Transhumanism

1. Introduction

Transhumanism is an intellectual movement advocating for the use of emerging technologies to enhance human capacities, improve well-being, and potentially transcend biological limitations.

2. Historical Development

• Coined by Julian Huxley (1957), envisioning evolution guided by cultural and institutional developments. Encyclopedia Britannica

• Gained structure as a futurist philosophy through thinkers like Max More in the 1990s. Wikipedia

3. Core Themes & Objectives

• Enhancement of longevity, cognition, and physical abilities. Wikipedia

• The aspiration to reach "posthuman" status: beings with capacities far exceeding current human limits. Wikipedia

• Focus on the ethics and societal implications of enhancement technologies. UNT Digital LibraryPolytechnique Insights

• The concept of amortality—radically extending healthy life, rather than achieving literal immortality. Polytechnique InsightsWIRED

4. Institutions & Influence

• The Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET), founded by Nick Bostrom and James Hughes (2004), champions transhumanist ideas in policy-making and academia. Wikipedia

5. Contemporary Perspectives

• Silicon Valley and tech leaders push for human-machine integration (e.g., brain–computer interfaces) to keep pace with AI—highlighted by Elon Musk's advocacy. WIRED

• Ethical commentary calls for balanced, responsible advancement that attends to social equity while aspiring to technical progress. WIRED

6. Suggested Reputable Sources

• Encyclopaedia Britannica: Transhumanism overview Encyclopedia Britannica

• Wikipedia: Transhumanism entry for historical and conceptual summary Wikipedia

• IEET website or Wikipedia article on the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Wikipedia

Learn More

If you would like to learn more about these topics please visit the following pages:

• Optimistic Humanism
• Transhumanism
• Panpsychism
• Community Values
• Ethical Use of A.I.