Human beings are subject to aging and other limitations that prevent them from performing the various task at different times of their life. Transhumanism is described as the philosophy of life that seeks to improve the human conditions by eliminating human limitations using science and technology. The process is guided by life-promoting principles and values. Transhumanism can be achieved through the application of reason and technologies that are able to prevent the process of aging so that people may be able to have enhanced levels of physical, psychological and intellectual capacities (Max, 4).
The technologies that are development are mostly geared towards the process of the enhancement of the human capacity as they will make people do what they would normally. The outcome of transhumanism is the general development levels of the world which rise significantly due to increased number of productive individuals. Aging reduces the productivity of an individual, and this philosophy of life aims at the address the aging process. The concept of transhumanism aims at maintaining the body’s ability while the age of a person is increasing.
There are various enhancements that are used as an intervention to the aging of the body. Age-retardation is an example of enhancement used in transhumanism. Transhumanism dismisses the influence of faith, worship and supernatural beings on life and instead, stresses on the need for a meaningful and ethical approach to life through the application of reasoning, science and value for the current life. According to this life philosophy, human beings have the responsibility of “…creating a better future rather than hoping or praying for them to be brought about by supernatural forces…” (Max, 4).
The aspect of “transhumanism” lies upon the view that people need to take personal decisions and actions into having better futures for humanity instead of relying on chance that there might have supernatural forces which will do so in due course of time. In general, it helps to motivate different parties involved in the development of technologies to come up with inventions which will play a great role in ensuring that the capacity of a human being is well enhanced and making them continue being highly productive even as their age advances.
However, “…much longer lives would weaken our commitment and engagement” (Bailey, 319) because people have more time to spend. The main aim of transhumanism is to enhance the development of human beings need to make them more than the normal humans that they are today. Just like Max More mentioned that “Posthuman beings would no longer suffer from the disease, aging, and inevitable death” (More, 4). However, transhumanism has its negative effects. Therefore, it some way the concept does not enhance human life.
While the performance of human beings is enhanced, there is need to ensure that their welfare is well safeguarded. When rolling out aging retardation technology, a guarantee of the people’s safety should be ensured. The need for personal safety generally outweighs that of ensuring that the productivity of people remains unchanged. There are some risks that are worth taking, but for those that threaten human safety and survival should be avoided; the risks that touch on the fundamental right of life. The rights and justice system ensure equality during the implementation of the technology.
Some individuals may be interested in enhancing the capacity of selected communities and thus making such communities more advantaged than others. While using the enhancement technologies, the human rights, and justice system ensure that such technology does not threaten human diversity and life on earth. Andy Miah mentioned in Justifying Human Enhancement: The Accumulation of Biocultural Capital “Human enhancements could lead to a form of cultural complicity, where people aspire to the same kinds of enhancements” (Miah, 10).
The technologies used are less likely to promote the preservation of life and human diversity. Furthermore, Max More discussed that “By thoughtfully, carefully, and yet boldly applying technology to ourselves, we can become something no longer accurately described as human” (Max, 4). This may result in alteration of the characteristics of an individual that makes him human. According to me, aging and death are among the natural processes that ensure balance within the ecosystem.
The enhancements are a threat to ecosystems on the earth; sustainability of the earth will be questionable. Miah also showed that “Human enhancements would involve the commercialization of life and the corruption of various values that are attached to it, such as human dignity” (Miah, 5). Life is a commodity in parts and in various ways. However, the value of life goes beyond the commodity aspect. The capacity of governance systems that regulate commodification of life is questionable and thus encouraging processes that reduce human dignity.
The other issue that needs to be looked into is the distinction between the therapeutic and enhancement role carried out by these technologies. While the former is necessary to deal with various health problems, the latter is majorly left to personal discretion (Miah, 2). The justice of the use of enhancement and age-retardation has a possibility of having great problems. One of them is that it is bound to become a post-thesis because with time, after its full implementation, people may find it is hard to live without the technology.
This is because they will be more controlled by it and will rely so much on it so as to be able to solve some major problems. The age-retardation technology is also subject to lots of bias because as people struggle to put it into use, they are more likely to attach various attitudes towards it. While some views regarding the technology could be positive, others could be more edged on painting it in a bad light. This will go a long way in making the technology challenging to develop and implement, as a result.
The other problem lies in the very aspect that the age-retardation enhancement is still under development, and there is still more that needs to be done so as to make it more efficient and applicable. Zoonnvveld mentioned in Reshaping the Human Condition, “The scientific and technological developments that can be gathered together under the common denominator of human enhancement change all that. Not only do they open the door to a new group of experts to think about the human condition” (Zoonneveld, 11).
The general influence is edged upon improving the philosophical, cultural and social ways in which people live so that they may be able to co-exist harmoniously without any foreseeable problems. Age-retardation could be achieved through the use of technology could be by the use of cybernetic implants that help to lower the rate of aging in that people; they will function as usual although they have advanced ages.
This could also be achieved through boosting their levels of health in that they will be able to withstand various health problems that come with old age and thus maintaining the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of people (Zoonneveld, 11). The concept of transhumanism tries to do away with the dependence on supernatural beings, faiths and worships in shaping human life. Transhumanism advocates for the creation of better for future by human beings instead of praying and waiting for a better life from supernatural forces.
A better life can be achieved through ensuring productivity of people is maintained throughout their life and is not affected by aging. Aging reduces an individual’s productivity, and transhumanism employs science and reasoning in developing technologies, such as age-retardation, that ensure ageless body. The application of these technologies is bound to have serious problems. Safeguarding the welfare of human beings has the first priority. There is no point of eliminating aging of the body and increasing productivity while threatening the fundamental right of life.
The enhancements reduce human diversity since it is likely to result in similarity among human beings. Transhumanism is associated with degradation of human dignity. Aging and death are natural processes that ensure balance within an ecosystem, and thus, transhumanism threatens the sustainability of various ecosystems and preservation of life. It encourages unethical commodification of life and corruption of values. Age-retardation is an enhancement technology that is used to achieve ageless body and boost human health; individuals will be able to withstand various health problems that come with old age.