Transhumanism is a philosophical concept and international movement whose main idea is to improve the physical and mental abilities of humans through technology.
This concept, while well-meaning, often faces criticism and is considered controversial. Today, we will try to find out why not everyone is in favor of transhumanism.
The word “transhumanism” seems new, but in fact, it was used as far back as Dante in The Divine Comedy. “Transhumanism” comes from trans – through, through, for, and homo – human. The official “birthday” of transhumanism is considered to be 1957. The British writer Aldous Huxley, author of the famous anti-utopian novel O Wonderful New World, contrasted scientific and technological progress with religion, expecting transhumanism to replace faith. The goal of this concept was to defeat disease, old age and death through the advances of science. Many writers and philosophers were drawn to these ideas. With technological progress, it seemed that victory was within reach, but the realization that it would not be easy to change biological mechanisms soon led to disappointment in transhumanism among a great number of its followers.
Are they now looking for a “pill for old age”? In her book “Counterclockwise” (published by Alpina non-fiction), biologist and science journalist Polina Loseva writes that research in this field is indeed underway, but that there is no single way to beat aging. To summarize all information in a very simplified way, aging is our payment for the higher nervous activity, because all long-lived organisms cannot boast of what humans possess.
The main goals of transhumanists are to improve human beings with the help of science and technology:
- Eliminating the aging process and consequently death as the natural outcome of human life;
- To support the development of science and technology;
- To oppose the prohibition of certain research: human cloning, the use of embryonic stem cells, etc.
- Increase the happiness of humans and other living organisms.