An illustrated essay on Transhumanism

April 2017

“Happiness is never grand.” states a Controller in Huxley’s Brave New World, written in 1931 and depicting a future in which humanity finally experiences true social order, as all humans are clones conditioned to accomplish one specific type of tasks and to be always happy. Mankind has eventually fulfilled its ultimate purpose: happiness. For millennia, it has tried to reach this state, relying on philosophy, culture, science. For the first time in 1776, it even became the foundation of a free nation: « the pursuit of Happiness » is an « unalienable Right ». The pursuit. The path, not the destination. That is what defines mankind: ambitions, a will to go beyond, and push any limits. Create works of art, reach the stars, understand life. This is the never-ending evolution of humanity.

This, indeed, is the paradox of transhumanism. If we follow our nature until we reach what we seek, we will lose our very nature. Once we’re happy, we have no reason to go on. Worse, more progress would threaten this achievement. In Brave New World, the social order is unshakable, people have no reason to get upset, angry, eager, because they can have at all time whatever they wish: products (such as the pain-relieving, mind-soothing “soma”), sexual partners, adrenaline... But before going further, let’s take a moment to explain what Transhumanism is, because happiness is just one of its goals. It is actually a lot more than what this eighty-six year old book describes.

Transhumanism is about using technologies to revolutionise what it means to be human. On the one hand, by improving our body (that includes our brain), on the other hand to go beyond our body, to make one with technology, our mind being partially or totally digitalised. Transhumanists believe that technology, like biology, is an evolutionary process. And today, our biology has become a limiting factor. We are « shackled by our Primitive Darwinian brain », explains the British Institute of Posthuman Studies, and it is time to move forward. The Institute focuses on three improvements, namely super longevity, intelligence, and happiness. Back on tracks.

In BNW, people assume they have the best life imaginable, because they’re never unhappy. But they live to live, with no passion, nothing gets out of it. They have come back to a survival state, simply without dangers. They don’t have to adapt anymore. Mankind goes round in circles, people live and die, but it creates nothing. It evolves no more. Whatever, could we argue, individuals are all that matters, and they’re satisfied with their lives. But what life? Emotions define our personality, we do not exist without them. I do not feel; therefore I am not. So much for super happiness? Surely, we could manage with a little less anxiety. But as John: “I’m claiming the right to be unhappy.”

What about our body, then? Among other awesome improvements, let’s mention replaceable prostheses to allow the blind to see (They already exist for deaf people who can now hear!), the suppression of neurological disorders, access to knowledge at any time, increased strength and emotions (including fully immersive VR!) or the capability of remaining healthy for as long as we want. Not eternally, don’t get me wrong, but live plainly up until we chose to leave serenely. Why shouldn’t we? Issues of social inequalities are raised in two movies: Andrew Niccol’s Gattaca, and Neill Blomkamp’s Elysium. Who would own the tech? And what about those who do not wish to follow? In Gattaca, children are conceived through genetic engineering and tampering “to ensure they possess the best hereditary traits of their parents” (check out this Centre for Neuroscience & Society’s page: Neuroethics in film and litterature).

This obviously leads to genetic discrimination. But then, the Internet access also led to discrimination in recruitment. We now believe that this same Internet access could reduce inequalities in developing countries. Evolution needs time. Well, assuming that people won’t reject it. Except that some already do, the so-called bio-conservatives. According to them, “there is a substantive human nature which exists independently of its cultural determinations”. They claim that the self should remain a “private, individual, dignified being”, consciousness a mystery. In other words, let’s not kill romanticism! I agree, but we didn’t —while science skyrockets, we still write and read poetry— so why would we? Only when romanticism gets in the way of science, it gives us the Classical elements and the medicine of Humourism. Pretty, but I’m glad we overcame it. Knowing that love is chemistry doesn’t make me less of a lover. Science doesn’t kill magic; it is rather becoming magic.

The other objective is to simply get rid of our body, to go beyond it. But would it be a transfer, or merely a copy, like in the Soma video-game (edited by Frictional Games)? And how accurate? Would we be fully ourselves? This last question, among many others, is addressed in Wally Pfister’s movie Transcendence, where the mind of a dead scientist has been uploaded onto an all-powerful digital system and controls connected humans in order to save the world. Transhumanists generally believe consciousness is pure electrochemistry, thus we will undoubtedly be able to upload it. Will this affect us in any way? How will we experience the world, with which sensors? What about hormones? Because they play a crucial part in our feelings. More importantly, would we still interact with the “real” world or live in a new, digital reality? This can seem far-fetched, but think about it: for some, our personality is already partly digital. Our existence online, on social networks especially, also defines who we are. Imagine what wonderland awaits us, worlds we can build from the ground, in which we would stand as gods, limitless. Except if it turns out to be like The Matrix...

Eventually, this issue merges with the second inevitable outcome of growing technology: artificial intelligence (Chappie, again by Neill Blomkamp). A tremendous number of movies deal with the single IA issue, the best two, in my view, being Her (by Spike Jonze) and Ex Machina (Alex Garland). And to be honest, this is as thrilling as it is frightening. And completing transhumanism before fully sentient computers may be the only way to survival.

It’s on its way, fellows, we’re already transhumanists. Already in “a future where our true reflection is only revealed once the screen goes… dark” (powerful Black Mirror trailer!). But hey, I’m an optimistic after all, not ending on this! Now, go to the rhapsodising YouTube Channel Shots of Awe! Listen to what Jason Silva has to say (is this guy taking drugs?): “We spilled over out of our minds. This is our triumph. This is what it means to be human”.

We’re going to witness within a life-time span the next step of evolution and I’m personally looking forward to this. We simply must never forget that it is not coming without dangers. Now (carefully) embrace the future!