The Dangers of Transhumanism to STS

• In Event: STS vis-à-vis Transhumanism: Friends or Foes?

Abstract

In my presentation, I hope to outline the ways in which the concept of "transhumanism," once an interesting and perhaps inspiring concept for STS scholars, has been hijacked by billionaires wishing to extend their lives and perhaps achieve immortality. It's one thing to problematize Donna Haraway's notion of "cyborg" or the concerns of the interface of AI and human consciousness, quite another to consider how technoscience can be of assistance to the improvement of human suffering and the differently-abled among us, and still quite another thing to worry about the select few privileged among us. The critical edge of STS should not be sacrificed at the gold-plated alter.

Author

• Raphael Sassower, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs