Human Nature: A Given and Development Prospects

The emergence of biotechnologies, aimed not only at improving people’s health but also at improving/transforming the natural abilities of an individual, has made the problem of determining human nature urgent. The discussion of the conditions of necessity and the limits of the transformation of human nature ceases to be the subject of only interdisciplinary scientific research. The degree of influence on human nature, the change/ expansion of the boundaries of life and death lead to the need to turn to both philosophical and theological approaches. The Orthodox tradition asserts that God has endowed man with a perfect nature, which can be returned to by leading a righteous life. Meanwhile, philosophical anthropocentrism, based on the activist position of man, seeks by technical means to form a “god-man,” a cyberman. The significance of comparing theological and scientific approaches lies in the fact that the high level of technological development does not refute the idea of God, but, on the contrary, actualizes the need to appeal to theological views about the purpose of man. The consistent embodiment of the ideals of transformation/construction of human nature leads to ethical dilemmas, the resolution of which is possible with a change in the logic of actions in the process of overcoming the activist position. Activity should be based on transcendent values in order to exclude the occurrence of situations in which perfect means “dictate” goals and form development ideals. The rationale for the position that successful technological development was the basis for the proclamation of the primacy of moral values is presented through the analysis of the binary status of man – “man as a creator and as an artifact.” It is proposed to consider the degree of impact on human nature as a condition for the emergence of stages in the development of humanism: from knowledge of natural laws to the use of natural forces as means to achieve goals and to the production/construction of the “necessary body” of an individual. Consideration of the formation and development of the ideals of humanism allows us to point out that with technological development, reality is first created, and then the corresponding value system is constructed.