[ExI] The Paradox of the Posthuman

[Natasha Vita-More]

Does the author use the terms "transhuman" or "transhumanism"?   Probably
not.  But please tell me I am wrong.
 
On another list, a leading "arts' list, a discussion is going on right now
about the cyborg and my colleagues are dissing transhumanism, as usual.  But
I'm holding my own and trying to bring knowledge to that list rather than
get annoyed at the lack of insight in academic arts.  
 
How do you suggest that Julie Clarke could be beneficial to transhumanism?
 
What book are you referring to on transhumanism and biopolitics?
 
Thanks,
Natasha
 
 

Nlogo1.tif  <http://www.natasha.cc/> Natasha Vita-More

 

  _____  

From: extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org
[mailto:extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org] On Behalf Of Stefano Vaj
Sent: Sunday, July 26, 2009 5:06 PM
To: World Transhumanist Association Discussion List; ExI chat list;
technoprogressive at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [ExI] The Paradox of the Posthuman


I have just finished reading The
<http://www.amazon.com/Paradox-Posthuman-Science-Fiction-Techno-Horror/dp/36
39143795/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248645027&sr=8-1> Paradox of the
Posthuman: Science Fiction/Techno-Horror Films and Visual Media by Julie
Clarke. 

The author may not be a genius and her "critical studies" language may be
annoying to some of us, but the book is entirely dedicated to transhumanist
trends in our culture, and  may play a role in overcoming also in the
English-speaking world a scenario where most transhumanists used to ignore
philosophical posthumanism or to sneer at it as a bunch of Sokalesque
clowns, and the latter takes transhumanism into consideration only
marginally and as a trivial variant of humanist and nineteenth-century
narratives.

In fact, a debate between posthuman-ism and post-humanism where both take
each other more seriously seems inescapable, and it does not seem
coincidential that one of my publishers in presenting a book on
transhumanism and biopolitics chose to describe my own orientation as
"overhumanist, identitarian and postmodernist" even though I abhor
"fashionable nonsense" and oracular, anti-scientific jargon.

-- 
Stefano Vaj

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