Transhumanism: Towards a new Adam?

Transhumanism is a movement that seeks to enhance human abilities, aiming for physical and cognitive augmentation, and even potential immortality. This raises ethical concerns about human nature, dignity, and equality. Only three main approaches are explored in this review. First, biological enhancement involves stem cell therapies and genetic modifications, such as CRISPR-Cas9, to improve human capacities. Second, bionic augmentation includes advanced prosthetics, sensory implants, and neural interfaces to restore or enhance functions. Third, neural and digital integration focuses on brain-computer interfaces, such as Neuralink, and the theoretical concept of mind uploading. Biological enhancement remains limited in clinical success and raises ethical concerns, particularly regarding genetic selection. Bionic augmentation allows individuals to regain or surpass natural abilities, challenging the boundary between humans and machines. Neural integration offers cognitive improvements but poses questions about free will and identity. Mind uploading, although speculative, fuels debates on consciousness and artificial life. While transhumanism presents groundbreaking advancements, it also challenges fundamental ethical and societal values. The increasing integration of technology with the human body raises questions about inequality, identity, and the potential transformation of humanity as we know it.

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Publication Details

Journal
Ethics Medicine and Public Health
Published
2025-01-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemep.2025.101091
Primary Topic
Neuroethics, Human Enhancement, Biomedical Innovations
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Transhumanism: Towards a new Adam?

Bettina Couderc
Ethics Medicine and Public Health
Neuroethics, Human Enhancement, Biomedical Innovations
article

Transhumanism: Towards a new Adam?

Bettina Couderc
article en

Abstract

Transhumanism is a movement that seeks to enhance human abilities, aiming for physical and cognitive augmentation, and even potential immortality. This raises ethical concerns about human nature, dignity, and equality. Only three main approaches are explored in this review. First, biological enhancement involves stem cell therapies and genetic modifications, such as CRISPR-Cas9, to improve human capacities. Second, bionic augmentation includes advanced prosthetics, sensory implants, and neural interfaces to restore or enhance functions. Third, neural and digital integration focuses on brain-computer interfaces, such as Neuralink, and the theoretical concept of mind uploading. Biological enhancement remains limited in clinical success and raises ethical concerns, particularly regarding genetic selection. Bionic augmentation allows individuals to regain or surpass natural abilities, challenging the boundary between humans and machines. Neural integration offers cognitive improvements but poses questions about free will and identity. Mind uploading, although speculative, fuels debates on consciousness and artificial life. While transhumanism presents groundbreaking advancements, it also challenges fundamental ethical and societal values. The increasing integration of technology with the human body raises questions about inequality, identity, and the potential transformation of humanity as we know it.

Ethics Medicine and Public HealthVol. 33
Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (FR), Inserm (FR), Institut Claudius Regaud (FR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 93%
Neuroethics, Human Enhancement, Biomedical Innovations
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