Why transhumanism is wrong and humans are terrible at being human

The essence of life and the human condition have been two things which have been on my mind since a young age. Not merely that of any meaning which one could ascribe to existence itself, or the state of being alive. No, the biggest question to me has always been what it means to be human. Over the years it's become painfully obvious to me that people conflate the fact of possessing a human (biological) body with actually being human. While the latter requires the former, the former does not imply the latter.

To be human is to have an awareness of one's feelings and emotions, along with the perception and empathy with other people's feelings. It means a purity of mind, of a desire to move away from the harshness of the natural world in which our species evolved, towards a world in which joy and happiness are paramount and eternal. Even if it is not achievable in our lifetime, we will nevertheless persevere, because that's what it means to be human.

The premise behind transhumanism is that we humans as a species are fundamentally limited by our bodies and minds, and that only by somehow transcending these limitations, we can become something more, something better. This dogmatic view ignores the fundamental truth that for thousands of years now there have been human beings around who have excelled or excel at being human. Because they have found and embraced their humanity. We don't need to change, we merely need to discover what we already have right now.


Similarly, humanity as a whole is confused, struggling with itself as it cannot seem to find its humanity. Even though society as a whole is gradually moving closer to this ideal humanistic world, it's not hard to find examples of those who make this transition harder than it should be. The most egregious example of this being the wanton cruelty inflicted upon others, especially the cruelty inflicted in the name of human-made rules, such as austerity programs, religions and other dogmatic systems.

To be human is to want more goodness and fewer worries for everyone. That's why we humans invented healthcare, discovered vaccines and antibiotics, as well as ways to repair a body damaged by disease or injury. Because fundamentally a human being does not believe in suffering. Not that of themselves, nor that of others.


Maybe I am wrong about every human having this capability to feel and empathise. Maybe it is indeed merely a fluke in a vanishingly small percentage of humanity which allows these individuals to only selflessly desire change for the good of humankind. Yet I do not see how changing our bodies or even achieving immortality of our bodies would make us more human. That's where I see that transhumanism is completely missing the point.

What we need to understand better is how humanism exists within a person. Whether it's indeed this fluke, in which case humanity as a whole would never achieve the level of understanding and empathy that is required for the humanist dream. Meanwhile, we will continue to take away worries for many, even if it's the unintended fallout from actions by the selfish and wealthy. Healthcare will improve, diseases will fade, life-threatening diseases and injuries will become routine operations. Death becoming a thing of the past.

But will it be part of the humanist dream, of humanity collectively realising its humanity and finding enlightenment that way? Or will it be the dystopian nightmare continuing well into this future, with the vanishingly small minority of the haves ruling over the have-nots, showing that humanity has not progressed a millimeter since the heydays of the Industrial Revolution or long before that?


I will keep the humanist's dream alive, even if it's just inside my heart. I hope many more people will do the same.


Maya