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Making Humanity New with Technology Stephen Goundrey-Smith Making Humanity New with Technology Stephen Goundrey-Smith PhD Student – Department of Theology & Religion What is Transhumanism? • Transhumanism is a philosophical movement concerned with developing human life beyond its current form and limitations using biomedical technologies. • A definition of transhumanism - Philosophies of life…that seek the continuation and acceleration of the evolution of intelligent life beyond its current human form and human limitations by means of science, technology, guided by life-promoting principles and values” - Max More • Why change being human? a) to make life feel better and live it how you want, b) to make human beings better, c) to prevent extinction. The Transhumanism Movement • World Transhumanist Association (WTA) formed in 1998, by Nicholas Bostrom and David Pearce. • Many transhumanism advocates in North America and increasingly in western Europe. • Advocates of transhumanism are a “broad church” – consisting of philosophers, scientists, computer/technology specialists and many others. • The Transhumanist Declaration sets out the key principles of transhumanism- see https://humanityplus.org/philosophy/transhumanist-declaration/ A Potted History of Human Perfectibility (1) Immortality and perfection have been human concerns since time immemorial: • In philosophy – Plato, Aristotle etc • In religion - Christianity (resurrection (eternal) life and renewal of creation). • In intellectual/cultural life – the Renaissance, humanism (the philosophical and creative genius of the human mind) & the “uomo universale” - the perfect person combining intellectual and physical excellence, who could function well in virtually any situation…. A Potted History of Human Perfectibility (2) • Renaissance writer, Pico della Mirandola - Oration on the Dignity of Man - has been described as a proto-transhumanist. • Enlightenment – human sufficiency and social, educational, cultural “progress”. • Evolution – human nature is not yet finished…. • Organotherapy, cosmetic surgery and medical developments Influences on Transhumanism • Renaissance humanism – the pursuit of classical ideals. • Enlightenment humanism – social, educational and cultural “progress” and importance of personal autonomy. • Evolution – human nature is in the process of developing – and current human existence may be just another stage. • Existentialism – Nietzsche – only your own experience matters • Science Fiction – Aldous Huxley “Brave New World”, Isaac Asimov “I Robot” • Digital Technology – virtual, connected, artificial intelligence…. Some Transhumanist Technologies • Nanotechnology – the use of microscopic particles, tools and robots to interact with the body for medical purposes. • Genetic enhancements – modification of parts of the human genome in order to correct “natural” defects and to improve human function. • Cybernetics – the use of prosthetic limbs and robotics to develop and enhance bodily function. A cyborg is a robot/human hybrid and challenges standard ideas about human nature. • Cryonics – placing the human body in suspended animation by freezing it carefully so that a person can be revived in the distant future when radical new medical technologies are available. • Mind Uploading – the ultimate in human enhancement. All the information in the human brain is uploaded onto a computer, so that the person can “live” as a computer. Some Important Transhumanist Terms • Pattern identity – your identity is conveyed by the data in your brain – you don’t need a face or body to have an identity (!) • Morphological freedom – you don’t have to have a human body to be a “person”. Form and shape don’t matter. A “person” could equally be a disembodied mind or a robot with wheels instead of legs! • Extropy – the way humanity can reach beyond the confines of the current parameters of human life with biomedical technology. • Singularity - the point in history at which humanity can no longer continue in its current form of existence, either due to scientific advances or environmental catastrophe. Marks of a Transhumanist A transhumanist is - “a transitional human who, by virtue of their technology usage, cultural values and lifestyle, constitutes an evolutionary link with the coming era of post-humanity.” F.M. Esfandiary (a.k.a FM 2030) You can tell a transhumanist by: 1) Their use of technologies 2) Their absence of religious beliefs, and 3) Their rejection of traditional family values Transhumanism & Religion • Max More – transhumanism is a “life philosophy” • It’s “about actively seeking a better future, rather than praying to a deity to provide one” • Many transhumanists are dismissive of religion. • Supernatural beliefs about physical transcendence no longer matter. • Yet transhumanism is a “life philosophy” – a way or rule of life. Any questions so far? What might be good about transhumanism? • Biomedical technology – surgical techniques, drugs and biomaterial implants – is already being used in medicine – radical biomedical technology is just an extension of this. • Modern medicine has had a profoundly positive effect on quality of life – it would be immoral from a humanitarian perspective not to seek more benefit from more radical technologies. • Proactive use of biomedical technology would enable human society to deal proactively with major threats to human health and wellbeing. • Biomedical technology could be used to even out natural variations in human biology so all people could be biologically equal… Ethical Problems with Transhumanism • There may be unintended consequences with using a biomedical technology – unexpected things could go wrong. • Adoption of biomedical technology may impair a person’s autonomy. • Due to cost and availability, biomedical enhancements may not be affordable for everyone – inequality in society. • Biomedical technology may be used by governments and world powers as tools of oppression. • Biomedical technologies which enable extreme longevity may lead to economic pressures and changed social and cultural norms. Religious Problems with Transhumanism • God is creator – yet humans can “re-create” themselves at will with radical biomedical enhancements. • Humans are made in the image of God (imago Dei), but if they re- create themselves with technology, it is in their own image. • Injustice and imbalance in society would not be a Christian vision of society (shalom). • Jesus is the model for human perfection – so, for Christians, perfection is found in spiritual union with Christ. • Christian eschatological destiny is bodily death, resurrection and eternal life – not to live forever as a cyborg! The Problem of Natural Law & Biomedical Technology • Natural law – if it’s natural, it must be good, and the natural world is directed to good “ends” (purposes). • Natural law ethics are therefore teleological – directed to a goal. • In Christianity, seen in Thomas Aquinas – and is the basis for Roman Catholic moral theology on medical issues. • The natural purpose of sex is procreation – so using the contraceptive pill is wrong. • There are philosophical problems with natural law anyway • …BUT nowadays, natural law for medical ethics is problematic because biotechnology can manipulate “nature” in sophisticated ways… The Only Way is Ethics…. • Natural law is probably not fit for purpose for evaluating the ethical status of current medicines – never mind about future biomedical technologies! • A new approach is needed! • We need to evaluate biomedical technology ethically to determine whether it will help us live our best life – or we’ll end up using the latest medical gimmick just because it’s there. • Ethical evaluation of current medical interventions in secular bioethics is based on consequentialism/utilitarianism. • Virtue ethics – about the virtue of the technology user/practitioner may be used more in future.. An Ethical Approach to Biotechnology Projects Four “diagnostic” questions: 1) Is the project good news for the poor? 2) Is the project an attempt to be “like God” (in respect of Genesis 3v5) or does it conform to the image of God? (Genesis 1v26) 3) What attitude does the project embody towards the material world? (including our own bodies)? 4) What attitude does the project embody towards past failures? Neil Messer, Selfish Genes & Christian Ethics: Theological and Ethical Reflections on Evolutionary Biology (London: SCM, 2007), pp. 229-235. The Verdict on Technology • We are already using biomedical enhancement technologies – coffee to keep us alert while studying! • New – maybe radical – biomedical technologies will be invented, whether we like it or not. • We can’t just pretend it isn’t happening! • At one level, technology is ethically neutral.. • Let’s make sure we use it for good… • It can help our health and wellbeing…. • ….as long as we can stay human! Your Task • Radical biomedical technologies have potentially profound, far reaching effects on human life and society. • Evaluation of their effects is therefore a multidisciplinary task – embracing economics, sociology, gender studies and many more…. • We’d like your group to research and produce a poster or a short Powerpoint presentation (no more than five slides), with an oral presentation on the effects of a biomedical technology (choose any example) on society, and what would be good or bad about it. • Think laterally! The more implications across different fields of human activity the better… Your Task • This task relates to the Department of Theology & Religion’s research in the area of theological anthropology/practical ethics. • By doing this, you’ll learn the following skills – a) research, b) critical evaluation of ideas, c) collaboration & communication, d) using and arranging different materials, and e) presentation skills. • Do you have any questions about the task?.
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