Transhumanism: The Most Dangerous Idea?

Why striving to be more than human is human

Ronald Bailey | August 25, 2004

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Let's face it, plenty of unenhanced humans have been quite capable of believing that millions of their fellow unenhanced humans were inferiors who needed to be eradicated. However, as liberal political institutions have spread and strengthened, they have increasingly restrained technologically superior groups from automatically wiping out less advanced peoples (which was usual throughout most of history). I suspect that this dynamic will continue in the future as biotechnology, nanotechnology, and computational technologies progressively increase people's capabilities and widen their choices.

In his famous book The End of History and the Last Man, Fukuyama declared that we are witnessing "the end point of mankind's ideological evolution and the universalization of Western liberal democracy as the final form of human government." Fair enough. But for Fukuyama, the end of history is a "sad time" because "daring, courage, imagination, and idealism will be replaced by economic calculation." Also, he claims, "in the post-historical period there will be neither art nor philosophy, just the perpetual caretaking of the museum of human history." How ironic that Fukuyama now spends his time demonizing transhumanism, a nascent philosophical and political movement that epitomizes the most daring, courageous, imaginative, and idealistic aspirations of humanity.

"The environmental movement has taught us humility and respect for the integrity of nonhuman nature. We need a similar humility concerning our human nature. If we do not develop it soon, we may unwittingly invite the transhumanists to deface humanity with their genetic bulldozers and psychotropic shopping malls," concludes Fukuyama. I say, bring on those genetic bulldozers and psychotropic shopping malls that help people to live healthier, smarter, and happier lives.

I have my own nomination for an "idea [that], if embraced, would pose the greatest threat to the welfare of humanity": Banning technological progress in the name of "humility."

Comments

Dan Bacon|10.14.09 @ 11:37AM|#

Great article!

Most people are currently scared of Transhumanism, because they simply haven't had a chance to really think about it and don't know what's possible.

Over the next 5 years, Hollywood will be bringing out loads of movies that will open the minds of people and get them excited about the real possibility of being more than human, living an indefinite lifespan and merging with artificial intelligence (the movie 'Surrogates' was a recent example).

I recently recorded a conversation with a friend on video. We talked about Transhumanism, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Nanotechnology, Life-Extension, Immortality and the upcoming Technological Singularity. You can watch it here if you're interested: http://danbacon.org/?p=3

Cheers
Dan