Transhumanism
What is Transhumanism?
Transhumanism is the development of humans, enhancing the human organism by using technology. It is also the philosophy, looking at the contiuation of human evolution. This promotes ways of enhancing the human body's values.
This is a cultural movement exploring possibilities of the future human.
Cyborgs
"Modern medicine is also full of cyborgs, of couplings between organism and machine, each conceived as coded devices, in an intimacy and with a power that was not generated in the history of sexuality."
(Harraway, D. (1991)
Looking at Murphie, A. and Potts, J. (2003). Culture and technology, it is discussed whether there should be limits to how far technology must go. WE are already heavily reliable on technology for everyday life. The idea of us not being able to live without it makes us vulnerable and powerless in comparison to technology.
Frankenstein 'dramatizes the fear, as strong today as in Shelley's time, of science going too far. -
It is also suggested that the creator of experiments such as Dr Frankenstein's monster, are attacked by their own creations as a result of crossing the line with science. This questions whether we have already gone too far with technology, even by discussing the idea of creating the perfect human robot. Although it is only suggested and not stated that we are pushing science too far, it seems far too coincidental for such stories to result in an attack of the creator. I find this interesting as generally, natural birth is a very important bonding relationship, however artificial birth presents the opposite, possibly suggesting that this is wrong. In many cases, the consequences of developing a scientific experiment are never investigated before going through with the experiment.
Mitchell, W. J. (2004). - Me++: The Cyborg self and the Networked city
In this book, Mitchell compares computer systems to the human body. In situations where things go worng, there are certain problems we can relate to as humans. When a computer system is overrun, there is a blockage, stopping the computer from functioning properly, this would be descrived as equivalent to that of a blood clot in the arteries.
Paul, G. S. and Cox, E. (1996). Beyond humanity: Cyberevolution and future minds.
Paul and Cox discuss ideas of cyberevolution, and how this could help to improve the life of humans.
Reading this book raises questions such as 'Would having a cyborg mind eliminate illnesses of the mind? Could this mean rid of Alzheimers nad other brain deteriorating illnesses?'
I looked at this to explore the capability of technology. This also helped me create ideas of how my characters could be a representation of this.