Ethics in Transhumanism

Transhumanism is the philosophical movement promoting futuristic human development in which technology is used to enhance human intellect and capabilities. Transhumanism broadly outlines the concept of artificial intelligence and even immortality, stemmed from science fiction. However far fetched the idea may seem, the possibilities of transhumanism create a major conversation in ethics. Is it ethical to surpass our biological limitations? Where is the line drawn? The consequences of transhumanism are extremely questionable. 

A main concern is the “equal access to human enhancement technologies across classes and borders.” (Growth of transhumanism). With an ideology as extreme as transhumanism, those with financial advantages may benefit to an unfair degree. This is compared to “steroid use, where athletes who use steroids in sports have an advantage over those who do not.” (Ethics). In transhumanism, those who have neural implants and those who do not, create a similar scenario. It is easy to imagine the social privilege and issues that could stem from this.

Not only is equal access a concern, but the consequences of unfair distribution threaten catastrophic results. Many worry that transhumanism will divide “the human species into two different and distinct species.” (Ethics) Those financially capable of accessing this elite technology, may have a distinct physical and intellectual advantage over those that don’t. Consequently, those without the technology may “be considered of a lower moral standing.” This intense divide warns of a greatly unbalanced future. 

The distribution of technological enhancement is a major concern, but the question of whether surpassing human limitations is even ethical at all remains at the forefront. Why should we override our natural human systems and capabilities? Technology interferes with the core of our makings. A neural implant and artificial intelligence, uses wealth and technology to push our intellect past it’s biological setup. Why should we have that right to begin with? If we start messing with our human makeup now, where does it stop? Once the human race begins meddling with something bigger than us, the technology is out of our hands. We completely lose sight of what makes us human. 

The ethical debate behind transhumanism is not one to be taken lightly. Once we start using technology to surpass our natural capabilities, there’s no turning back. It’s a switch that can’t be easily turned off. If the goal is to become a posthuman being, what’s left of humanity? This ideology is extremely fascinating and offers some valuable insight into the core of what makes us human.