Transhumanism in Science Fiction and Postcolonial Science Fiction
Since the late 20th century, humanity has experienced significant changes due to increased advancements in technology, which have changed the lives of many. More than ever, human beings can travel more easily, access the latest information anywhere, and communicate with anyone from all over the world through the internet. Science and technology continue to change many aspects of human life exponentially, as human beings continue searching for a better world and comfortable experience. Besides, there has been significant progress in many technologies, such as biotechnology and artificial intelligence, which have brought to reality what used to be science fiction.
The Genre of Science Fiction
According to Jordan (2018), science fiction as a genre attempts to explore different scientific predictions through fiction, as well as depicting the influence that advanced, and cutting edge technology can have in affecting the future of human societies. Science fiction deals with imagination, especially in terms of science and futurology. It is generally recognized as a combination of both science and literature; science because it entails scientific aspects, terminologies, and commentaries on technological advancements. On the other hand, it is literature because it has storylines, characters, fictional events, as well as clear plots written elaborately by authors. As a literary genre with scientific ideas and philosophy, science fiction also includes different futuristic elements in human, culture, as well as society; and incorporates fictional scientific developments with aspects of future human life.
The Genre of Transhumanism
On the other hand, according to Huxley (2015), transhumanism, “… 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 ageing and to greatly enhance human intellectual, physical, and psychological capacities and develop post-human possibilities.” As he posits in his journal, transhumanism merges the ideas of the world’s present consumer capitalism with the increasing knowledge that technology can transform human life into a post-human future. In essence, transhumanists believe that with the right technology, social life and experience can be significantly altered, such as an increased life expectancy or delayed ageing.
According to Ferro (2016), the essence of transhumanism has been to develop enhanced capacities of human capacities, including the biological and moral domains of human existence. In the essay titled “A Free Man’s Worship “, penned by Bertrand Russell in 1902, the author fronts the idea, “… outcome of accidental collocations of atoms; that no fire, no heroism, no intensity of thought and feeling, can preserve an individual life beyond the grave; that all the labours of ages, all the devotion, all the inspiration, all the noonday brightness of human genius, are destined to extinction in the vast death of the solar system, and that the whole temple of Man’s achievement must inevitably be buried beneath the debris of a universe in ruins—all these things, if not quite beyond dispute, are yet so nearly certain, that no philosophy which rejects them can hope to stand…” (Russell, 1917/1957, Pg. 45-46) in this essay, the author dreams, and projects a life when the human nature can be significantly transformed so that the present human being can transcend beyond the fragile environment that is characteristic of the current human experience.
Moreover, transhumanists believe in Russell’s central claim that ‘is the product of causes that had no prevision of the end they were achieving.” It has also been cited as the main reason for the need for crafting new ideas to enable human beings to have a say in their development. Trans humanists want and believe that technology can enhance human nature into a ‘designer species’ with no faults, but a longer, healthier and more vibrant life.
Transhumanism and Science Fiction
The concept of transhumanism blends well with science fiction, as highlighted by Mirenayat et al. (2017), mostly due to a joint commitment by both fields to an optimistic and instrumentalist understanding of technology and conception of self. Moreover, the new development in transhumanism, which is partly-science, partly-faith, partly-philosophy, has incorporated significant aspects of science fiction, thus embodying a lot of similarities with the field.
Moreover, as espoused by Ezpeleta, Damaso & Segarra, Ignacio. (2017), the convergence of technology in both fields is a significant factor in both transhumanism and science fiction. Science fiction and transhumanists both perceive technology as the way into the future, and see it as a permanent force to accelerate returns that can transform the human future exceedingly. Both fields view technology on two fronts; the increasing convergence and consolidation of technologies, and the ever-changing nature of technology. For instance, in the present world, machines have become exceedingly efficient and intelligent, that some have become sufficiently efficient to start teaching themselves design. Shortly, human beings will experience direct brain and computer interfaces, which will help them create the next generation of computer interfaces. This is a significant development in both science fiction and transhumanism, as the human being would have been significantly elevated, and the prediction of science fiction would have come to life.
The great advancements in computer technology, such as significant increments in processing speeds, and miniaturization, are some of the examples of technological convergent and improvements that have drawn humanists and science fiction adherents closer. It has also inspired the confidence that greater achievements in both humans, and technical realms. As Moravec (1988), highlights, “After all, for the Transhumanists, we are our minds, and our minds are just protein computers whose patterns of information processing, if they are preserved when transferred to silicone platforms, will preserve us—our bodies are just jelly…” (Page 117)
Postcolonial science fiction has been aggressive in studying and computing the interactions between human beings and technology. In as much as postcolonial science fiction has warned humanity against advancing technology which may lead to a human apocalypse, instead of revolutionizing humanity. All in all, the views presented in both transhumanism and science fiction suggest a better world for humanity, in which much of the world’s problems could be resolved through technology.
References
Ezpeleta, Damaso & Segarra, Ignacio. (2017). Transhumanism on artificial intelligence portrayed in selected science fiction movies and TV series. MEDIC. 25. 64.
Ferro, D. (2016). Singularities: Technoculture, Transhumanism, and Science Fiction in the 21st Century by Joshua Raulerson. Technology And Culture, 57(1), 285-286. doi: 10.1353/tech.2016.0029
Langer, Jessica. (2011). Postcolonialism and Science Fiction. 10.1057/9780230356054.
Mirenayat, Sayyed Ali & Bahar, Ida & Mani, Manimangai & Talif, Rosli. (2017). SCIENCE FICTION AND FUTURE HUMAN: CYBORG, TRANSHUMAN AND POSTHUMAN. Research Result: Theoretical and Applied Linguistics. 76-81. 10.18413/2313-8912-2017-3-1-76-81.
Jordan, Philipp. (2018). Science Fiction Movies and Shows as Design Fictions.
Huxley, J. (2015). Transhumanism. ETHICS IN PROGRESS, 6(1), 12-16. doi: 10.14746/eip.2015.1.2
Russell, B., Mysticism and Logic, Garden City, Doubleday Anchor Books, 1917/1957
Moravec, H., Mind Children: The Future of Robot and Human Intelligence, Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1988. Robot: Mere Machine to Transcendent Mind, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1999