TRANSCENDENCE: WHAT IF A NEW INTELIGENCE WAS BORN?
A REFLECTION ABOUT THE ARRIVAL OF THE "POSTHUMANISM ERA"
Keywords:
transhumanism; posthumanism; Biotechnology; eugenics; human dignity; improvement; therapy.Abstract
This survey aims to analyze the ideas and ideals of posthumanism or transhumanism. The humans concerned about his future has always sought ways to overcome the limitations and conditions inherent in human nature, such as illnesses and degenerative diseases, and to emerge from this continuous pursuit, the posthumanism movement. This issue is relevant because we are in the golden age of biotechnological discoveries. Biotechnology comprises several areas of knowledge and offers the potential to alter and even control the phenomenon of life. The transhumanism concept consists in the usage of applied science and other rational methods to enhance our physical and intellectual capacities and give us greater control over our mental states and moods. It is the use of biotechnological discoveries "beyond therapy" by the adepts of the transhumanism studies that raises several conflicts and questions in the sphere of the study of bioethics. Here are some concerns: "Are there acceptable limits, when we are faced with biotechnological researches capable of altering the human being to a level that transcends medical therapy? "How to deal with a post-human era"? "Is it possible to preserve the human dignity in the post-human era?", How post-humans and “unimproved humans” will live together in our society?", "What should or should not be allowed in pursuit of this improvement?".
