Posthuman Nicholas Gane Summary

Posthuman by Nicholas Gane is a comparison of thoughts from selected scholars on the subject of the increasingly complex relationship between mankind and technology and how these technologies are breaking down the barriers that make us human. He starts by introducing us to the history of the concept of the Posthuman, which started with the cybernetic movement of the 1940’s and most influentially the writings of Norbert Wiener. The real popularity of the subject has its roots with Donna Haraways concept of the cyborg. Her concept is a postive rendition of the idea of posthumanism, which focuses on cybernetic technology and genetic modification and how these technologies could radically change humanity. Gane then defines Posthuman as when the

Their varying ideas seem to focus on the possibility of detaching human consciousness from the body and whether or not this is likely or ethical. The primary opposition to the concept of tampering with the body was Frances Fukuyama who disagrees with changing what he calls the basis of human nature. His ideas are based on the idea that this human essence is the foundation for liberal democracy. His argument is relatively straightforward, that is if science can alter what it means to be a human, then we have the potential to alter our stable existence as a species. Fukuyama also claims that this type of technology has the potential to create inequality between those that can afford these procedures and those that cannot. In comparison to Fukuyama’s conservative view, some futurists believe that humanity and technology are beyond inseparable. They believe that computers have already caught up and surpassed mankind and man and machine are quickly becoming indistinguishable. Gane concludes by stating that the true value of the concept of the Posthuman, lies in the transformation not only of our bodies but what we consider to be human values and rights.

The ethics of altering our species is an intriguing concept for me. Part of me agrees with the Fukuyama in the sense that our global society is already inherently lope-sided. We are already in a state of disproportionate benefit to those that have access to clean water, housing and food. If we allowed genetic modification and cybernetic implants to those that could afford it, this could give an even more unfair benefit to the privileged that can afford them. Another side of me believes that this inequality isn’t necessarily the fault of the technology, but rather a side effect of free market