Assess The Difference Between Post-Humanism And Trans-Humanism

The questions, “What does it mean to be human, and how might we transcend human nature?” have been a subject of debate for philosophical and theological thinkers for centuries. In recent history, scientific discoveries have led to a resurgence of these ancient debates that break down into three primary schools of thought. There are those who believe that we, like the rest of the animal kingdom, have certain basic “programming” that determines our fundamental nature, and those who believe that human beings are born “tabula rasa” and that nurture determines who we are. The issue becomes increasingly complex for those with the theological belief that human beings are spiritual creatures and that our spirituality is what defines us. However, a

To clarify, the “human condition” is an ambiguous term used to describe the foundational aspects of humanity, both the instinctive traits, which all animals have, and the further-evolved or uniquely-human traits, which set us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. To illustrate my purpose, I will focus on the both aspects, since both prevent us from thinking logically and acting objectively.

The base function of humanity is to survive, no matter the cost. Combined with the constant need to evolve and adapt to whatever surrounds them, humans are much like cockroaches in the sense that it is nearly impossible to wipe them out. Whether that evolution comes from thousands of years of natural selection or from a sudden change in surroundings that gives no choice but to change or die. Humans change naturally or force the change upon themselves. This kind of change is better known as human augmentation and been explored through several sources, real and fictional.

Since the first day that humans were put on this earth, they have been curious and have searched for ways to become more efficient. Throughout the years they have created tools to better serve them, created clothing to keep them warm, built homes to protect them from the elements, and produced transportation methods to transport them across the world. In Aldous Huxley's Brave New World (1932), the human race has evolved to being extremely efficient in everything that they do. This efficiency includes producing new human beings. Science has taken over and altered the society.

To examine this possibility, Garreau interviewed Nick Bostrom, co-founder of the World Transhumanist Association. Bostrom shows his agreement with human transcendence by asserting that “Technological progress makes it harder for people to ignore the fact that we might actually change the human nature” (qtd. in Garreau, 242).

Humanism is a philosophical and ethical stance on the value of human beings. The idea of humanism started around the early to mid-14th century starting with Petrarch, who is considered to most, as the “father of humanism.” Petrarch’s expertise in the promotion of this study earned him the name as the first great humanist. Humanism first started to become popular in the mid-15th century though during the Italian Renaissance due to many factors but at the same humanism was spreading all throughout Europe and became increasingly popular in Northern Europe, but didn’t spread as fast. With humanism spreading around in different areas of the world it was safe to assume that the teachings and practice of humanism from these areas would also be

Humans are the results of the challenges that they have faced through the journey of life. During that journey, humans have learned and adapted to the changing and, sometimes, the harsh time periods. However, they have learned from their journey and brought new changes that greatly benefited the human society. For example, the civil rights movement, largely, was to convince the Caucasian-led society and government to end discrimination and racial segregation against African Americans. Eventually, their “destination” was reached which is the passing of the Civil Rights Act, but that could never happen if they had not gone through the journey. The experiences that they faced during the movement had changed them forever, while they were bringing

Garreau, Joel. Radical Evolution: The Promise and Peril of Enhancing Our Minds, Our Bodies- and What It Means to Be Human. New York: Random House, 2005. Print.

Today, there are over 7 billion people in the world and with that number steadily increasing there is constant interaction, growth, battles and self-defining taking place. Nearly every person lives in hopes to define themselves and how they act; what they do not realize is there is something in the way of that goal. This something is what comes naturally in human nature called the human condition. The human condition is defined as, “a phrase…used with respect [to describe] situations that humans face in 'getting along with each other and the world…” (The Human Condition). Simply put, the human condition makes the how and the why of the way we act the with one another and the environment. Many aspects of the individual person can define the

I spoke to Juan regarding his role as an assist agent. I explained being an assist agent comes with responsibilities as agents look up to him. He needs to engage with other agents in a professional manner and stay away from gossip. As an assist agent, he should be able to help bring the team together, and in the event of a rumor, he should help stop the rumor rather than engaging.

From the beginning of class until now, language arts instruction in its relation to culturally relevant pedagogy and the usage of funds of knowledge has been the primary emphasis. Language arts instruction focuses on teaching children how to read, speak, write, and listen effectively. In order for students to read effectively, a teacher must instruct his/her students with skills, strategies, and concepts that are related to comprehension, phonics, fluency, and vocabulary. Learning the domain of speaking, requires an understanding of pronunciations and the various sounds that a letter can produce. Teaching students to write effectively involves guiding students through the writing process.

4, pp. 69 ff.), "Humanism recognizes the value and dignity of man and makes him the measure of all things or somehow takes human nature, its limits, or its interests as its theme."

The individual’s role in society dramatically changed following the introduction of humanism. The idea that was depicted is still heavily important today and still holds strong within society. Humanism brought forward the thought that everyone is important and the concept of individuality. Humanism created the notion that instead of being part of a whole, everyone is unique. Before this introduction, most just thought about their actions and what consequences it had in the afterlife; Whether that be going to heaven or hell. Following the emergence of humanism, people started to think more about the present, encouraging education in humanity, the study of literature and enhancement of art – all this expanded an individual’s outlook on life and in turn allowed for the development of personal success.

Taking a glance look at the wording of posthumanism portray a sense of an aftermath of humanism. The wording of posthumanism, notwithstanding, Lorimer (2009) states that posthumanism as a term is characterized by ambiguities and the fate of uncertainties that befall postmodernism is the same fate that bedeviled posthumanism. Lorimer defines posthumanism as “populist diagnosis of a new era, a new mode of critical inquiry that defines itself in relation to humanism, and a working through of the latter’s critical tradition’ (p.344). This definition by Lorimer is insufficient because it does not entail so much than merely defining posthumanism in a relative relationship to humanism. A more useful and practical explanation on posthumanism is the idea that it’s out of place to suggest that humans’ position is privileged and unique among other beings, including non-humans. Challenging this centrality of humans’ position has been the focus of the posthumanist agenda in human geography; inspired and advocated by scholars, including Bruno Latour and Donna Haraway (Latour, 2004 cited in Anderson, 2014). As succinctly echoed by Anderson, the critical goal of posthumanism is to challenge the deep-seated discourse of humanism that “separate and elevates the humans from the natural world” (Anderson, 2014, p.4). Castree and Nash cited in Anderson (2014) note that the term posthumanism has been used in two different ways: for historical analysis and for a theoretical framing in geography.

“I walked over to the model train layout. He’d spent years building it. Santa drove the engine The freight cars were loaded down with elves and presents. The track wound through a village, by a lake and into a mountain tunnel. The mountain was covered by fake snow. Mom’s touch.”