Democratic transhumanism

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Democratic transhumanism, a term coined by Dr. James Hughes in 2002, refers to the stance of transhumanists (advocates of the ethical use of human enhancement technologies) who espouse liberal, social and/or direct democratic political views.[1][2][3][4]

According to Hughes, the ideology "stems from the assertion that human beings will generally be happier when they take rational control of the natural and social forces that control their lives."[2]The ethical foundation of democratic transhumanism rests upon rule utilitarianism and non-anthropocentric personhood theory.[5] Hughes aims to encourage democratic transhumanists and their potential progressive allies to unite as a new social movement and influence biopolitical public policy, and raises objections both to right-wing and left-wing bioconservatism, and libertarian transhumanism.[2][4] An attempt to expand the middle ground between technorealism and techno-utopianism, democratic transhumanism can be seen as a radical form of techno-progressivism.[6]

The term "radical", which appears several times in Hughes' work, (from Latin rādīx, rādīc-, root) is used as an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the root or going to the root. His central thesis is that technology and democracy can help citizens overcome some of the root causes of inequalities of power.[2]

Contents

[edit] Currents

Hughes has identified 16 currents within democratic transhumanism:[1]

[edit] List of democratic transhumanists

This section contains an alphabetically-ordered list of notable individuals who have identified themselves or been identified by Hughes as advocates of democratic transhumanism:[7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Hughes, James (2001). "Politics of Transhumanism". Retrieved on 2007-01-26.
  2. ^ a b c d Hughes, James (2002). "Democratic Transhumanism 2.0". Retrieved on 2007-01-26.
  3. ^ Hughes, James (2003). "Better Health through Democratic Transhumanism". Retrieved on 2007-01-26.
  4. ^ a b Hughes, James (2004). Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future. Westview Press. ISBN 0-8133-4198-1. 
  5. ^ Hughes, James (1996). "Embracing Change with All Four Arms: A Post-Humanist Defense of Genetic Engineering". Retrieved on 2007-01-26.
  6. ^ Carrico, Dale (2005). "Listen, Transhumanist!". Retrieved on 2007-01-27.
  7. ^ Cyborg Democracy.

[edit] External links

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