Transhumanism

Transhumanism is a social and scientific movement based on the notion of transcending the current human condition through scientific and technological enhancements. These enhancements are improvements upon the mind, body, and spirit of the human being. Such improvements may be advanced intellect, strength, and consciousness through emerging technologies in both the bio-medical and electrical/digital industries. The transhumanism movement is controversial among futurists due to the many ethical implications that abound from the idea of the transformation of the human body.

Background

The idea of transforming the human condition has persisted throughout a majority of mankind's history. The quests for eternal youth, immortality, infinite knowledge, etc. have all been documented. FM-2030, a teacher at The New School in New York City, began using the term "transhuman" in the 1960's. FM-2030 (originally named Fereidoun M. Esfandiary), began categorizing people who adopted emerging technologies as either "transhumans." This is when the term transhuman is believed to have been born. Modern transhumanism is associated with every day culture on various levels: reliance on personal computers, prostheses allowing the wearer to run faster or be stronger, embedded bio-microprocessors, etc.

Ethics

Transhumanism has as many critics as it does advocates. Transhumanists have coined the terms "bioconservatives" and "bioluddites", the former being those who feel emerging technologies are a threat and the latter being those who advocate such breakthroughs. Bioconservatives feel the need to preserve the natural human body where as bioluddites feel that this necessity of preservation merely stifles the progress and evolution of the human species.

The economics of transhumanism is another area of major criticism and source of ethical controversy.