Let’s first try to understand what transhumanism is.
It’s not talked about much, and for some, the term transhumanism means nothing. Yet it is spreading.
Films, anime, manga, comics are full of it.
Let’s mention:
Blade Runner (1982), a future where technology has allowed the creation of replicants, artificial human beings used for dangerous tasks.
Blade Runner 2049 (2017). A remake of the original film, it continues to explore the themes of replicants and their technological and social evolution.
Ghost in the Shell (1995), a cyberpunk anime that explores a future where people can enhance their bodies and minds with cybernetic technologies.
The Matrix (1999), where humanity is trapped in a virtual simulation created by intelligent machines, with themes of human enhancement and virtual reality.
Gattaca (1997), in which genetic engineering determines social status and life opportunities, exploring the theme of genetic enhancement, in a world where virtually all children are born in vitro.
Elysium (2013), where the rich live on an advanced space station and the poor remain on a ruined Earth, with advanced medical technologies and cybernetic enhancements.
Upgrade (2018), after paralysis, the protagonist receives a technological implant that allows him to control his body and gain extraordinary abilities.
Alita: Battle Angel (2019), in a post-apocalyptic future where cyborgs are common, it follows a young cyborg who seeks to discover her past and destiny.
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), robots with artificial intelligence coexist with humans, exploring themes of consciousness and humanity.
Transcendence (2014), an artificial intelligence researcher transfers his consciousness into a computer, exploring the implications of digital immortality and superintelligence.
But what is transhumanism?
It is a cultural movement that advocates the use of scientific and technological discoveries to increase physical and cognitive abilities, and to improve those aspects of the human condition considered undesirable, such as illness and aging, with the aim of a possible post-human transformation.
The intention is to go beyond the human: not by chance, sometimes the acronym H, H+ or H-plus is used.
It is evident, however, that if one goes beyond the human, one risks losing humanity.
Ultimately, transhumanism is the human attempt to achieve immortality and conquer death.
It is an anti-Christian concept. It is right to fight against illness, suffering, and the miseries of earthly life, but it is illusory to think of overcoming the limits of human life solely by one’s own strength, even if enhanced by technology.
The human being always remains the same: he evolves biologically, improves his environment through new organizations, new skills, inventions, and technologies.
What matters is to use new knowledge with respect for human dignity, freedom, and with prudence. One is human who is capable of love, freedom, and respect for others.
Science is a good thing if it helps and respects humanity.
But if it is used to exploit, manipulate, or select people (through abortion, experiments, euthanasia, eugenics, selection, instrumentalization), then it becomes negative.
We could say that science that respects nature and human dignity is the opposite of transhumanism.
Let’s consider, for example, neuro-enhancement, a development aimed at increasing brain capabilities: in itself, enhancing the brain is not negative, but if there is a risk of mental privacy being lost or the brain being manipulated by an external network, then we are facing a misuse of technology. Not to mention the possible and unexplored side effects and psychological and physical contraindications.
Drugs and new drugs are also tools of manipulation in the field of neuro-enhancement: medicines that allow, for example, not to sleep can be useful for working more or spending more time with loved ones. However, their widespread use could become a social obligation, limiting personal freedom – just think of the world of work or sports.
Even sports doping is a deleterious aspect of transhumanism: one seeks performance enhancement at the cost of health, with dangerous side effects and an impoverishment of the authentic values of sport. A further evolution is enhanced sport, i.e., a version of sport that allows enhancement through substances that are normally prohibited in sport.
Today, aspects of transhumanism are everywhere: robotics and artificial intelligence are concrete examples.
We can only be happy about medical devices that save lives, such as the pacemaker, or mechanical prostheses that allow the disabled to walk or live their daily lives better.
Even robots that avoid repetitive or heavy work, such as exoskeletons, free humans for more creative activities.
Some doubt may arise when a robot replaces reception staff, making human interaction more sterile and cold.
Artificial intelligence is not strictly part of transhumanism, although it is often its flagship, as a symbol of a future horizon where it is thought that human toil can be eliminated by replacing humans in work.
This could be true, although it remains to be seen whether the maintenance costs of robots will truly be accessible and convenient and about the consequences of the massive use of robotics on unemployment with the resulting social costs.
Does the Church oppose new technologies?
No. The Church has always supported and favored scientific progress when oriented towards the good of man, to improve and enhance him.
It is, however, opposed to the manipulation of man and experiments on human beings, because they are contrary to his freedom and dignity.
Ultimately, transhumanism is a modern revival of the myth of eternal youth: in the past, miraculous springs or amulets were sought; today, technologies and scientific discoveries are sought that promise to conquer illness, aging, and, ultimately, death.
Let’s be clear: it is permissible, and indeed good, to seek to improve living conditions, find cures for diseases, and ways to ensure well-being and quality of life for human existence.
But we know that material things do not fill the human heart.
We should aspire to heaven, instead of trying to extend life indefinitely.
Pope Benedict XVI said that what man most deeply desires is friendship, happiness, love. Not alone, but with Another.
All this is a gift.
Therefore, there is the need for a Savior.
Only with the Savior can Heaven be reached.
Let’s mention some Anime on the topic
Ghost in the Shell (1995) – Set in a future where people can enhance their bodies and minds with cybernetic technologies. It follows the adventures of Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg working for a public security section.
Psycho-Pass (2012) – A future society where technology can measure people’s mental state to prevent crimes. The protagonists work to enforce the law based on this psychological data.
Ergo Proxy (2006) – Set in a post-apocalyptic world where humans live in domes and autonomous robots, called AutoReivs, assist humanity. It explores themes of identity, memory, and consciousness.
Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) – An apocalyptic future where humanity uses advanced mechs called Evangelions to fight mysterious creatures known as Angels. It explores themes of psychology and human transcendence.
Texhnolyze (2003) – In a decaying underground city, residents can replace parts of their bodies with mechanical prostheses. The series follows a fighter who becomes part of a power struggle between different factions.
Akira (1988) – A film set in a post-apocalyptic Neo-Tokyo, where military experiments on psychic powers and advanced technology have led to chaos. The protagonist develops devastating psychic powers.
Serial Experiments Lain (1998) – Explores the boundary between the real world and the virtual world through the story of a girl who immerses herself in a global network similar to the Internet called the Wired. It deals with themes of identity and virtual reality.
Blame! (2017) – A future world where a continuously expanding city is ruled by a rogue AI. A lone wanderer seeks to restore order and save humanity.
No Guns Life (2019) – After a great war, many people have been transformed into “Extends”, cyborgs with mechanical enhancements. It follows a private investigator who is himself an Extend.
Paranoia Agent (2004) – Although less conventional, it explores a dystopian future through the lens of the human psyche, with a mysterious attacker who seems to bring out the traumas and insecurities of his victims.
Or in comics:
Transmetropolitan – Follows the adventures of gonzo journalist Spider Jerusalem in a futuristic city full of political corruption, human cloning, and advanced technology.
Cyberpunk 2077: Trauma Team – Based on the Cyberpunk 2077 video game universe, this comic follows the story of Nadia, a Trauma Team International operative, a highly technological emergency medical service. The series explores the challenges and moral dilemmas that arise in a world where cybernetics and body modifications are commonplace.
Judge Dredd – In a post-apocalyptic future, judges are police officers with the authority to arrest, convict, and execute criminals. It follows the character of Judge Dredd as he maintains order in the megalopolis of Mega-City One.
The Invisibles – A series that explores a secret war between opposing forces of anarchy and control, with themes of mental enhancement and reality manipulation.
Akira – Set in a post-apocalyptic Neo-Tokyo, it follows Kaneda and Tetsuo, the latter developing devastating psychic powers as a result of government experiments.
Lazarus – In a dystopian future dominated by feudal families, each family has a “Lazarus”, a genetically modified and enhanced warrior who protects their interests.
Descender – Tells the story of a robot boy in a universe where robots are hunted and destroyed, exploring themes of artificial intelligence and humanity.
Tokyo Ghost – Set in a future where the population is dependent on technology and digital entertainment. It follows two police officers trying to maintain order in this chaotic world.
Y: The Last Man – In the near future, an unknown plague has killed all male mammals except one, Yorick Brown. The series explores themes of gender, survival, and social reconstruction.
The Metabarons – Tells the story of a dynasty of superhuman warriors in a dystopian universe, exploring themes of genetic enhancement, cybernetics, and honor.
Also in books:
Neuromancer by William Gibson – Set in a future where cybernetics and cyberspace dominate, it follows a hacker who is tasked with carrying out one last mission in virtual reality.
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson – A future where virtual reality is omnipresent, it follows a hacker and pizza samurai who must stop a computer virus that threatens the world.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick – In a post-apocalyptic world, a bounty hunter must retire fugitive androids, exploring themes of identity and humanity.
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan – In a future where people can transfer their consciousness between bodies, a former soldier is tasked with solving a mysterious murder.
The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson – Follows the story of a young girl in a future where nanotechnology has transformed society, exploring themes of education and enhancement.
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood – A future devastated by genetic and biotechnological experiments, it explores the consequences of genetic manipulation through the eyes of the protagonist Snowman.
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi – Set in a future devastated by climate change and genetic manipulation, it follows various characters struggling to survive in a dystopian Bangkok.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley – A dystopian classic that explores a future where reproductive technology and social control have created a seemingly perfect but deeply disturbing society.
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein – A lunar colony rebels against Earth’s control, exploring themes of autonomy, artificial intelligence, and advanced technology.
The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi – In a post-humanist future, a legendary thief is released from a virtual prison to carry out a mission that requires intelligence and advanced technology.
edited by Paolo Botti
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