Hi Marco,
It's a funny thing transhumanism (or post humanism), an (x) British
citizen, Max More (http://www.maxmore.com/) gained much attention with
his ideas regarding what (i think) he termed as 'extropianism', and
since has developed it with others through 'science and technology', now
calling it 'transhumanism'.
"Transhumanists go beyond most of our traditional humanist predecessors
in proposing fundamental alterations in human nature in pursuit of these
improvements. We question traditional, biological, genetic, and
intellectual constraints on our progress and possibility. The unique
conceptual abilities of our species give us the opportunity to advance
nature's evolution to new peaks. Rather than accepting the undesirable
aspects of the human condition, transhumanists of all stripes challenge
natural and traditional limitations on our possibilities. We champion
the use of science and technology to eradicate constraints on lifespan,
intelligence, personal vitality, and freedom."
And then you have an individual like Natasha Vita-More. Who has worked
with More (perhaps related), proposing a cyber philosophy on
transhumanism through paper's such as "The New [human] Genre --- Primo
Posthuman" http://www.natasha.cc/paper.htm
What's interesting here, and this may get us closer to your question, is
that cyberfeminism, biopunk and cyberpunk theory - all connects to this.
For instance, she says "Other interpretations of a cyborg approximate
the human, but encourage machine-images with superhuman powers. Donna
Haraway's interpretation of the cyborg [Haraway, 1991, pp. 149-181]
differs from the original ideal, and is more of a "transhuman"
[Vita-More, 1983] in scope than actual cyborg. Yet, in most instances
the cyborg lacks social consciousness and suggests a grim and dire
nature by impersonalizing humanity."
and proposes, 'Primo is engineered like a finely tuned machine and
displayed visually like a biological body to mirror the human shape for
cognitive association, visual recognition, and aesthetic appeal. Yet,
the Primo body does not age, is easily upgraded, has meta-sensory
components, 24-hour remote Net relay system, and multiple gender
options. Its outer sheath is primed with smart skin which vanguards
practical designs purposes for communication. The model structure is
composed of assembled massive molecular cytes or cells connected
together to form the outer fabric of the body. The smart skin is
engineered to repair, remake, and replace itself. It contains nanobots
throughout the epidermal and dermis to communicate with the brain to
determine the texture and tone of its surface. It transmits enhanced
sensory data to the brain on an ongoing basis. The smart skin learns how
and when to renew itself, alerts the outside world of the disposition of
the person; gives specific degrees of the body's temperature from moment
to moment; and reflects symbols, images, colors and textures across its
contours. It is able to relate the percentages of toxins in the
environment and the extract radiation effects of the sun."
What Natasha Vita-More, fails to get across when she discounts Haraway,
are the contexts of why "A Cyborg Manifesto: Science, Technology, and
Socialist-Feminism in the Late Twentieth Century", is important - to
women and men.
It is precisely about reclaiming our consciousness against the
overpowering capitalist 'male' dominating structures. Although,
unfortunately Haraway still relies on science to answer social problems
but less 'potentially' as authoritarian in its poetic discourse. More's
argument relies on top-down transhumanist values, alongside neoliberal
contexts. So, it's liberation for the elite, whilst the poor swim in the
sea of disease unless they can afford to pay for a longer life and all
the technical attachments. Also, one of the annoying things many
transhumanist's expound is "the human project has failed", which is also
exudes a level of eugenics which is worth consideration regarding their
'real' agendas.
What I have said is in no way suffient enough to crack open the deeper
resonances of the dialogues and critical reasonings for and against
transhumanism.
I know others on this list may be qualified to add light on the subject.
I can certainly suggest biopinks - such as Heath Bunting with his His
D.I.Y. superweed kit (http://www.irational.org/cta/superweed/kit.html),
which he "claims give's people the power to disrupt the introduction of
genetically-modified crops by growing a ?superweed? that is naturally
resistant to GM herbicides. Superweed? has strong resonances at a time
when governments and public opinion, are in the process of deciding
whether scientific advances in agricultural production are always
beneficial."
If this dialogue expands, I have other examples & I'm sure you and
others do as well :-)
Wishing you well.
marc
thanks for bringing this to the attention of the list Marc.
The talk started circulating a few days ago (at least around my
newtwork), and I found the talk deeply interesting.
I feel still unclear about the relation between biopunk and transhumanism.
On another note, it is important to add that "biopunk" does not refer
only to dna and organism hackers, but includes also the physical body
hackers, a community within which I'm glad to identify myself.
Perhaps, without labelling though.
See: http://www.grindhousewetware.com/projects-1
best,
--
Marco Donnarumma
New Media + Sonic Arts Practitioner, Performer, Teacher, Director.
Embodied Audio-Visual Interaction Research Team.
Department of Computing, Goldsmiths University of London
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Portfolio: http://marcodonnarumma.com
Research: http://res.marcodonnarumma.com
Director: http://www.liveperformersmeeting.net
From: netbehaviour <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>>
Subject: [NetBehaviour] A Biopunk Manifesto - Meredith Patterson.
To: [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>
Message-ID: <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
A Biopunk Manifesto - Meredith Patterson.
A biohacker is a biopunk hobbyist who experiments with DNA and other
aspects of genetics.[3][4][6] A biohacker (or "wetware hacker") is
similar to a computer hacker who creates and modifies software or
computer hardware as a hobby, but should not be confused with a
bioterrorist, whose sole intent is the deliberate release of viruses,
bacteria, or other germs used to cause illness or death in people,
animals, or plants (in the same way a computer hacker should not be
confused with the more popular, yet erroneous, use of the term,
describing someone who spreads computer viruses or breaks into
computers
systems for malicious purposes).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thn7d7-jywU
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