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<p class=MsoNormal>Species-typical is used in many fields to refer to what is
considered normal and normalcy. Gregor Wolbrig has used this phrase to parse
out his arguments against transhumanism. A couple of years ago we were both
invited to the American Philosophical Associations conference held in Vancouver.
It was an uncomfortable but enlightening experience. Gregor has some
issues with his body (I don’t know what he wants to be referred to but
the medical field would say he is handicapped and has disabilities) and this
may be the reason why he lashes out against transhumanist in assuming that we
seek “perfection” and have a “disdain” for the human body.
I am not sure where his angst arises from, but it could be the assumption that
transhumanism seeks universal utilitarianism, which I do not agree with at all.
Not at all.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Nevertheless, there are far more issues that the ones Gregor
invites which need to be looked at. Species-typical is a hard nut to
crack. I thought it was difficult to find the first uses of “human enhancement”,
but thanks to many of you (I now feel more comfortable that I can trace its
phrasing originating to specific areas: a paper on AI at MIT in the mid 1960s
and in a gene therapy article in early 1970s.) <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>It seems that species-typical was most often used in
psychology and etnology and now gaining more usage in ethics. Does anyone have
information about how this term is being used in regards to transhumanism and
human enhancement (outside Gregor’s elaborate use of it)? It would
be good to know more about this phrase. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Thank you!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Natasha<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.natasha.cc/"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Natasha Vita-More</span></a><br>
<span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>PhD Researcher,
Univ. of Plymouth, UK<br>
Chairman, Humanity+ </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Co-Editor,
<i>The Transhumanist Reader<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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