Transhumanism in fiction
Encyclopedia
Many of the tropes of science fiction
can be viewed as similar to the goals of transhumanism
. Science fiction literature contains many positive depictions of technologically enhanced human life, occasionally set in utopia
n (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 dystopia
n tales of human bioengineering gone wrong.
Transhumanist art has been defined by Natasha More as art that is based on the transhumanist principles, visions, goals and sentiments.
Examples of "transhumanist fiction" include novels by Linda Nagata
, Greg Egan
, and Hannu Rajaniemi
. Transhuman novels are often philosophical in nature, exploring the impact such technologies might have on human life. Nagata's novels, for example, explore the relationship between the natural and artificial, and suggest that while transhuman modifications of nature may be beneficial, they may also be hazardous, so should not be lightly undertaken. Egan's Diaspora explores the nature of ideas such as reproduction and questions if they make sense in a Post-human context. Rajaniemi's novel, while more action oriented, still explores themes such as death and finitude in post-human life.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
can be viewed as similar to the goals of transhumanism
Transhumanism
Transhumanism, often abbreviated as H+ or h+, is an international intellectual and cultural movement that affirms the possibility and desirability of fundamentally transforming the human condition by developing and making widely available technologies to eliminate aging and to greatly enhance human...
. Science fiction literature contains many positive depictions of technologically enhanced human life, occasionally set in utopia
Utopia
Utopia is an ideal community or society possessing a perfect socio-politico-legal system. The word was imported from Greek by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book Utopia, describing a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean. The term has been used to describe both intentional communities that attempt...
n (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 dystopia
Dystopia
A dystopia is the idea of a society in a repressive and controlled state, often under the guise of being utopian, as characterized in books like Brave New World and Nineteen Eighty-Four...
n tales of human bioengineering gone wrong.
Transhumanist art has been defined by Natasha More as art that is based on the transhumanist principles, visions, goals and sentiments.
Examples of "transhumanist fiction" include novels by Linda Nagata
Linda Nagata
Linda Nagata is an American science fiction author who won the Nebula award for best novella in 2000 . She frequently writes about nanotechnology and the integration of advanced computing with the human brain.-Bibliography:...
, Greg Egan
Greg Egan
Greg Egan is an Australian science fiction author.Egan published his first work in 1983. He specialises in hard science fiction stories with mathematical and quantum ontology themes, including the nature of consciousness...
, and Hannu Rajaniemi
Hannu Rajaniemi
Hannu Rajaniemi is a Finnish author of science fiction and fantasy, who writes in both English and Finnish. He lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is a founding director of a commercial research organisation, ThinkTank Maths.-Biography:...
. Transhuman novels are often philosophical in nature, exploring the impact such technologies might have on human life. Nagata's novels, for example, explore the relationship between the natural and artificial, and suggest that while transhuman modifications of nature may be beneficial, they may also be hazardous, so should not be lightly undertaken. Egan's Diaspora explores the nature of ideas such as reproduction and questions if they make sense in a Post-human context. Rajaniemi's novel, while more action oriented, still explores themes such as death and finitude in post-human life.