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Francis Fukuyama (author of The End of
History) calls Transhumanism "The world's most
dangerous idea." The London Financial Times
declares: "The ethics of transhumanism have shot up
the political agenda," in an article entitled "The
Most Dangerous Idea on Earth."
What's happening here?
The ethical questions concerning biotechnology
and genetics ("Superbiology") are part of a wider
philosophical debate about humanity's place and purpose
in the universe: should we accept the fate that some believe
Nature and others contend that God "intended,"
or should we strive to take control of our own evolutionary
destiny through science? The emerging philosophical movement
known as Transhumanism is at the forefront of this debate.
Transhumanism supports the emerging Superbiology,
yet the public knows little about this vital emerging philosophy.
Transhumanism declares unequivocal support
for the attempt to eliminate disease, defeat death, and
enhance both body and mind beyond the limitations of the
human condition.
In this groundbreaking book, Simon Young
presents a compelling case for transhumanist philosophy,
a trenchant response to its critics, the "bio-Luddites,"
and for the first time, a comprehensive outline of Transhumanism
as a totalized philosophical system in the Western tradition,
including chapters on metaphilosophy, epistemology, psychology,
ethics, politics, aesthetics, and metaphysics.
Defining Transhumanism as "the belief
in overcoming human limitations through reason, science,
and technology," the author introduces a host of new
concepts, including Nurethics (Sensible Self-Interest and
the Benevolent Gene), Neuromotive Psychology (the Prometheus
and Orpheus Drives for Individuation and Integration transcending
the Freudian-Darwinian drives of Eros/Thanatos), Agnoskepticism
(a rational alternative to theism, atheism, and agnosticism),
"Mind of God" Theology (Netaphysics, or the New
Music of the Spheres: a "scientific spirituality"),
and the Will to Evolve.
In a fascinating volume guaranteed to challenge
theists, liberals, conservatives, therapists, ecoists, New
Agers, postmodern relativists, contemporary artists, neo-Darwinists,
and doom mongers alike, Young rejects premodern superstition
and postmodern nihilism, calling for a renewed belief in
human progress through scientific rationality, and predicting
the emergence of twenty-first-century technoromanticism
-- a passionate belief in human transcendence, not through
religion or politics, but through science.
Refuting theistic metaphysics for bio-psychology,
the author declares "'the soul is dead' -- not because
we do not believe in love -- quite the opposite -- but because
we no longer need to believe there is an immortal ghost
living inside us in order to appreciate its value. For we
recognize both the neurochemical basis and the logic of
love. 'Goodwill to all men' is a rational tactic for mutual
survival and well-being. We no longer need God in order
to be good -- though a suicide bomber needs him to be bad."
In an age when cynicism, fatalism, and nihilism
are rife, Designer Evolution will rekindle a feeling
of optimism about the future of our species.
Written in a breezy, populist, quotable
style, this reader-friendly introduction to a vitally important
philosophy will be difficult to ignore as advances in biotechnology
increasingly claim the headlines in the years ahead. It
is vital reading for all who care about our place and purpose
in the world at a time of rapid change at the dawn of the
twenty-first century.
Simon Young is the son of pioneering
cybernetician and science writer J. F. Young (1921-94),
author of such seminal books as Cybernetics (1969), Robotics
(1973), and Cybernetic Engineering (1973). As an accomplished
pianist and composer, Young's unusual combination of musical
romanticism and rational scientism informs his Transhumanist
philosophy -- a passionate belief in the striving for human
transcendence, not through religion or politics, but through
science.
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