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COEXISTENCE BETWEEN HUMAN AND POSTHUMAN IN TRANSHUMANISM: THE BASIC SCENARIOS

Artur Dydrov

Abstract

Transhumanism is the movement for a radical change in human nature: physiology, emotions and feelings, intellect, etc.; it exists for several decades. Transhumanism as a project of human transformation is impossible without the use of high technologies. These include cloning, genetic engineering, cognitive technology, nanotechnology, information technology. It is important that Transhumanism uses scientific developments, but is not limited to them. The ideologists of Transhumanism try, firstly, to explain the reasons for the need to change the nature of human and, secondly, to point to the ways of changing. The Transhumanists believe that the radical transformation of the human nature will lead to the appearance of posthuman. In their works transhumanists designed images of the essence of the future. An important question about the alleged relationship between human and posthuman was put on the back burner. The Transhumanists never had a clear answer to this question. In this article ideas about the coexistence of human and posthuman are systematized; four scenarios are presented: “Matrix”, “Assumption of the Alternative”, “Good Gods” and “Bifurcation”. According to the “Matrix” scenario, a person is an element of a software product. The computer program is created by posthuman having access to large computing power. The “Assumption of the Alternative” scenario based on the idea of N. Bostrom about the existence of a posthuman civilization in a parallel time and space. According to this scenario, postman would not be interested in modeling the past. The “Good Gods” scenario is dedicated to the coexistence of man and the neohuman. Neohuman is modified people, living side-by-side with the natural human. Neohuman will be a teacher of human and the standard of realization of the spiritual and physical energy. According to the “Bifurcation” scenario by V. Pride, posthuman can be peacefully disposed to human. It is also likely that posthuman will be aggressive towards an imperfect creature of the past. It is important that the outcome of all scenarios can be a major conflict between a person and his modified descendant. Supporters of these scenarios recognize that human and posthuman values will radically differ from each other.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgemsocial2018/2.2/S09.058

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