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Transhumanism: A Secularist so-called “human enhancement” in discourse on the postsecular and by also raising more general Re-Enchantment of the World? questions about the role of visions of the future Report from the International Research in science, technology and innovation, the sym- Symposium “Imagining the (Post-) posium and the project as a whole can be seen Human Future: Meaning, Critique and as attempts to further a convergence of research Consequences” and discussions in such diverse fields as science and technology studies (STS), philosophy, reli- Karlsruhe, Germany, July 8–9, 2013 gious studies, theology, technology assessment (TA), cultural studies and sociology. The ques- by Franc Mali, University of Ljubljana, tions to be discussed during the symposium were Slovenia, Christopher Coenen, ITAS, Hannah also correspondingly diverse: what are the con- Weinhardt, University of Heidelberg, Germany sequences for human society when technology is understood as a privileged site of human agency In July 2013, an international research sympo- or is even deemed an exclusive path to individual sium in Karlsruhe brought together scholars, salvation? To what extent can a historical, philo- mainly from Europe and the US, with a view to sophical or other scholarly analysis of the trans- stimulating discussions about certain far-reach- humanist imagination contribute to our under- ing visions of the future against the background standing of the interrelations of modern science, of current and historical changes in the relation- technology and religion, including the notions ships between science, technology, philosophy of the “secular” and the “post-secular”? How is and religion. A highly interdisciplinary event techno-scientific imagination linked to the social which focused on the transhumanist imagination, and economic transformations of late capitalism the symposium not only aimed to shed new light in the age of globalisation? What forms of au- on current discourse about human enhancement thority and credibility underlie and shape imagi- and the future of human nature but also to use nations of the posthuman future? What place the topic of transhumanism as a mirror for re- does imagination of technological futures have flecting on such broader issues as the relationship in the repertoire of meaning available to public between science and faith and the role of visions reasoning? And what promises and challenges of the future in current processes of innovation. do dominant imaginations of techno-scientific It came as a surprise to many when Jürgen futures hold and pose for the work of democracy Habermas began a couple of years ago to dis- and the institutions of the liberal state? The sym- play considerable interest in the contemporary posium aimed to bring together scholars not only role of religion. Reflecting on the prospects of with diverse disciplinary backgrounds but also postmetaphysical thinking, he has since scru- with very different and even conflicting stances tinised challenges with which the latter is con- towards these questions and to stimulate open fronted in a “postsecular” world society. In turn, and constructive discussions among them.3 his reflections have inspired the development of an analytical framework in a research project on “The Transhumanist Imagination: Innovation, 1 Posthumanism and Current Transhumanism Secularization, and Eschatology”, in which Hava Tirosh-Samuelson from Arizona State University The specific topic of the symposium, namely (ASU), one of the project’s principal investiga- transhumanism and the posthumanist imagina- tors, is continuing her important earlier work on tion, lent additional diversity and complexity to transhumanism.1 The Karlsruhe symposium, or- the deliberations, in particular concerning the ganised in cooperation with ASU by the Institute notion of “posthumanism”. As a worldview and for Technology Assessment and System Analy- sociocultural movement, transhumanism hopes sis (ITAS) of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technol- that science and technology will enable human- ogy (KIT), was staged as part of this project.2 By ity to transcend its limitations, such as death, contextualising the topics of transhumanism and ageing and disease, as well as its physical and

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cognitive constraints; it tends to see itself as the Alfred Nordmann criticised research pro­ rightful successor to classical humanism and the jects that view human beings as objects of de- Enlightenment. There is, however, an interest- sign. Arguing that the world eludes design, and ing overlap between the lively discussions about that this is even more true of the future, he ques- transhumanism, which largely take place within tioned attempts to view the future as an object of broader discourse on “human enhancement”, anticipation, including technology assessment. and a similarly heated debate about posthuman- He also argued that transhumanists like Nick ism. This overlap might very well have been Bostrom display an astounding degree of shame- caused by a terminological ambiguity: while lessness in their visions of the future which, on “posthumanism” is often used as a synonym for the other hand, reveal their strong sense of shame “transhumanism” (or as a term which refers to regarding the human body. Reference was made a future in which advanced human enhancement many times throughout the symposium to this technologies or the creation of highly superior notion of the “Promethean shame” (Günther An- artificial intelligence���������������������������������� mean that the civilisation- ders) of being born rather than made, a feeling al successors to humanity are truly posthuman which results from the ever-increasing efficiency rather than merely transhuman), it can also mean of our machines. The interrelations of posthu- “after humanism”. From such a “posthumanist” manism and transhumanism were addressed by perspective, certain basic assumptions held by Stefan Sorgner, who pointed out that posthuman- classical humanists, Enlightenment philosophers ism is rooted in postmodernist philosophy, cul- and modern thinkers (e.g. regarding individual tural and literary theory and aims to overcome autonomy, human nature or the relationship bet- dualisms such as that of the body and the mind, ween humans and technologies) appear either to while transhumanism is largely naturalistic and be obsolete or to have been illusions right from rationalist and positions itself within the Enlight- the start: we have never been modern and have enment tradition. In his view, both approaches always been posthuman. In this sense, the term have advantages and should be merged in a “me- “posthumanism” is an important element of tahumanism”����������������������������������� which combines practical transhu��������- broad postmodernist discourse and is influential manism with posthumanist reflection. Matthias in such fields as STS and cultural studies. In this Kettner pointed out the relevance of “collective same regard, the symposium brought together a day dreaming”, the collective utopian and dysto- highly diverse group of scholars, again in order pian forms of imagination in such cultural pro- to facilitate an open and fruitful exchange bebe-- ductions as science fiction films. In his view, they tween academics from different epistemic com- are the keys to a better understanding of socio- munities and schools of thought. technical imaginaries of the future. Elena Sima- The first symposium session aimed to clarify kova focused on the relevance of transhumanism the notion of posthumanism and to explore cur- and the posthumanist imagination to discourse at rent transhumanist intellectual movements and the science-policy interface, reporting on the re- their societal relevance. It was opened by Andy sults of a workshop she co-organised in Exeter4. Miah, who argued that the posthuman already ex- Referring to her own experience at the Singular- ists and that humanity has always been part of the ity University5, Laura Cabrera reflected on the evolutionary continuum, a “work in progress”. role of transhumanist “visioneers” (a term coined Miah regards human enhancement technologies by Patrick McCray which refers to visionary en- (HET) as the means by which to fully realise gineers, most of them ���������������������������transhumanists) in the cur- posthumanism. In his view, the development of rent innovation system. In her view, visioneers HET should be pursued rather than inhibited. Al- in fact play an important role by drawing atten- though there is no guarantee that HET will im- tion to a possible future which, however, they prove our life or societies, they do have great po- promote as the only desirable one. By reflecting tential to increase autonomous decision-making on visioneering, we may better understand how and can therefore facilitate a far-reaching “shift desires and fears shape the politics and econom- from chance to choice”, a truly modern goal. ics of technoscience. Discussing socio-economic

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aspects of research and technology development, is also a major goal of transhumanism, played an Simone Bateman emphasised their relevance for important role in the rise of modern ICT. Corne- the analysis of transhumanist and other visions of lius Borck interpreted Dadaist works and ideas the future of science and society. by Raoul Hausmann and Hannah Höch as being creative articulations of posthumanist imagina- tion, pointing out that in this context such imagi- 2 Historical and Religious Aspects nation affirmed the human rather than seeking to The second session explored historical aspects overcome it. The ability to reflect on the human of the posthumanist imagination and its relation- condition determines what it means to be human. ship with religion. Elaine Graham discussed the Michael Hauskeller scrutinised the transhuman- notion of the postsecular with regard to posthu- ist imagination concerning sex life, also by refer- manist imagination. Both terms refer to thinking ring to the history of ideas about artificial bod- patterns that move beyond traditional dualisms: ies. He discussed certain transhumanist visions on the one hand the posthuman alerts us to the of the future of bodily pleasures that correspond contingency of boundaries by means of which to the fascination with “sexbots”, and how they we distinguish between the human and the non- relate to the logocentric ideology of transhuman- human, the technological and the biological and ists which aims to overcome the flesh. Thorsten the artificial and the natural. The notion of the Moos analysed relationships between the post- postsecular questions the boundary between the human imagination and eschatology. In his view, profane and the sacred as well as that between transhumanism also expresses but does not (yet) science and religion. If both posthumanist and reflect on three main eschatological narratives postsecular discourse converge we may develop about the future: the future as a time of perfec- a richer understanding of what it means to be tion, the apocalypse and parousia’s delay. Taking human. Eve-Marie Engels provided a thorough into account the reflexive richness of the history account and analysis of Charles Darwin’s atti- of religious eschatological thinking could help us tudes towards the proto-transhumanist ideas of deal with transhumanism in a more realistic way. the eugenicists. She pointed out that Darwin did not support these ideas but constantly empha- sised the importance of moral sense and the law 3 Technoscience, Progress and Secular of sympathy as being the most valuable traits of Visions of Salvation humankind. Christopher Coenen drew attention to recent research by Tirosh-Samuelson, Rein- In her well-attended public evening speech, en- hard Heil, Richard Saage and others on early titled “Perfecting the future: sociotechnical im- instances of the transhumanist imagination in aginaries and the public good”, Sheila Jasanoff Great Britain in the late nineteenth and early discussed imaginaries of the future more broad- twentieth centuries, arguing that much of what ly. In order to understand future visions and cre- is envisioned and discussed today in discourse ate accountability for them, she argued that col- on human enhancement and transhumanism was lective and institutionally stabilised discourse already around in these decades (e.g. in writings about the public good needs to be analysed and by Winwood Reade, H.G. Wells, J.B.S. Haldane compared, as do public practices and forms of and Desmond Bernal), particularly with regard social life, while at the same time taking global to the hope for a fundamental transformation of diversity into account. She highlighted the im- human corporeality (“mechanical man”) and the portance of self-reflection and humility within saturation of the universe with (post)human in- academic discourse concerning technological telligence. Gregg Zachary made reference to the visions and urged that due consideration be giv- early history of current information and commu- en to cultural differences, for example with re- nication technologies (ICT). Referring to Vanne- gard to different ways of interrelating the secular var Bush and ICT pioneers in the US, he showed and the religious or the legacy of Enlightenment how the aim of “cognitive enhancement”, which and modernist discourse.

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In his talk on the second day, Steve Fuller population. Shai Lavi argued that, in this context, claimed that transhumanist thinking is deeply we should distinguish between religion as a cos- embedded within Western intellectual tradition mology and religion as a tool-kit and intellectual and can be traced back at least to the Renais- source of various (including secularist) visions sance and certainly to the Enlightenment. Rather of the future. Justus Hartlieb presented a KIT than following a naturalistic view, transhuman- publication entitled “Ist Technik die Zukunft der ism emphasises consciousness and rationality, menschlichen Natur?” (“Is technology the future reaffirming the privileged position of humans as of human nature?”), a compilation of essays in reflective beings who are able to understand and which young scientists and scholars from various ultimately influence evolutionary processes. In countries responded to this question. order to pursue this goal, the governance of new and emerging science and technology should 4 Democracy, Innovation and Imagination shift from the precautionary principle to a more proactive approach (such as the transhuman- The concluding session of the symposium fo- ist “proactionary principle”). Armin Grunwald cused on the interconnection of democracy, in- argued that advances in HET create new policy novation and imagination and the relationship challenges which also require a broader concept between transhumanism and capitalism. Chris- of TA. Hermeneutical TA addresses four layers toph Rehmann-Sutter opened the discussion of meaning: the content of future visions of dif- with a statement about the ethics of wishing. ferent stakeholders, the historical and cultural He regards wishing as an important instance of backgrounds of emerging HET and transhuman- agency. In the case of transhumanism, the “wish- ism, the actor constellations and power relations, ers” are the potential users of HET. It is crucial and the reasons for the interest in particular tech- to analyse the moral shaping and legitimacy of nologies. In his view, transhumanism and the rise these wishes. Ben Hurlbut argued that making of HET are deeply influenced by neoliberalism, technology is analogous to making legislation which promotes hedonism and consumerism. (referring to Langdon Winner). Both are down- Alexandra Grieser pinpointed transhu- stream undertakings and therefore imaginations manist thought within the history of European of futures are also imaginations of governance. thought. In her view, the idea that “more sci- It is important to ask how responsibility for tech- ence” means “less religion” is polemical and not nology development can be organised institu- a valid claim. Rafael Capurro discussed Martin tionally. Like Hurlbut, Brice Laurent rejects the Heidegger’s analysis of humanism as an essen- dichotomy between visions and the institutional tialism that lacks complexity, and as one more framework: while the “Human Brain Project”6 “ism” that we should mistrust. Similarly to Grun- obviously expresses a clear vision of the future, wald, Peter Wehling argued that the transhuman- it is also an example of how European science ist obsession with the future and the hopes for policy is structured and how ideas of responsible human enhancement in general are symptoms of innovation are implemented. Graham warned neoliberalism’s hegemony which is countered by against essentialising technology and drew atten- environmentalism, feminism, postcolonialism tion to the importance of context, arguing for a and other approaches that also offer alternatives feminist perspective on transhumanism. Margo to Western modernist assumptions. John Evans Boenig-Liptsin shifted the focus from politics dealt with the question of potential public ac- to economics by quoting a slogan she has often ceptance of transhumanist visions. Since these heard at Singularity University, “Doing good by visions are based on a very strong faith in sci- doing well”, which expresses the belief that one ence, he analysed data regarding this topic from can make profit by solving the world problems. twelve countries. He pointed out that faith in the She pointed out that the market is seen here as ability of science to provide meaning is grow- a realm of autonomy and free choice, while in ing rather strongly, with significant differences actual fact it is a form of governance. Many other between religious and non-religious parts of the participants also articulated concerns about the

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interrelations of transhumanism, consumerism world that will continue to gain relevance in pub- and neoliberalism. Zachary deems many tech- lic discourse, it may provoke a broader discus- nological developments a direct reaction of in- sion about the hopes and fears attached to new dustry interests and described the famous trans- and emerging science and technology, the roots humanist thinker Ray Kurzweil as a “circus act and political effects of these expectations and the designed to stimulate an appetite for more pro- best ways to deal with them. duction”. While many agreed on the strong in- terdependence of the transhumanist imagination and neoliberal thought and practice, Simakova Notes argued that transhumanism is nowhere near the 1) A list of topical publications by Tirosh-Samuelson real agendas of corporations. Sorgner pointed to and all other symposium participants will be made the high degree of political diversity within the available online at http://www.itas.kit.edu/eng- transhumanist movement, and Nasser Zakariya lish/projects_coen13_postsym.php. argued that the relevance of the transhumanist 2) The project (http://transhumanistimagination. imagination is not restricted to the church-like csrc.asu.edu/) is conducted by ASU’s Center for transhumanist movement. Fuller’s view that the Study of Religion and Conflict together with transhumanism is a legitimate heir to important several partners, and is led by Hava Tirosh-Sam- uelson and J. Benjamin Hurlbut. The symposium strands of Western intellectual history was chal- was scientifically organised and managed by KIT- lenged by Jasanoff, who questioned whether ITAS (official in charge: Christopher Coenen) and transhumanist imagination should be taken seri- funded in part by a grant from the John Templeton ously at all at this stage. If its influence grows in Foundation/Boston University Historical Soci- the future, there will be a need to focus on ques- ety’s “Religion and Innovation in Human Affairs” tions of cultural difference and power structures. (RIHA) programme. Other problems which are rarely addressed in 3) As intended, the symposium was characterised by discourse about transhumanism, such as global lively plenary discussions. Since not only all the poverty and oppression, remain the crucial ques- talks and panel discussions but also all the plenary tions for scholars in fields such as STS and TA. discussions will be documented online at http:// www.itas.kit.edu/english/projects_coen13_post- sym.php, this report largely restricts itself only to the talks and panel discussions. 5 Concluding Remarks 4) http://www.exeter.ac.uk/news/events/details/in- The aim of the symposium was to help bring dex.php?event=843 5) http://singularityu.org/ about a better understanding of the connection 6) http://www.humanbrainproject.eu between beliefs concerning the future of hu- manity and technological innovation, focusing on transhumanism and the posthumanist imagi- « » nation. It showed that the latter can indeed be used as a mirror for reflection on a wide range of contemporary problems and historical ques- tions; it remains unclear, however, whether they act as a distorting mirror or in fact help us to gain new and valid insights into the role of visions of the future in innovation processes and in the development of science and technology. In any case, the current renaissance of the transhuman- ist imagination points to the existence of unre- solved questions in the Western history of ideas concerning science, technology, human nature, religion and social progress. If transhumanism is in fact a secularist attempt to re-enchant the

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