Genetics - Mapping & Engineering, Genetics, Medical Ethics, Philosophy of Science - General & Miscellaneous, Biology - Biotechnology, Ethics & Moral Philosophy - Applied - Bioethics/Medical, Philosophical & Religious Aspects of Technology, Biotechnology &

Designer Evolution: A Transhumanist Manifesto

Name: Designer Evolution: A Transhumanist Manifesto
Author: Simon Young
ISBN: 9781591022909

by Simon Young, Robert A. Freitas (Foreword by), Aubrey de Grey

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Overview

Forewords by Dr. Aubrey de Grey (Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge) and Robert A. Freitas Jr. (Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Molecular Manufacturing)
"A rare and uplifting vision of the biological future we can and should create for ourselves." – Dr. Gregory Fahy, Chief Scientific Officer, Vice President, 21st Century Medicine The debate about the ethics of human biotechnology or genetic engineering is one of the most important cultural issues of our time. "Transhumanism" is the philosophy that most of all supports genetic science and biotechnology, yet the public knows little about this emerging philosophy. Transhumanism declares unequivocal support for the attempt to eliminate disease, defeat death, and enhance the body and mind beyond the limitations of the age-old human condition.
In Designer Evolution Simon Young presents a polemical espousal of transhumanist philosophy and a trenchant attack on its critics, the "Bio-Luddites." The author calls for a rejection of premodern superstition and postmodern nihilism in favor of a renewed belief in human progress through scientific rationality.
In an age when cynicism, fatalism, and nihilism are rife, Designer Evolution will rekindle a feeling of optimism about the future of our species. This is a concise, reader-friendly introduction to a vitally important philosophy that will become difficult to ignore as advances in biotechnology increasingly claim the headlines in the coming decades.

Synopsis

"People of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your biological chains."
"Where humanism freed us from the chains of superstition, let Transhumanism free us from our biological chains."

Francis Fukuyama (author of The End of History) calls Transhumanism "The world's most dangerous idea." The London Financial Times declares: "The ethics of transhumanism have shot up the political agenda," in an article entitled "The Most Dangerous Idea on Earth." What's happening here?

The ethical questions concerning biotechnology and genetics ("Superbiology") are part of a wider philosophical debate about humanity's place and purpose in the universe: should we accept the fate that some believe Nature and others contend that God "intended," or should we strive to take control of our own evolutionary destiny through science? The emerging philosophical movement known as Transhumanism is at the forefront of this debate. Transhumanism supports the emerging Superbiology, yet the public knows little about this vital emerging philosophy.

Transhumanism declares unequivocal support for the attempt to eliminate disease, defeat death, and enhance both body and mind beyond the limitations of the human condition. In this groundbreaking book, Simon Young presents a compelling case for transhumanist philosophy, a trenchant response to its critics, the "bio-Luddites," and for the first time, a comprehensive outline of Transhumanism as a totalized philosophical system in the Western tradition, including chapters on metaphilosophy, epistemology, psychology, ethics, politics, aesthetics, and metaphysics.

Defining Transhumanism as "the belief in overcoming human limitations through reason, science, and technology," the author introduces a host of new concepts, including Nurethics (Sensible Self-Interest and the Benevolent Gene), Neuromotive Psychology (the Prometheus and Orpheus Drives for Individuation and Integration transcending the Freudian-Darwinian drives of Eros/Thanatos), Agnoskepticism (a rational alternative to theism, atheism, and agnosticism), "Mind of God" Theology (Netaphysics, or the New Music of the Spheres: a "scientific spirituality"), and the Will to Evolve.

In a fascinating volume guaranteed to challenge theists, liberals, conservatives, therapists, ecoists, New Agers, postmodern relativists, contemporary artists, neo-Darwinists and doom mongers alike, Young rejects premodern superstition and postmodern nihilism, calling for a renewed belief in human progress through scientific rationality, and predicting the emergence of twenty-first-century technoromanticism-a passionate belief in human transcendence, not through religion or politics, but through science.

Refuting theistic metaphysics for biopsychology, the author declares "'the soul is dead'-not because we do not believe in love-quite the opposite-but because we no longer need to believe there is an immortal ghost living inside us in order to appreciate its value. For we recognize both the neurochemical basis and the logic of love. 'Goodwill to all men' is a rational tactic for mutual survival and well-being. We no longer need God in order to be good-though a suicide bomber needs him to be bad."

In an age when cynicism, fatalism, and nihilism are rife, Designer Evolution will rekindle a feeling of optimism about the future of our species.

Written in a breezy, populist, quotable style, this reader-friendly introduction to a vitally important philosophy will be difficult to ignore as advances in biotechnology increasingly claim the headlines in the years ahead. It is vital reading for all who care about our place and purpose in the world at a time of rapid change at the dawn of the twenty-first century.

About the Author, Simon Young

SIMON YOUNG is the son of pioneering cybernetician and science writer J. F. Young (1929-94), author of such seminal books as Cybernetics (1969), Robotics (1973), and Cybernetic Engineering (1973). As an accomplished pianist and composer, Young's unusual combination of musical romanticism and rational scientism informs his Transhumanist philosophy-a passionate belief in the striving for human transcendence, not through religion or politics, but science.

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Editorials

From the Publisher

"Young rejects premodern superstition and postmodern nihilism, calling for a renewed belief in human progress through scientific rationality…. Written in a breezy, populist, quotable style, this reader-friendly introduction to a vitally important philosophy will be difficult to ignore as advances in biotechnology increasingly claim the headlines in the years ahead. It is vital reading for all who care about our place and purpose in the world at a time of rapid change at the dawn of the twenty-first century."
- Innovation Watch