Directed evolution (transhumanism)

This article is about the futurist ideology and movement. For the biochemical technique, see Directed evolution.

The term directed evolution is used within the transhumanist community to refer to the idea of applying the principles of directed evolution and experimental evolution to the control of human evolution.[1] In this sense, it is distinct from the use of the term in biochemistry, which refers only to the evolution of proteins and RNA. Maxwell J. Melhmanh has described directed evolution of humans as the Holy Grail of transhumanism.[1] Oxford philosopher Julian Savulescu wrote that:

Humanity until this point has been a story of evolution for the survival genes - survival and reproduction ... we are entering a new phase of human evolution - evolution under reason - where human beings are masters of their destiny. Power has been transferred from nature to science.

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Julian Savulescu [2]

According to UCLA biophysicist Gregory Stock:

Humanity is leaving its childhood and moving into its adolescence as its powers infuse into realms hitherto beyond our reach.

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Gregory Stock [3]

Riccardo Campa, from the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, wrote that "self-directed evolution" can be coupled with many different political, philosophical, and religious views.[4]

Criticism of the term

Andrew Askland, from the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law claims that referring to transhumanism as directed evolution is problematic because evolution is ateleological and transhumanism is teleological.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Maxwell, Mehlman. "Will Directed Evolution Destroy Humanity, and If So, What Can We Do About It?" (PDF). 3 St. Louis U.J. Health L. & Pol'y 93, 96-97 (2009].
  2. ↑ Savulescu, Julian (2003). "Human-Animal Transgenesis and Chimeras Might Be an Expression of Our Humanity". Journal of Bioethics. 3: 22–24.
  3. ↑ Stock, Gregory (2005). "Germinal Choice Technology and the Human Future". Ethics L. & Moral Phil. Reprod. Biomedicine. 10: 27–34.
  4. ↑ Campa, Riccardo. "Toward a transhumanist politics". Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  5. ↑ Askland, Andrew (2011). "The Misnomer of Transhumanism as Directed Evolution" (PDF). International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Society. 9 (1): 71–78.
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