Analysis Of Transhumanism By Francis Fukuyama

1188 Words3 Pages

In Francis Fukuyama’s “Transhumanism”, he discusses the many complexities and contradictions surrounding transhumanism. He persuades his audience through logic and reason to convey the factual side of human nature, and as to why human nature is too fragile to alter. There is a certain balance to the human body and mental functions, and the temptations of transhumanism incredibly endanger this important harmony. Fukuyama goes on to discuss human character, emotion, and morality to show why transhumanism is counterproductive. Every human develops certain character traits throughout their lives that make them who they are. These traits can be very defining within a person’s life, and through biological transhumanism they can be tampered with and entirely change someone’s character. As human beings, we contain numerous traits, one example being aggression. Aggression in today’s society has earned a very negative connotation, and with prescribed medications, aggression becomes smothered into near extinction. Fukuyama cleverly counters these methods by stating, “If we weren’t violent and aggressive we wouldn’t be able to defend ourselves (Fukuyama 449)”. He brings a new side of logic into the circumstance when he conveys that …show more content…

Humans are a very complex, and intelligent species. Certain aspects such as character, emotions, and morality help to contribute and to build upon these intricacies. Fukuyama uses the appeal of logos to bring reason into the aspect that human nature is a fragile balance, and when unnecessarily toiled with, it can entirely unravel a person’s demeanor. He supports his arguments by giving numerous examples as to how positive and negative aspects of our personalities directly link up, and by trying when trying to correct the negative side, we disrupt the positive side as well and become entirely off

Show More
Related

  • Examples Of Dehumanization In Night By Elie Wiesel

    670 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the Holocaust, the Jews were continuously dehumanized by the Nazis. However, these actions may not have only impacted the Jews, but they may have had the unintended effect of dehumanizing the Nazis as well. What does this say about humanity? Elie Wiesel and Art Spiegelman both acknowledge this commentary in their books, Night and Maus. The authors demonstrate that true dehumanization reveals that the nature of humanity is not quite as structured as one might think.

    Read More

  • Abandoning Morals and Ethics: Oryx and Crake, Elizabeth Bathory

    978 Words  | 2 Pages

    Smith, Wesley J. "The Trouble with Transhumanism." The Center for Bioethics and Culture RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2014.

    Read More

  • Human Dignity by Francis Fukuyama

    1177 Words  | 3 Pages

    In his piece, “Human Dignity”, Francis Fukuyama explores the perception of human dignity in today's society. This perception is defined by what Fukuyama calls “Factor X”. This piece draws attention to how human dignity has been affected recently and its decline as we go into the future. Using the input given by the Dalai Lama in his piece, “Ethics and New Genetics”, the implementing of factor X and human dignity on future generations will be explored. Through the use of the pieces, “Human Dignity and Human Reproductive Cloning by Steven Malby, Genetic Testing and Its Implications: Human Genetics Researchers Grapple with Ethical Issues by Isaac Rabino, and Gender Differences in the Perception of Genetic Engineering Applied to Human Reproduction by Carol L. Napolitano and Oladele A. Ogunseitan, the decline on the amount of human dignity found in today's society as well as the regression in Factor X that can be found today compared to times past. Society's twist on ethics as a result of pop culture and an increase in genetic engineering has caused for the decline in the amount of dignity shown by the members of society and the regression of Factor X to take hold in today's society.

    Read More

  • Essay On Human Dignity By Francis Fukuyama

    1074 Words  | 3 Pages

    Millions of years of evolution have taken us from a single cell to a genetically unique animal we now call humans. This progression and advancement has taken us from beings with no language or sense of thought, to what is now an extremely advanced human race, exploring the world as we know it. In Human Dignity, Francis Fukuyama explains the concepts of what makes an animal human. This can be a very hard concept to grasp and even Fukuyama cannot give a clear answer. Fukuyama agrees that there is not solely one characteristic that makes an animal human, it a group of elements, which he calls Factor X. These elements are what should ultimately give animals the right to be treated with dignity, honor, and respect. If animals can develop an advanced

    Read More

  • Physical, Social And Aggression In Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park

    573 Words  | 2 Pages

    Aggressive individuals often act in ways that will result in having personal gain, rather than focusing what impact they have on others. Aggression is pervasive. It affects the rich as well as the poor, the upper and lower classes, it defines us. This means that most sole individuals will behave in certain ways to promote their well being, instead of how they affect others. Michael Crichton uses characters in Jurassic Park to portray the negative physical, social and intellectual impact they can have on society. This is evident in everyday life because society has molded individuals into looking out for their well being with no considerations of the impact that it has on others.

    Read More

  • Dr. Heidegger's Essays: The Ethics Of Redefining Humans

    1155 Words  | 3 Pages

    Dr. Heidegger finds the water of life, and uses it in an experiment. He questions what it means to be human, and how people might react if given the opportunity to make themselves younger. Transhumanism brings up many ethical issues. Dr. Heidegger’s experiment is a perfect example of the importance of those ethical considerations. For instance, what are the boundaries of human transformation, possible misuses, and discrimination for those who can’t afford it?

    Read More

  • An Analysis of Matt Ridley’s The Origins of Virtue

    968 Words  | 2 Pages

    Inwardly examining his own nature, man would prefer to see himself as a virtuously courageous being designed in the image of a divine supernatural force. Not to say that the true nature of man is a complete beast, he does posses, like many other creatures admirable traits. As author Matt Ridley examines the nature of man in his work The Origins of Virtue, both the selfish and altruistic sides of man are explored. Upon making an honest and accurate assessment of his character, it seems evident that man is not such a creature divinely set apart from the trappings of selfishness and immorality. Rather than put man at either extreme it seems more accurate to describe man as a creature whose tendency is to look out for himself first, as a means of survival.

    Read More

  • Transcendentalism

    1611 Words  | 4 Pages

    The word Transcendentalism, as used at the present day, has two applications. One of which is popular and indefinite, the other, philosophical and precise. In the former sense it describes man, rather than opinions, since it is freely extended to those who hold opinions, not only diverse from each other, but directly opposed. (1)

    Read More

  • Pinker The Noble Savage Summary

    1118 Words  | 3 Pages

    Steven Pinker lays the foundation for his book by highlighting three main philosophies that permeate society’s view of humanity and their historical context: The Blank Slate (empiricism), the Noble Savage (romanticism), and the Ghost in the Machine (dualism) (2002, p. 11). Pinker is correct to challenge previous philosophical frameworks as they skew the way scientific research has been conducted. Present-day scientific and social research will only benefit from an acknowledgement of innate human nature.

    Read More

  • Transhumanism: The Final Evolutionay Step

    1022 Words  | 3 Pages

    Transhumanism or scientific human modification could be the single most important breakthrough in the history of mankind. The ability to enhance human intellect and change a human being both physically and or psychologically has been the goal of mankind since the dawn of time. The ramifications of allowing a human being to become god like could be catastrophic, but the goal of human evolution has always been to advance the human race in whatever way possible. Thanks to the ability of human beings to alter themselves through genetics, Nano-technology, and through the use of artificial intelligence they are at the onset of allowing themselves to live healthy lives possibly forever. Another of the benefits for trans-humanism is the possibility for human beings to improve the entire field of medicine through technology. Thirdly, the ability to allow something with super-human intelligence to control the outcome of humanity is always falsely viewed as a detriment to the human race.

    Read More

  • Analysis of 12 Angry Men

    1246 Words  | 3 Pages

    In viewing 12 Angry Men, we see face to face exactly what man really is capable of being. We see different views, different opinions of men such as altruism, egoism, good and evil. It is no doubt that human beings possess either one or any of these characteristics, which make them unique. It is safe to say that our actions, beliefs, and choices separate us from animals and non-livings. The 20th century English philosopher, Martin Hollis, once said, “Free will – the ability to make decisions about how to act – is what distinguishes people from non-human animals and machines 1”. He went to describe human beings as “self conscious, rational, creative. We can fall in love, write sonnets or plan for tomorrow. We are capable of faith, hope and charity, and for that matter, of envy, hated and malice. We know truth from error, right from wrong 2.” Human nature by definition is “Characteristics or qualities that make human beings different from anything else”. With this said, the topic of human nature has been around for a very long time, it is a complex subject with no right or wrong answer. An American rabbi, Samuel Umen, gave examples of contradictions of human nature in his book, Images of Man. “He is compassionate, generous, loving and forgiving, but also cruel, vengeful, selfish and vindictive 3”. Existentialism by definition is, “The belief that existence comes before essence, that is, that who you are is only determined by you yourself, and not merely an accident of birth”. A French philosopher, Jean-Paul Sartre, is the most famous and influential 20th - century existentialist. He summed up human nature as “existence precedes essence”. In his book, Existentialism and Human Emotions, he explained what he meant by this. “It means that, first of all, man exists, turns up, appears on the scene, and, only afterwards, defines himself. If man, as the existentialist conceives him, is indefinable, it is because at first he is nothing. Only afterward will be something, and he himself will have made what he will be 4”. After watching 12 Angry Men, the prominent view on human nature that is best portrayed in the movie is that people are free to be whatever they want because as Sartre said, “people create themselves every moment of everyday according to the choices they make 5”.

    Read More

  • Transhumanist Philosophy

    1314 Words  | 3 Pages

    Imagine that you are able to teleport to the not too distant future. In this world you discover that disease and poverty are no longer causes for human suffering, world hunger has become eliminated from society, and space travel is as easy as snapping your fingers. Cryonics, nanotechnology, cloning, genetic enhancement, artificial intelligence, and brain chips are all common technologies at a doctor’s office. You gasp as a friendly sounding electronic voice cries out, “Welcome to the future Natural!” You are unsure of whether being called a Natural is an insult or not, so you feign a half-hearted hello at the posthuman in front of you. Getting over the initial shock you ask the posthuman, “Who are you?” The posthuman gives an electronic sounding chuckle and shakes his head. He replies, “I am a Posthuman, and you Natural, are in Utopia. Welcome.”

    Read More

  • Donna Haraway's Human Cyborgs

    909 Words  | 2 Pages

    In traditional philosophy, a human is limited based on categories like sex, race, orientation, and their abilities. One can see that these compositions are “building blocks” to the structure of that human. In contrast, the concepts of Posthumanism question the traditional ideals of what it is to be human. This school of thought rationalizes that we as humans are always changing and evolving with other forms of life and technology. In the book “Simians, Cyborgs, and Women; The Reinvention of Nature” the author, Donna Haraway, argues that we need to defy those categories that create and maintain that separation between our “selves” and others. This paper will explore Haraway’s ideals by surveying her book and relating her teachings to situations

    Read More

  • Technology and Happiness in Civilization and Its Discontents and Waiting for Godot

    1205 Words  | 3 Pages

    Freud believes that aggression is a primal instinct, and civilization thwarts this instinct, making man unhappy. Civilized society controls man's tendency toward aggression through rules and laws and the presence of authority. These mechanisms are put in place to guarantee safety and happiness for all individuals in a society. However, the necessity of suppressing the aggressive drive in m...

    Read More

  • Arguments Against The Idea Of Transhumanism In The Dark Ages

    630 Words  | 2 Pages

    I will use this information to explain how transhumanism is never fully achievable due to the fact that the standards and ideas keep changing. The article also went into the religious aspects of the idea which I will use to further build upon what information I have to strengthen my argument. His argument is more pro-transhumanism, and I will use his opposite viewspoint to get a better understanding so that I can counter the stance easier. This article brings in the morality issues with transhumanism and how some religious examples play in.

    Read More

More about Analysis Of Transhumanism By Francis Fukuyama

Open Document