[ExI] The Paradox of the Posthuman

[Natasha Vita-More]

Yes, I have a copy of Biopolitica. Il nuovo paradigma  thank you.  I wasn't
sure that is what you were referring to ...
 
Okay, so Ms. Clarke disses transhumanism.  Par for the course.  Maybe I'll
meet her in Melbourne when I am there in November.
 
Best,
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 6:59 PM
To: ExI chat list
Subject: Re: [ExI] The Paradox of the Posthuman


2009/7/27 Natasha Vita-More <natasha at natasha.cc>


Does the author use the terms "transhuman" or "transhumanism"?   Probably
not.  But please tell me I am wrong.


Yes, she does. She even quotes Max a few times.





How do you suggest that Julie Clarke could be beneficial to transhumanism?


Directly beneficial? I do not know. Unless perhaps in the sense of "there is
no such thing as bad press". :-)

But her biases do not seem so strong. In fact, I think that she for one
would be prepared to accept that a few of her criticisms originate from
misconceptions. 

The basic idea of the book, for instance, is that there is a paradox if not
a contradiction between seeking human optimality through technology and the
inevitable hybridisation (human-animal, human-machine, human-god) that such
choice brings along. Now, I think that many, if not most transhumanists
would be quite prepared to accept such a "hybridisation" and the rupture of
the "humanist" paradigm it may imply, so that the "contradiction" denounced
is more apparent than real. 

But the important angle of course is that she shows a certain insight of
transhumanist history and logical consequences, and even illustrate some
reflections thereof in pop culture which may not be too apparent even for
us. See the extensive discussion of the undertext in, e.g.,  Alien
Resurrection.
 



What book are you referring to on transhumanism and biopolitics?



Biopolitica. Il nuovo paradigma (http://www.biopolitica.it). Didn't I give
you a copy when we met?

-- 
Stefano Vaj

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