Flesh Is Temporary
“Transhumanism” is a philosophical-intellectual movement that seeks to make possible the transcendence of the human race through technology. Our biological bodies are limited, they do not withstand time, they are fragile, and they can condemn our existence in the blink of an eye. Over time, we have been witnessing technology merge with our bodies through prosthetics, wearable gadgets, vaccines, and implants. Is transcending the human body, then, something inevitable?
The Shift Is Already Happening
I believe the answer is yes. There are many issues and problems backed by ethics and morality that slow the process down, but it is inevitable. It all started with cosmetic surgeries, these have become increasingly invasive, yet there is no longer a sense of collective fear surrounding them, quite the opposite, in fact: they have become completely normalized.
My perspective is that we will continue to normalize invasive procedures at an accelerated pace and we will make a subtle transition to body augmentation procedures.
Remember, we have people getting their eyes colored in tattoo studios—lol.
Corpo Monopoly
NGL here, it’s really cool to think about the benefits of eliminating any human weaknesses that make us so vulnerable, or the possibility of giving a second chance to people who are unfortunately born with a disability. But let’s not be naive, all these procedures will be expensive and require resources likely accessible only to corporations. And we know the goal of any corporation: to make a profit.
big corps like umbrella lol
Fear of death is something we all have in common. Even the most enlightened people among us eventually think about it, and I doubt they can do so without feeling that cold shiver down their spine.
What if we could pay for an extra life? What if we could pay to be saved? Will everyone get saved? I doubt it. The chances of access being democratized are almost ZERO. We’re talking about a gold mine; fear sells incredibly well. There will be an interest in keeping these procedures scarce (even through artificial scarcity), keeping people afraid ofs death, and turning that fear and anxiety into a mechanism for driving prices sky-high.
Beyond profit, there is a second dark aspect: the interest in using body augmentation to widen the gap between social classes. Imagine a scenario where the upper classes can become physically stronger, more resilient, and able to enjoy greater longevity… how much easier does that make oppression?
In a few decades, the gulf separating the elites from the rest of society will not be merely a cultural matter, or one of wealth, money, or knowledge. It will be a physiological matter. With the upper classes having access to biohacking, gene editing, and related resources, it will be impossible to catch up. Impossible to fight against.
~ The total obliteration of the concept of meritocracy (if it ever existed at all).
All of these gene-editing techniques of augmentation or alteration will of course be subsidized and controlled, especially in the U.S. by the military-industrial complex and corporate monopolies protected and sustained by statist intervention
Source: https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/emmi-bevensee-genetic-engineering-against-neuro-normativity1
Chrome For Everyone
The great importance of the “anarcho-transhumanist” movement is to democratize this access, preventing elites from gaining a monopoly and promoting access for anyone who wants or needs it, regardless of social class.