TRANSHUMANISM - Secular Student Alliance

WHAT ROLE
SHOULD
TECHNOLOGY PLAY
IN PROMPTING THE
NEXT STAGE IN
OUR EVOLUTION?

TRANSHUMANISM

What is Transhumanism?


Transhumanism is a philosophy
of life that is gaining popularity
around the world as people seek
to break through the limitations
that our biology places on our
development.


Adherents to this worldview
would like to extend
lifespans
,
augment the senses, increase
memory capacity, and use
technology in general to improve
the human condition.

Role of Technology in Transhumanism

Nanotechnology involves

the study of the

controlling of matter on

an atomic and molecular

scale. It has been
envisioned

that because of the scale at

which nanotech operates, it

could easily be implemented

within our own biological

systems


NANOTECHNOLOG
Y

BIOTECHNOLOGY

COGNITIVE
SCIENCE

Biotechnology is the field of
applied biology that involves
the use of living things in
engineering, technology,
medicine, and other useful
applications. Modern use of
the term includes genetic
engineering as well as cell
-

and tissue culture
technologies.

Cognitive science is the
interdisciplinary study of how
information is represented and
transformed in the brain. It
consists of multiple research
disciplines, including psychology,
artificial intelligence, philosophy,
neuroscience, learning sciences,
linguistics, anthropology,
sociology, and education

Potential in Transhumanism

Elimination of Involuntary Suffering

Acceleration of Human Evolution

The Attainment of Technological Immortality

Advancement of Prosthetic Technologies


Criticism of Transhumanism


Infeasibility of Transhumanist goals


Dehumanization
–

What does it mean to be
human?


Issues of Equality and Access to these
technologies


Are Proponents of Transhumanism
advocating “Playing God”


Effects on the Environment and Resources
(Population Pressures)


Are we Obligated to be Transhumanists?


Shouldn’t Humanists
constantly be striving
to improve the
human condition? If
so, aren’t we already
aligned with
Transhumanists?



What would be your
ideal Transhumanist
innovation?