Transhumanism - Engineering the Human Condition

History, Philosophy and Current Status

Roberto Manzocco (Autor)

Buch | Softcover

XIX, 293 Seiten

2019 | 1st ed. 2019
Springer International Publishing (Verlag)
978-3-030-04956-0 (ISBN)

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This book is designed to offer a comprehensive high-level introduction to transhumanism, an international political and cultural movement that aims to produce a "paradigm shift" in our ethical and political understanding of human evolution. Transhumanist thinkers want the human species to take the course of evolution into its own hands, using advanced technologies currently under development - such as robotics, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, cognitive neurosciences, and nanotechnology - to overcome our present physical and mental limitations, improve our intelligence beyond the current maximum achievable level, acquire skills that are currently the preserve of other species, abolish involuntary aging and death, and ultimately achieve a post-human level of existence. The book covers transhumanism from a historical, philosophical, and scientific viewpoint, tracing its cultural roots, discussing the main philosophical, epistemological, and ethical issues, and reviewing the state of the art in scientific research on the topics of most interest to transhumanists. The writing style is clear and accessible for the general reader, but the book will also appeal to graduate and undergraduate students.

Roberto Manzocco is an Italian science writer, journalist, and historian of science who specializes in the history and philosophy of biology, technological innovation, and technological forecasting. He has also written books on philosophy and "pop culture" (for example, his first book was about David Lynch and philosophy). He is also interested in European policy making and the future of the Transatlantic Partnership.

Introduction. Technological Heaven.- Chapter 1. Stairways to the Sky.- Chapter 2. Across the transhumanist galaxy.- Chapter 3. A new Tower of Babel.- Chapter 4. Living forever.- Chapter 5. Plan B.- Chapter 6. Nanometric Cornucopia.- Chapter 7. The New Flesh rising.- Chapter 8. Trans-humans in the geopolitical arena.- Chapter 9. Colonizing the mind.- Chapter 10. Synthetic bodies, artificial minds.- Chapter 11. Toward a radical life expansion.- Chapter 12. Rapture of the Nerd.- Chapter 13. The light of the very far future.- Chapter 14. Transhumanism and science: a reality check.- Conclusion. Stealing God's Thunder.

Erscheinungsdatum	22.03.2019
Reihe/Serie	Popular Science
Reihe/Serie	Springer Praxis Books
Zusatzinfo	XIX, 293 p. 2 illus.
Verlagsort	Cham
Sprache	englisch
Maße	168 x 240 mm
Gewicht	538 g
Themenwelt	Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Natur / Technik ► Technik
Themenwelt	Technik
Schlagworte	Cryonics techniques • human enhancement • Human Genetic Engineering • mind uploading • Posthuman Evolution • self-directed evolution • Technological singularity • Transhuman Evolution • Transhumanism movement • Transtechnology society • understanding human evolution
ISBN-10	3-030-04956-6 / 3030049566
ISBN-13	978-3-030-04956-0 / 9783030049560
Zustand	Neuware