined as human- whether by its literal or perceived definition.

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Works Cited Bostrom, Nick. "A History of Transhumanist Thought." Journal of Evolution and Technology 14.1 (2005): 1-30. Www.fhi.ox.ac.uk. Web. 8 Nov. 2013. Jotterand, Fabrice. Human Dignity and Transhumanism: Do Anthro-Technological Devices Have Moral Status?. American Journal Of Bioethics 10.7 (2010): 45-52. Academic Search Complete. Web. 8 Nov. 2013. "Transhumanist Declaration." Humanityplus.org. Humanity+, Mar. 2009. Web. 08 Nov. 2013.