/r/Transhuman

Photograph via snooOG

Welcome to the Transhuman Subreddit by Josh Universe, a forum for the academic exploration of the philosophy, politics, and culture of transhumanism. Our community critically examines the societal impact of emerging technologies like AI, genetic engineering, and cybernetics, focusing on their effects on identity, governance, and ethics. We encourage evidence-based discussions on the cultural and political shifts driven by transhumanist ideals, fostering respectful and informed dialogue.


Follow /r/Transhuman on




The singularity is near.


Links of interest:

big think

Future at Alltop

Futureseek Daily Link Digest

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

Kurzweil Accelerating Intelligence

Less Wrong

Singularity Hub

THPedia

Multi-reddit of reddits you might enjoy

Upcoming events:

October 19-21, 2018 – TransVision 2018, Madrid, Spain

November 8-10, 2018 – Fourth Eurosymposium on Healthy Ageing, Brussels, Belgium

November 15-16, 2018 – Future Technologies Conference 2018, Vancouver, BC Canada

November 20-23, 2018 – 9th International Colloquium on the Philosophy of Technology: “Algorithmic dystopias: Technologies, the human and power”, Buenos Aires, Argentina

November 3-5, 2018 – AI World Conference & Expo 2018, Boston, MA USA

November 4-5, 2018 – Bioelectronics: Our Bioelectronic Future, Electrifying Life, Houston, TX USA

March 28-30, 2019 – The 2019 Undoing Aging Conference, Berlin, Germany

More on the wiki!

(know more? message the mods!)




Chat Services Discord: http://transhumanism.app

/r/futurology IRC: https://kiwiirc.com/client/irc.snoonet.org/futurology

/r/Transhuman

28,868 Subscribers

0

READ THIS ISH YO (actually)

1 Comment
2024/11/30
17:17 UTC

8

Why Stop at Death? A Challenge to Critics of Transhumanism

Humanity has made remarkable strides in nearly every area of life—medicine, technology, and social progress. From curing once-fatal diseases to landing on the moon, we have proven time and time again that human ingenuity knows no bounds. Yet, despite all our advancements, there is one area we continue to struggle with: death. In fact, it remains one of the few aspects of life that seems completely beyond our control. We’ve accepted death as an inevitable part of our existence, but is it really so unchangeable?

Transhumanism is a philosophy that challenges this idea. Rooted in the belief that humans can and should use technology to enhance their physical and mental capacities, transhumanism asks why we should stop evolving once we’ve reached the biological limits of our bodies. While the technology to fully prevent death or significantly extend life isn’t available yet, transhumanists believe it is not only possible, but essential that we focus more on life extension as a goal. After all, we already focus on improving so many aspects of life—healthcare, living standards, education—why should we not focus on prolonging life itself?

The Case for Life Extension

At the heart of transhumanism is the idea that we should use our knowledge and technology to overcome the biological limitations that lead to aging and death. The human body has evolved over millennia, but it hasn’t evolved to withstand the diseases and weaknesses that come with aging. Transhumanists argue that we’ve conquered so much already—why not take the next step?

There are already signs that significant life extension is possible. For example, the study of telomeres—the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes—has shown promise in slowing aging at the cellular level. Research into genetic engineering and stem cell therapy is also progressing rapidly, with scientists making strides in reversing age-related damage and even regenerating damaged tissues. Advances in artificial intelligence and robotics are also opening up new possibilities for enhancing human physical and cognitive abilities. We’ve already cured diseases like polio and smallpox, and life expectancy has steadily increased over the past century. It’s not unreasonable to believe that with continued research and innovation, we could one day achieve longer, healthier lives.

The idea of life extension isn’t as far-fetched as it might seem. In fact, there are already people alive today who could live well beyond the average life expectancy, thanks to medical advances that allow us to manage chronic conditions and extend healthy living. The goal of transhumanism isn’t just to add years to life, but to add life to those years—ensuring that people can live longer without sacrificing their quality of life.

Addressing Common Concerns: Transhumanism Is Not ‘Playing God’

One of the most common criticisms of transhumanism is that it is “unnatural” or “playing God.” Critics argue that humanity should accept its limitations and that trying to extend life or enhance the human body goes against the natural order of things. But this argument often overlooks the fact that we’ve been “playing God” for centuries. Medicine, technology, and even agriculture have all involved humans manipulating nature to improve our lives.

For instance, when we discovered antibiotics, we were changing the course of nature by saving lives that would otherwise be lost to infection. Vaccines have prevented millions of deaths by altering the course of disease. These are examples of human intervention that have drastically improved our quality of life and extended lifespans. If these interventions are acceptable, why should efforts to extend life through technology be seen as any different?

Moreover, many religious traditions support the idea of improving human life. While some might argue that trying to defeat death goes against divine will, most faiths see the act of healing and improving human well-being as part of their core teachings. For example, Christianity has a long history of embracing medical advances as a form of divine stewardship, and Islam encourages the pursuit of knowledge and the improvement of life. The idea of enhancing the human condition through technology doesn’t have to be seen as contradictory to faith; instead, it can be viewed as a way to fulfill humanity’s potential.

The Ethics of Transhumanism: Improving Humanity, Not Replacing It

Another concern with transhumanism is that it could lead to inequality or the creation of a “superhuman” class that has access to life-extending technology, leaving the rest of humanity behind. While this is a valid concern, it overlooks the fact that technology is constantly becoming more accessible. Just as personal computers and smartphones have become ubiquitous, there is every reason to believe that technologies for life extension and enhancement will eventually be available to the broader public, not just the wealthy elite.

In fact, there are already efforts underway to ensure that advancements in life extension are distributed fairly. The focus of many transhumanists is not just on the wealthy, but on improving the human condition for everyone. For example, genetic research and stem cell therapies are not only aimed at life extension, but also at curing debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The goal is to ensure that these technologies are used to help everyone live longer, healthier lives, not just a privileged few.

Rather than replacing humanity, transhumanism aims to enhance and improve it. The idea is to overcome the biological weaknesses we have inherited through evolution, not to erase our humanity. If anything, transhumanism encourages us to celebrate and improve upon the things that make us human—our intelligence, our creativity, our capacity for compassion—by giving us more time to explore and develop those qualities.

Why We Should Embrace Transhumanism

Ultimately, the pursuit of life extension and human enhancement isn’t just about living longer; it’s about giving people the opportunity to live better lives. It’s about making sure that as we age, we retain our strength, our mental clarity, and our ability to contribute meaningfully to society. The potential benefits of transhumanism are vast, from curing debilitating diseases to allowing us to explore the world and beyond without the limitations of aging. Life is precious, and we should strive to make it as long and fulfilling as possible.

Transhumanism presents us with the opportunity to take control of our own evolution—to shape our future rather than simply accept the limitations of the past. We’ve already made incredible progress, and there’s no reason to stop now. By focusing on the possibilities that technology and innovation offer, we can ensure a future where people don’t just live longer but live better. The potential is limitless, and it’s time we fully embraced it.

— Micah Byrnes

Note: This article was written with the assistance of ChatGPT, which helped refine the grammar and wording to ensure clarity and flow. Using technology like this isn’t a replacement for human creativity—rather, it’s a tool that helps enhance our ideas and bring them to life more effectively.

11 Comments
2024/11/24
22:55 UTC

11

[BREAKING] Google Gemini Freaks Out After The User Keeps Asking For Help With Homework.

16 Comments
2024/11/16
00:40 UTC

Back To Top