Supporting The Transhumanist Vision: An Examination of Whether Society Should Support the Transhumanist Vision

Abstract

The improvement of the human condition has been an aspiration of man from time immemorial. Through time, each era had its own view of how to achieve this shaped by the zeitgeist. This has evolved to the current transhumanist vision based on a reductionist materialist concept of human nature. This vision considers it is possible and desirable to fundamentally improve the human condition, preferably by technological means. Transhumanist prominent Bostrom (2005b, p. 9) states that there is a moral urgency for societal support to realize the transhumanist dream. This claim is examined, and the question addressed to what extent society should support the transhumanist vision. The underlying foundation and assumptions of the transhumanist vision are assessed to establish that it is certainly based on a reductionist materialist concept of human nature. It is analysed that this concept of human nature contains fundamental flaws and the implications of this are addressed. It is argued that the transhumanist vision is rather a worldview than the fundamental worldview. This nullifies the implicit justification for the moral urgency which leads to the analysis that society should not provide proactive support. However, society should provide moral support for the transhumanist aspiration of the improvement of man. Limited support should be provided to transhumanist technologies and endeavours that provide benefit to society that is non-exclusive to the transhumanist vision and this benefit outweighs potential risks and disadvantages to society. The extent of this benefit determines the extent of support that is appropriate.