White and Black Posthumanism (2009 ed.)

Computer technology, pharmacology, genetics, and neurosciences promise people the possibility of making fundamental technical changes to themselves.

According to post-humanist theory, from the modifications humans perform on the human organism a post-human being will result which is supposed to have a massively broader spectrum of bodily and cognitive capabilities compared to humans.

On the other hand, some essentially human characteristics will be dispensable for the post-human.

For example, it has been assumed that such beings would not even require consciousness, since conscious experience might be more of a hindrance to the smooth functionality of action that will be needed in the future.

This would mean that an almost unimaginable transformation would occur, and the oft-anticipated 'end of man' could become a reality in an unforeseen way.

This book considers the post-humanist scenario from the perspectives of philosophy, psychoanalysis, and cognitive science.