The Posthuman Condition : Ethics, Aesthetics & Politics of Biotechnological Challenges

Biotechnology’s promise to upgrade human bodies and minds ignites ethical and political dilemmas, challenging our limits in altering human nature. As rapid technological advances reshape everyday life, interdisciplinary debates probe profound impacts on society, politics, and the essence of being human.

If biotechnology can be used to "upgrade" humans physically and mentally, should it be used at all? And, if so, to what extent? How will biotechnology affect societal cohesion? Can the development be controlled, or is this a Pandora's box that should remain closed? These are but a few of the perplex questions facing scientists as a result of the increasing ability of technology to change biology and, in turn, profoundly change human living conditions. This development has created a new posthuman horizon that will influence contemporary life and politics in a number of ways. The Posthuman Condition addresses the challenges of: Imagining a society where the properties of humans have shifted radically; Assessing the scope of deploying technologies that are already underway; Basing decisions on an ethical foundation that does not entail a concept of human nature; Ascertaining the types of political action that can and should be taken in the face of this situation. The anthology brings together researchers from a wide range of disciplines: biotechnology, medicine, ethics, politics, and aesthetics, and among contributors are Francis Fukuyama, Julian Savulescu, Maxwell Mehlman, John Harris and Chris Hables Gray.