The Transhumanist Reader

Subtitled 'classical and contemporary essays on the science, technology and philosophy of the human future', this is surely the most comprehensive available resource on the subject. It is defined as 'a class of philosophies that seeks the continued evolution of human life beyond its current human form as a result of science and technology guided by life promoting principles and values.' Another document refers to improving the human condition through applied reason by developing technologies to eliminate ageing and greatly enhance human intellectual, physical and psychological capacities. Three of the main areas relate to healthspan including improvements to the body and even overcoming some aspects of the ageing process, cognition and emotion. One of the most thorough essays is by Nick Bostrom who looks at all these aspects and discusses implications for personal identity. It has to be said that the underlying philosophy of nearly all contributors is naturalistic and that they envisage the possibility of cryonic reanimation when technology has eventually developed to that point. This is referred to as medical time travel. More ambitious still is the impulse to leave the planet altogether. Another key phrase is morphological freedom implying the right to modify and enhance one's body, cognition and emotions. The possibility of uploading to substrate independent minds is also explored, however improbable this may seem currently. The overall value of the book is its comprehensive discussion of prospects for transhumanism and the inevitable questions - social, ethical and political - that are raised.