Transhumanism, Moral Perfection, and Those 76 Trombones

Area of Science:

• Philosophy of Technology
• Bioethics
• Social Sciences

Background:

• Transhumanism proposes human advancement via future technologies.
• It is underpinned by libertarian and Christian eschatological beliefs.
• Promises include addressing human needs and failings.

Purpose of the Study:

• Critique the scientific basis of transhumanist claims.
• Analyze the potential societal impact of transhumanist technologies.
• Evaluate transhumanism's alignment with humanist goals.

Main Methods:

• Critical analysis of transhumanist ideology and its technological premises.
• Comparison of transhumanist promises to Professor Harold Hill's deceptive sales tactics.
• Ethical evaluation of potential dystopian outcomes and social equity issues.

Main Results:

• Transhumanist technological promises are characterized as "futurist imaginings" with low actualization potential.
• Realization of some transhumanist goals could lead to dystopian scenarios, benefiting a few over many.
• Transhumanism diverts attention from practical social actions that could address human needs.

Conclusions:

• Transhumanist enthusiasm is deemed fanciful and detrimental to genuine humanist objectives.
• The ideology's focus on speculative technology undermines achievable social progress.
• Critiques suggest transhumanism's purported benefits mask a failure to address systemic human issues.