Transhumanism in fiction
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Science fiction has depicted transhumanism in various forms for many years. The literature of science fiction contains many positive depictions of technologically enhanced human life, often set in utopian (especially techno-utopian) societies. However, science fiction's depictions of technologically enhanced humans or other posthuman beings frequently come with a cautionary twist. The more pessimistic scenarios include many dystopian tales of human bioengineering gone wrong.
Contemporary novels dealing with transhumanist themes that have stimulated broad discussion of these issues include The Beggar's Trilogy (1990-94) by Nancy Kress, Oryx and Crake (2003) by Margaret Atwood, and The Possibility of an Island (Eng. trans. 2006) by Michel Houellebecq, much of Greg Egan's work such as Permutation City (1994) and Diaspora (1997), The Bohr Maker (1995) by Linda Nagata, Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons, Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds and The Culture of Iain M. Banks are other popular examples of this type of literature.
Fictional depictions of transhumanist scenarios are also seen in other media, such as television series (the Ancients of Stargate SG-1), manga and anime (Ghost in the Shell), role-playing games (Rifts) and computer games (Deus Ex).
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[edit] Novels
The Ousters of the Hyperion saga by Dan Simmons are an example of transhumanity, even verging into the posthuman. Instead of "clinging to rocks" like the rest of humanity (which hated and feared them as barbarians), they headed for deep space, adapted themselves to that environment with nanotechnology, and entered into a symbiotic relationship with their technology. Simmons' later books Ilium, and its sequel, Olympos, depict a different situation in the far future where posthumans seem to have been consumed by their own technology; a small population of less-modified humans, utterly dependent on technology that they don't understand, continues to live on Earth. Ironically the most advanced and "humane" beings in the solar system are intelligent robots living on the moons of Jupiter.
Another author who depicts a few different transhumanist themes is Alastair Reynolds. His Revelation Space series, set around the 25th and 26th centuries CE, depicts a few different factions of transhumanists, including the Conjoiners, the Ultras, and the Demarchists, in roughly descending order of transhumanist alteration. Most of the characters and the societies in interstellar space are included in one or another transhumanist group, suggesting that purely unaltered humans would be rare in spacefaring civilization. The Conjoiners, the most aggressively transhumanist faction, are a collective of posthumans which experienced a quickening when they started to use nanotechnology to improve their bodies and brain capacities. The Ultras take pride in ostentatious cybernetic implants, and genetic alterations to a lesser degree, as a way of setting themselves apart. The Demarchists, even though the least aggressive transhumanist group, who value remaining traditionally human for the most part, nevertheless make heavy use of cybernetic implants and genetic engineering, though achieving their effect inconspicuously. In Reynolds' novelette Diamond Dogs, a story in the Revelation Space universe, the plot is centered on the increasingly aggressive transhumanist alterations the protagonists undertake to better enable them to pursue a difficult quest. In Century Rain, Reynolds has a group called Slashers, which are based upon the Slashdot community. In this book nanotechnology is also the important factor.
Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, a novel by Cory Doctorow, explores a number of transhumanist themes, including "cures" for death and scarcity. Another free novel, Manna by Marshall Brain, also depicts a transhuman future.
The Culture Series by Iain M. Banks depicts our galaxy dominated by a civilisation called the Culture. The Culture represents in many ways the success of transhumanism; it is a perfect democratic utopian society in which every member has the ability to alter their own body and genetics through technology. An especially prominent link with transhumanism is the development of 'drug glands' in human bodies, which allow people to produce and take advantage of thousands of combinations of psychoactive substances within their own brains.
Elements of transhumanism are found in the writings of science fiction author Greg Bear. Examples include Eon (1985) and its sequel Eternity (1988) in which a future human society inadvertently returns to their past (our present). Extensive use is made of computer theory with regards to the downloading/uploading of human personality and memories, as well as genetic engineering and cloning to improve life and ensure immortality. Another example, the short story Hardfought (1993), depicts a fascinating if pessimistic view of humanity in the far future, where human society and biology are strictly manipulated and controlled to ensure maximum effectiveness in the struggle against the galaxy's oldest inhabitants. Finally, architecture, AI and artificial implants and bodies are depicted in Strength of Stones (1982), where a brilliant architect attempts and fails to create religious utopias on a distant world.
The novel Heart of the Comet by David Brin and Gregory Benford also explores the uploading of personality to computer, when the character Virginia transfers her memories and personality into the processor of the computer JonVon, effectively evolving into the first individual of the new phylum: Biocybernetic man.
Aldous Huxley's Brave New World shows the effect of how humans are engineered from birth to be of a certain mental standard, and how elements from technology and mass production have been incorporated into society - notably 'Fordism' which views Henry Ford as a messiah.
In Isaac Asimov's short story "The Last Question", humans, with the help of the central computer Multivac, becomes immortal, then ethereal. They finally join their consciousnesses with Multivac to create a new God.
Several of the novels of Stephen Baxter deal with elements of transhumanism. Coalescent describes a hive mind/colony living below the city of Rome which function as a collective with no central control; they are excellent archivists and librarians (this is expanded upon in the novel Exultant, where a large archive resides under Olympus Mons on Mars, tended by the Coalesence). Transcendent describes a far future where humanity has risen to an almost godlike state, but still wants to attain a further breakthrough by means of manipulation of the past. (A similar idea occurs in the novel Days of Cain by J. R. Dunn, in which a transhuman collective called the Moiety tries to "correct" the distant past (from their perspective; specifically targeting Auschwitz and the Holocaust).
The theme has also been used in non-English literature; for example it is a popular theme in the works of Polish writer Jacek Dukaj.
[edit] Television and movies
[edit] Stargate
The television series Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis have transhumanistic philosophy as a primary theme. A major race in the show, the Ancients, was a civilization of humans who, after seeding human evolution, advanced to such an evolutionary and technological point that they Ascended to a higher plane of existence. Another more minor race of humans, called the Tollan, lived in a highly advanced, secular humanist, techno-utopia based on science and reason, instead of religion and faith, as the proper means for understanding and controlling reality. Other instances where Stargate has explicitly shown the ideology of transhumanism include:
- Several races, such as the Ancients and the Asgard, have perfected cryonics and use them widely.
- Several races, such as the Tollan and the Aschen have been seen to extend the human lifespan hundreds of years. The Ancients were said to live millions of years.
- Several technological devices, such as the Goa'uld's Sarcophagus, the Ancient's healing device, and the Prior's Staffs have been shown to technologically resurrect the dead.
- The Asgard, as well as the human Mechello, can transfer consciousnesses between bodies.
- The DNA Resequencer, along with other devices, can artificially vastly increase a user's intelligence and give them abilities such as telekenisis, telepathy, precognition, super-human senses and strength, the power to self-heal rapidly, and the power to heal others by touch. Without the need for technology, the Ori and Ancients obtained these abilities through evolution, before they ascended. The Ori have given the Priors even more extreme abilities.
[edit] Star Trek
The Borg in Star Trek are one of the more prominent depictions of transhumans in popular culture, in a version of transhumanity limited in scope to the addition of cybernetic implants and a species hive mind. The Borg seek "perfection" in the form of complete artificiality, but make little progress of their own, preferring to assimilate technology and minds from other species. Genetic enhancement of humans is taboo in the Star Trek universe, because this technology was misused during the Eugenics War, which nearly destroyed Earth. However, one of its major characters, Julian Bashir, was revealed to have been mildly genetically modified at a young age to have enhanced intelligence and athleticism. The revelation of Bashir's unpermitted genetic modification earned his parents a prison sentence for their role, but did not affect Bashir's service as a Starfleet officer. Individuals and groups separated from the Borg over time also show different manifestations of transhumans, generally with more positive results than in the Collective. Another major Star Trek character, Seven of Nine, retains some Borg implants and capabilities and works cooperatively with Starfleet officers in that state for at least several years after leaving the Collective. Several individual Borg children who are separated from the collective also return to human society with only partial reversal of their Borg enhancements. An entire Borg ship full of former drones led by a Borg Klingon recovered their individual personalities, but without reversing their enhancements, in one episode of Voyager, while a group of Borg drones that gained individuality through the former drone Hugh was apparently unable to reverse their enhancements or to regain normal individual personalities.
[edit] Planet of the Apes
In the film "Beneath the Planet of the Apes" there is a race of superhumans that is capable of telepathic communication. They wear masks that they only take off in church, and worship a nuclear bomb.
[edit] Anime
Anime (and manga) feature many depictions of transhumanism, with the most famous likely being Ghost in the Shell. Abh from Crest of the Stars is a prominent example of the transhuman race with a fairly complete background. However, as characters in anime and manga often exhibit abilities that are far above average humans in our world, it is not uncommon for characters modified with the transhumanism goal to be relegated to minor characters or villains as their improvements are met and exceeded by normal humans. In Texhnolyze, transhumanism is shown through the idea of grafting robotic limbs, but instead of a bright future for humanity, Texhnolyze shows suffering in the strive for human evolution. In stories where supernatural powers have similar if not equal importance as technology, there may be transhumanism with magical means such as the Human Instrumentality Project in the Neon Genesis Evangellion franchise. In the 1979 anime metaseries Mobile Suit Gundam, the idea, transhumanism is briefly explored as the "next step in human evolution". Those who are considered to have taken this next step are called "Newtypes" and seem to exhibit abilities closely related to ESP and even psychokinesis. Newtypes, themselves, seem to be limited in number and spawn from the next generation of humans adapting to life in space, and are mostly used as tools of war. Some sources within the metaseries suggest that Newtypes may, in fact, be nothing more than genetic anomalies, or mutations. The main cast of the novel/manga/anime series The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is made up entirely of posthumans, save Kyon.
[edit] Andromeda
In the television series Andromeda, the Nietzscheans are a race of genetically engineered humans who quite religiously follow the works of Friedrich Nietzsche, Social Darwinism and Dawkinite genetic competitiveness. They claim to be physically perfect and are distinguished by bone blades protruding outwards from the wrist area.
[edit] Dark Angel
Dark Angel (2000–2002) was a cyberpunk science fiction television series, created by James Cameron and Charles H. Eglee. The show starred Jessica Alba as a genetically-enhanced super-soldier spliced with feline DNA who searches for others of her kind, while trying to lead some semblance of a normal life.
[edit] Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a long running British science fiction series. The newly re-introduced "Cybermen", in the episode Rise of the Cybermen, refer to themselves as "Human 2.0" which reflects the transhumanist ideals of H+ etc., however their aggressive actions belie this belief.
[edit] Other media
A role-playing game called Transhuman Space features Transhumanism as a central element. Set in the year 2100, humanity has begun to colonize the Solar System. The pursuit of transhumanism is now in full swing, as more and more people struggle to reach a fully posthuman state. Transhumanism is a central theme in the game which posits many advanced technologies that push the boundaries of humanity into new areas. Genetic engineering has advanced to the point that anyone can reproduce (using genetic material from any number of donors). The embryos can be allowed to be developed naturally, or they can undergo three levels of alteration: genefixing, which corrects defects; upgrades, which boost natural abilities (Ishtar Upgrades are slightly more attractive than usual, Metanoia Upgrades are more intelligent, etc.); and full transition to parahuman status (Nyx Parahumans only need a few hours of sleep per week, Aquamorphs can live underwater, etc.) Another type of human genetic engineering, far more controversial, is the creation of bioroids, fully sentient slave races. The creation of artificial people produces some of the central conflicts in the setting as different factions view bioroids through very different philosophical lenses. The setting is no utopia however as several problems arise from this otherwise beneficial developments. The Generation gap has become a chasm as lifespans increase. No longer does the elite fear death and no longer can the young hope to replace them. While it seemed that outworld colonies would offer living space and work for those young ones, they are being replaced by genetically tailored bioroids and AI-powered cybershells. The concept of humanity is no longer clear in a world where even some animals speak of their rights and the dead haunt both cyberspace and reality (in form of neural implants in bioshell). Transhuman Space is written by David L. Pulver, illustrated by Christopher Shy, published by Steve Jackson Games is part of the "Powered by GURPS" line. [1].
Another role-playing game called Rifts published by Palladium Books has strong transhuman themes. In the game, players are able to play a variety of character classes ranging from characters with cybernetic brain implants, bionic direct delivery drug systems which mainline performance enhancing drugs directly into the body, human robot hybrids of varying levels (from people with robot limbs all the way to human brains inside of robot bodies) and many, many more. One of the major themes expressed in the game is the ambivalence of these types of technology. While great enhancements in human performance, life span, and ability can be achieved, rarely are they done without some cost to the person, be it loss of humanity (a consequence of having one's brain placed in a robot body) or an extremely short lifespan with a terrible burnout (the consequence of mainlining performance enhancing drugs).
Video games have also dealt with transhuman themes to a heavy extend, and are perhaps one of the forms of media to delve into this subject most heavily. The video games of the Deus Ex series feature transhumanism heavily as a theme, though the first game seems bent against it. In the original game, the player must fight against a technocratic conspiracy to replace human beings with machines; although to avoid approaching the issue from a strictly black-and-white point of view, the hero as well as many of his friends are themselves transhuman cyborgs, and the so-called "good guys" (the enemies of the conspiracy) are in fact conspirators themselves, and represent the oppression of mankind over mankind, as opposed to the "bad guys" who represent the desire to misuse transhuman technologies to control people. The second game, Deus Ex: Invisible War, also features transhumanism among its themes; a relatively large number of people have transhuman characteristics within the game, also including the main character. Since the first serial, the world has collapsed into chaos and savagery, and the only way many were able to survive is by enhancing their minds and bodies to thrive in the new environment. Many organizations, such as the World Trade Organization within the game, embrace transhumans as being necessary at least part of the time: there are some situations in the new world which simply cannot be handled by naturals. Most notable, however, is the struggle between two broad "sides", those against the new transhumans, who find voice in a fanatical organization calling itself the Knights Templar, and the strong proponents of transhumanism, notably the Denton brothers (the heroes of the first game) and their organization ApostleCorp, who seek what they call the "Great Advance", and a much more radical cyborg movement, the Omar, who believe natural humanity is beyond saving, and who advocate that transhumans join their New Breed and leave humanity to die.
The collaborative Orion's Arm Worldbuilding Project has created a vast populated future universe with many different visions of the future of humanity, including many different types of transhuman being. The Orion's Arm world takes place thousands of years after the initial Singularity on Earth, with the supreme Archailect AIs as the peak of intelligence development, spanning thousands of solar systems.
Cavedog Entertainment's award-winning Total Annihilation featured a 4-millennium war between two opposing political groups : the Core, who advocated the mandatory "uploading" of human consciousness into a massive, planet-wide AI, and the Arm, a group of humans who did not wish to give up their physical bodies.
The videogames Halo and Halo 2 feature the Master Chief, the result of a project to enhance an existing human specimen with cybernetic and genetic alteration.
The videogames in the Half-Life series, namely Half-Life 2 features an alien race who has conquered mankind and subjugated Earth partially through the use of transhuman soldiers, which feature as the second game's primary enemy. The soldiers are referred to as the 'Transhuman arm of the combine overwatch' in the game.
The remake of the science fiction television show Battlestar Galactica has a child born between human and organic machine, and heavily stresses the imminence of a next step for humanity tying into this event.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Transhuman Space. Retrieved on November 14, 2005.
