The Dissenter

#1089 Alexander Thomas: The Politics and Ethics of Transhumanism

Apr 25, 2025
In this discussion, Alexander Thomas, a Senior Lecturer in Media Production at the University of East London and author of The Politics and Ethics of Transhumanism, explores the complexities of transhumanism. He tackles its historical roots, from Enlightenment thinkers to modern tech leaders, and the ethical dilemmas of enhancement. The conversation dives into the marriage of transhumanism and capitalism, highlighting potential elitism, and critiques issues like data totalitarianism and the implications of artificial intelligence on human agency. Thomas advocates for a more inclusive approach to technology.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Introduction to Transhumanism

  • Transhumanism is the ideology of self-directed human evolution using converging technologies: nanotech, biotech, info tech, and cognitive science.
  • It envisions radically enhancing human capabilities and possibly becoming a new post-human species soon.
INSIGHT

Roots and Emergence

  • Though ideas about human enhancement are old, modern transhumanism arose mainly in the 1950s with Julian Huxley.
  • The 1980s-90s extropian movement clarified and popularized the current transhumanist movement.
INSIGHT

Key Figures and Influences

  • Important transhumanist figures include Julian Huxley, FM 2030, Ray Kurzweil, and Nick Bostrom.
  • Today, Silicon Valley billionaires like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel are the main drivers, using transhumanism to justify expanding their power.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app