The pandemic has forced authorities around the world to scramble for solutions within the realm of possibility. One of the more futuristic, radical solutions which is still relegated to the sidelines is transhumanism. It is a branch of philosophy that believes in transcending the limitations of the human population through technological augmentation. From hearing aids, pacemakers, bionic arms, the manifestations of transhumanism are very much present in our lives. However, the radical applications of being able to tweak biology to suit ones interests and needs at a commercial cost is yet to see the light of day. The basic tenet of transhumanism is extension of human life. Yet, eternal life comes across as a utopian thought where inadequate manufacturing of PPE kits for doctors and nurses have us jolted back to the harsh realities of current pandemic dwelling.
Since the globalized nature of modern capitalistic order and the consequent interconnectedness of our lives has made the possibility of frequent pandemics ever so plausible, we find ourselves at the juncture of a major shift towards increasing receptivity to transhumanist solutions. The famous American inventor and futurist Kurzweil wrote in his book The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology about a journey towards a meshing point of humans and machine intelligence The Singularity. He envisioned nanobots which allowed people to eat whatever they want while remaining healthy and fit, provide copious energy, ward off infections or cancer, replace organs and augment their brains. There will come a future where human bodies will carry so much augmentation that they would be able to alter their physical manifestation at will.
Even if the coronavirus fades off without wiping humans off the planet, it has given an eerie trailer of what future outbreaks might hold in store. Hence due security measures have to be pondered upon -whether in the labs, where deadly pathogens are being researched upon or in the malicious possibilities of a biowarfare. Frontline workers can be provided tech enhancements to ensure better armament against infectious, mutating viral diseases. Protective exoskeletons, real-time blood monitors for pathogens, can bid riddance to any temporary means of protection which are vulnerable against quality and efficacy issues.
In 2011, surgeons in Sweden had successfully transplanted a fully synthetic, tissue-engineered trachea into a man with late-stage tracheal cancer. The trachea was created entirely in a lab with tissue grown from the patients own stem cells inside a bioreactor designed to protect the organ and promote cell growth. Under transhumanism, artificial organs would be superior to ordinary donor organs in several ways. They can be made to order more quickly than a donor organ can often be found; would be grown from a patients own cells and hence wont require dangerous immunosuppressant drugs to prevent rejection.
As of 2018, prototypes of artificial lungs are also surfacing at the Galveston National Laboratory at the University of Texas Medical Branch, where the team spent the last 15 years developing the prototype. Upon completion, the bioengineered lungs were transplanted into four pigs. There was no indication of transplant rejection when the animals were examined at regular intervals for months after transplant. The researchers also observed that the bioengineered lungs became vascularized, establishing the necessary blood vessel networks to do its job. For diseases like covid-19, which affect a particular body organ, having an option of a bioengineered organ could very well be a safeguard.
But transhumanists are not just trying to extend human lives, they also want to revive them. They aim to merge bioengineering, AI capabilities, 3-D printing to resurrect the dead victims of any catastrophe much like the pandemic on our hands right now. Ways of dealing with grief at the loss of a loved one can possibly be placated with measures like interactive custom-holograms, social media feed powered by AI that could generate new messages based on the pattern of the old ones.
There are strong ethical considerations that also pop up in the discussion of transhumanism. Stefan Lorenz Sorgner, a German philosopher and bioethicist believes that processes like cryonics will go against most ecological principles given the amount of resources needed to keep a body in suspended animation post-death. Even though, transhumanism does not explicitly encourage breeding for the superiority of one specific group, the methods endorsed by some prominent transhumanists aim for physiological superiority. Considering that for the time being, solutions emanating will be heavy on the monetary end in the healthcare set-up, it could breed inequality in access. A huge gap in resources will be experienced in the society, as the affluent section amasses money and influence to set out an eternal timeline for themselves, coming at a lethal cost for the other half of the society.
Solving problems that will plague us in the future is a rising urge shared by leaders, philanthropists and billionaires around the world. This is why proponents like Zoltan Istvan fear the fact that the exponential rise of transhumanist technologies might leave governments fumbling to discuss and bring about policy directions to regulate and guard changes. Important questions like how far is too far? will need phased guidance as we have learnt from the chaotic response to systemic changes being implemented in the medical field during Covid-19. A conversation on transhumanism should not be put off any further and needs to permeate across different strata of stakeholders.
DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.
The rest is here:
Pandemics and transhumanism - The Times of India Blog
- Transhumanism Archives - h+ Mediah+ Media [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2015]
- H+: True Transhumanism - Essentials | Metanexus [Last Updated On: July 6th, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 6th, 2015]
- The Trials of Transhumanism: Androgyny and the Antichrist [Last Updated On: August 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 16th, 2015]
- Transhumanism, Ethics, and the Internet [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2015]
- Transhumanism - International Centre/Center for Bioethics ... [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2015]
- Transhumanism News - That's Really Possible [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2015]
- Transhumanism: The History of a Dangerous Idea: David ... [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2015]
- Transhumanism | Bioethics.com [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2015]
- Transhumanism | Foreign Policy [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2015]
- Transhumanism and the Great Rebellion - Rapture Ready [Last Updated On: August 28th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 28th, 2015]
- transhumanism | social and philosophical movement ... [Last Updated On: August 28th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 28th, 2015]
- Transhumanism | Posthumanism | Future For All [Last Updated On: August 28th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 28th, 2015]
- Amazon.com: Transhumanism: Robots, Cyborgs and Artificial ... [Last Updated On: August 28th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 28th, 2015]
- Transhumanism - creation.com [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2015]
- WHAT IS TRANSHUMANISM? - Nick Bostrom [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2015]
- What is Transhumanism? (with picture) - wiseGEEK [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2015]
- Transhumanism | America Magazine [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2015]
- Esoteric Synaptic Events: Transhumanism and the Dawn of ... [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2015]
- Transhumanism - Energetic Synthesis [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2015]
- Nick Bostrom's Home Page [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2015]
- THE TECHNOLOGICAL CITIZEN Immortality, Transhumanism ... [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2015]
- Transhumanism and the Technological Singularity [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2015]
- Transhumanism by Julian Huxley (1957) [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2015]
- Becoming More Than Human: Technology and the Post-Human ... [Last Updated On: October 24th, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 24th, 2015]
- Transhumanism | AntiCorruption Society [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2015]
- Transhumanism Wikipedia [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2015]
- Transhumanism - Transhumanismo [Last Updated On: October 22nd, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 22nd, 2016]
- Transhumanism and Libertarianism Are Entirely Compatible - Reason (blog) [Last Updated On: September 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: September 3rd, 2017]
- What is transhumanism? | Christian Apologetics & Research ... [Last Updated On: September 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: September 3rd, 2017]
- Transhumanism - Catholicism.org [Last Updated On: September 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: September 3rd, 2017]
- Transhumanism | Future | FANDOM powered by Wikia [Last Updated On: September 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: September 3rd, 2017]
- Hidden In Plain Sight - 4 Movies That Expose The Globalist ... [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2017]
- with Christian Transhumanism [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2017]
- transhumanism | Definition, Origins, Characteristics ... [Last Updated On: June 21st, 2018] [Originally Added On: June 21st, 2018]
- Transhumanism: The Anti-Human Singularity Agenda [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2018] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2018]
- What is Transhumanism? - GenSix Productions [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2018] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2018]
- Transhumanism | Conspiracy School [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2018] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2018]
- Elevating the Human Condition - Humanity+ What does it mean ... [Last Updated On: July 14th, 2018] [Originally Added On: July 14th, 2018]
- The Ethics Of Transhumanism And The Cult Of Futurist Biotech [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2018] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2018]
- U.S. Transhumanist Party PUTTING SCIENCE, HEALTH ... [Last Updated On: March 3rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: March 3rd, 2019]
- Library : Transhumanism | Catholic Culture [Last Updated On: April 16th, 2019] [Originally Added On: April 16th, 2019]
- A New Generation of Transhumanists Is Emerging | HuffPost [Last Updated On: April 20th, 2019] [Originally Added On: April 20th, 2019]
- Do Jehovah Witnesses Believe in Resurrection or Transhumanism? [Last Updated On: April 22nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: April 22nd, 2019]
- Radical Environmentalism and Transhumanism: Symptoms of the ... [Last Updated On: April 22nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: April 22nd, 2019]
- Transhumanism and AI - Energetic Synthesis [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2019] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2019]
- Research Paper Transhumanism - Middlebury College [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2019] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2019]
- What Is Transhumanism? - thecut.com [Last Updated On: September 19th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 19th, 2019]
- All charged up over body parts, Arts News & Top Stories - The Straits Times [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2019]
- Entering the Echo Chamber of the Alt-Right - Hyperallergic [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2019]
- Cyborgs and immortality: into the research of Dr. Huberman - University News | - University News [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2019]
- Long live candidate Harris, Milwaukee's US Transhumanist Party presidential hopeful - Milwaukee Record [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2019]
- 'The Expanse' Season 4's biggest highlight is eventual coming together of Belters and New Terra - MEAWW [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2019]
- Living in the real AI world - Covalence [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2019]
- How our screen stories of the future went from flying cars to a darker version of now - The Conversation AU [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2019]
- Top Movies Of 2019 That Depicted Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Analytics India Magazine [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2020]
- The 10 best cyberpunk games on PC - PC Gamer [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2020]
- Jason Silva Harnesses the Ineffable - The Good Men Project [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2020]
- A time-travelling musical comedy with lots of flying - Insane Animals arrives at HOME - Manchester Evening News [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2020]
- cyborgs, robots, and biohackers: the first-ever survey of transhumanism - Designboom [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2020]
- Jeffrey Epstein and the Hideous Strength of Transhumanism - National Catholic Register [Last Updated On: April 9th, 2020] [Originally Added On: April 9th, 2020]
- Former Witcher 3 devs are launching a sci-fi novel-inspired game - PCGamesN [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2020]
- CD Projekt Red have nabbed Cyberpunk, but here are 5 other punks that deserve games - PC Gamer [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2020]
- To be a Machine review: Experimental format well-suited to plays core theme - The Irish Times [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2020]
- UTC Professor Blends Together Philosophical Concepts And Filmmaking - The Chattanoogan [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2020]
- Is Biohacking The Future Of Skincare? - British Vogue [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2020]
- Not Even This by Jack Underwood review fatherhood, philosophy and fear - The Guardian [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2021]
- Five minutes with Rafe Johnson - 2021 - Articles - Transform magazine [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2021]
- Cameras Roll On David Cronenberg Sci-Fi Crimes Of The Future With Viggo Mortensen, La Seydoux, Kristen Stewart; More Cast Join - Deadline [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2021]
- Why haven't we heard more from the human rights bureaucracy about Covid and our liberties? - The Spectator Australia [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2021]
- COVID19, The Great Reset, and Transhumanism Thuletide [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2021]
- Gene-editing, Moderna, and transhumanism | Christina Lin ... [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2021]
- TRANSHUMANISM / HUMAN 2.0 End Time Talks [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2021]
- Transhumanism: Expert exposes liberal billionaire elitists ... [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2021]
- What is Transhumanism? [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2021]
- Transhumanism: Pros and Cons - iGyaan [Last Updated On: December 24th, 2021] [Originally Added On: December 24th, 2021]
- FALSE: COVID-19 vaccines eliminate 'God Particle' in the body - Rappler [Last Updated On: January 20th, 2022] [Originally Added On: January 20th, 2022]
- David Cronenbergs Crimes of the Future trailer shows return to sci-fi body horror - Polygon [Last Updated On: April 19th, 2022] [Originally Added On: April 19th, 2022]
- How Alex Jones' Conspiracy Empire Has Kept Itself Going Even While Being Banned From Social Media - The Daily Beast [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2022] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2022]
- Dr. Robert Malone: Resisting Covid Tyranny and the WEFs Great Reset | The Paradise News - The Paradise News [Last Updated On: May 15th, 2022] [Originally Added On: May 15th, 2022]
- Religious Transhumanism 11: What about the body? | cybernetic immortality - Patheos [Last Updated On: June 4th, 2022] [Originally Added On: June 4th, 2022]