A-Infos (en) Italy, FAI - Umanita Nova: On Transhumanism. Between Science, Science Fiction and the Ideology of Power. (ca, de, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

Transhumanism is a movement that promotes the use of advanced 
technologies to improve the physical, cognitive and psychological 
capabilities of human beings. The basic idea is that we can and should 
overcome the natural limits of our human condition, such as aging, 
disease and even death.1 ---- The term "transhumanism" was coined by 
biologist Julian Huxley in 1957, intended as a way for humanity to 
transcend itself through the use of science and technology. Huxley, an 
evolutionary biologist and the first Director General of UNESCO, 
believed that humanity was on the verge of a new phase of existence, as 
different from our current one as we are from previous hominids. An 
interesting aspect of Huxley's ideas is that he saw transhumanism not 
only as an individual improvement but as a collective advancement of 
humanity.2

Since then, the concept has evolved and gained popularity, especially in 
the 1980s thanks to thinkers such as FM-20303 and Natasha Vita-More.4 As 
mentioned, transhumanists believe that through genetic engineering, 
nanotechnology, artificial intelligence and other innovations, we can 
improve our mental and physical abilities, prolong life and improve its 
quality. For example, by enhancing our memory, increasing our 
intelligence, enhancing our physical strength and creating 
brain-computer interfaces for direct communication with machines, 
perhaps embedded in ourselves.

Science fiction largely preceded Huxley's ideas. Here are some notable 
examples: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1818): often considered one of 
the first examples of science fiction, it explores themes such as the 
creation of life by scientific means and its ethical consequences; H.G. 
Wells's The Time Machine (1820): Wells (1895): we find the idea of 
​​possible transformations of the human species; Metropolis (1927): this 
film presents a futuristic vision of a city in which advanced technology 
and robotics play a central role; Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 
(1932): written by Julian Huxley's brother, Aldous, it explores a 
dystopian future in which biotechnology and genetic engineering are used 
to control and improve human society. These works laid the foundation 
for many of the ideas that would later be formalized in the 
transhumanist movement.

After being clearly influenced by them, the transhumanist movement then 
in turn influenced the latter. Here too, just a few significant 
examples: Ghost in the Shell: a Japanese manga and anime, then also a 
film, that explores the boundary between human and machine through the 
story of a cyborg; Deus Ex: a series of video games that addresses 
issues such as cybernetics, surveillance and the ethical implications of 
human modification; Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan: a novel and 
then a TV series that imagines a future in which human consciousness can 
be transferred from one body to another, exploring the social and moral 
consequences of such technology; The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi: a 
novel that combines action and philosophy, exploring themes such as 
death and finitude in post-human life.

Transhumanism, in short, pervades both politics and popular culture and 
continues to grow, influencing the debate on how technology can and 
should be used to improve human life. We then distinguish two levels: 
the first on the desirability in itself of the process towards 
transhumanism, the other on the ideological use of such a perspective.

The first element - the use of technology to improve human life as a 
whole and its hypothetical consequences - is in itself a futurological 
description based on real data. Since 1957 there have in fact been 
numerous technological innovations that seem to go in the direction of 
transhumanism. Here are some of the most significant.

1. Genetic Engineering: The discovery of DNA and the subsequent ability 
to manipulate it have paved the way for techniques such as CRISPR, which 
allows us to precisely modify genes, potentially leading to the 
elimination of genetic diseases and enhancing human capabilities; 2. 
Nanotechnology: This technique allows us to manipulate matter at the 
molecular and atomic level with applications in medicine, with 
nanorobots that could repair damaged tissue or fight diseases from 
within the body; 3. Artificial Intelligence: AI has recently made great 
strides, with increasingly sophisticated algorithms that can improve our 
cognitive abilities; 4. Brain-Computer Interfaces: Today it is already 
possible to directly connect the human brain to machines, improving 
cognitive and motor skills - for example, cochlear implants can restore 
hearing to the deaf and advanced prosthetics are controlled directly by 
the brain; 5. Life Extension: biomedical research has led to discoveries 
that could greatly extend human life, with anti-aging therapies, tissue 
regeneration and the possibility of replacing damaged organs with those 
grown in the laboratory. 6. Virtual and/or Augmented Reality: 
technologies that are transforming the way we interact with the world, 
allowing us to live immersive experiences and improve our skills through 
advanced simulations.

Many of these technologies open the way to dystopian developments but, 
in themselves, also to positive scenarios for the good and long life of 
individuals, which seem difficult to give up: I am convinced that the 
majority of the most ardent critics, faced with the alternative between 
life and death, but also between the alternative of walking on their own 
two feet or being stuck in a wheelchair, etc. will accept them. 
Furthermore, opposing them would put the opposition movement in a 
difficult situation with the vast majority of humanity, who would see it 
as a criminal gang that, faced with the possibility of a longer and 
better life for all, would like to let human beings die prematurely. Of 
course, it is also important to consider the ethical and social 
implications of these technologies and fight to ensure that their 
benefits are fairly distributed and the risks are minimized, as the 
workers' and socialist movements have always done when faced with the 
issue of public health.

But let's move on to the ideological use of the transhumanist 
perspective. Let's look at the current social base of transhumanism 
understood not as a futurological perspective but as a political 
movement: in the vast majority of cases, it is people belonging to the 
dominant social classes - the figure of Elon Musk is definitely 
indicative - who above all pursue the prospect of immortality 
(preferably before their death...). Of course, even the rich and 
powerful may not cry but they certainly fear death like everyone else - 
but there is something strange in these enthusiastic endorsements.

In fact, those who set themselves the goal of a long and better life, 
even beyond the transhuman aspect to which technologies could lead, 
should first of all consider the problem of preventing the dynamics of 
power from destroying humanity before these technologies can develop. 
The strange thing I was talking about is that the most famous current 
exponents of transhumanism, instead, are in positions of command that 
direct humanity towards ecological catastrophe and probably, with all 
due jinxes, much earlier towards thermonuclear catastrophe.

We were saying that even the rich and powerful fear death; let's add now 
that they are not on average so stupid as not to realize that the 
hierarchical society of which they are the leaders is leading us towards 
the exact opposite of a long and happy life. In them, therefore, 
adhering to the transhumanist perspective could have an ideological 
anxiolytic meaning: somehow they feel they are leading the human species 
towards its disappearance but, instead of this disturbing thought, 
viscerally rejecting the alternative of a society of free and equal 
people, they toy with the idea of ​​becoming immortal, perhaps in 
technological islands that keep them safe from the disasters they are 
preparing. However, this is an illusion, especially if referred to the 
scenario of a thermonuclear war, a scenario that as I write these lines 
seems to be reappearing.

Long-term survival in a fallout bunker depends on various factors. 
Modern bunkers are designed to be autonomous and self-sufficient, with 
energy generation systems such as solar panels or combustion generators, 
built with insulating materials, air filtering systems to protect 
against radiation and systems to monitor radiation levels to know when 
it is safe to leave. The amount of food and water stored is crucial: the 
most advanced bunkers can guarantee survival conditions for up to five 
years. The capacity of a bunker to ensure long-term survival is 
therefore extremely limited: the International Campaign to Abolish 
Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) points out that bunkers can give a false sense of 
security and fail to address the real risks of a nuclear conflict.5 Not 
even the hypothesis of transferring consciousness to computer media 
would solve the problem: computers also need energy and long before a 
safe external environment returns, even energy reserves will run out.

Paradoxically, therefore, a coherent transhumanist perspective should 
first fight the current transhumanists. Then we will see: the important 
thing is first of all to be able to choose, while alive, if and how to 
use the technologies that human intelligence makes and will make available.

Enrico Voccia

1See https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transumanesimo and 
https://viverepiusani.it/transumanesimo-che-cose-e-come-potrebbe-influenzare-il-futuro/ 
.

2See https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Huxley .

3The original name is Fereidoun M. Esfandiary, an Iranian writer, 
philosopher, basketball player, and futurologist, who legally changed 
his name to FM-2030. For this and other information about him see 
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM-2030 .

4See her own website https://www.natashavita-more.com/about/ .

5https://altreconomia.it/i-bunker-antiatomici-e-i-miti-da-sfatare-sulla-reale-protezione-da-una-guerra-nucleare/

https://umanitanova.org/sul-transumanesimo-tra-scienza-fantascienza-e-ideologia-del-potere/
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