Abstract

Tech-futurism is a loosely defined concept that we might usefully appropriate to cast a net over general discussions of, and enthusiasms for, the place of technologies in contributing to the goal of human improvement.  Here I explore the relationships between a particular form of tech-futurism, transhumanism, and eugenic thinking.  Although the technological innovations lauded by Tech-Futurism often apply to the world beyond humanity, what most readily sparks discussion and relevant to the relationships I am interested in here is their direct application to human lives.  Framed by recent tech-bro enthusiasm for technologies such as mind-uploading, the talk will discuss two contemporary transhumanist mandates: the first concerning reproduction and genetic dreams, the second, the prospects for mindscaping, the shaping and enhancement of the human mind through technological means.  Along the way, we’ll discuss the origins and recent history of transhumanism.  The talk is part of a larger book project that explores the ongoing significance of eugenic thinking for a range of contemporary topics and issues.

Bio

I am professor of philosophy at the University of Western Australia, having taught over the previous 25 years in North America. I was born in Broken Hill in New South Wales and grew up there and in Perth in Western Australia. I have a B.A. with first class honours in philosophy from the University of Western Australia, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where I was a Fulbright Scholar from late 1987 until early 1992.  I have been a full professor since 1999 and was elected to the Royal Society of Canada for contributions to philosophy in 2009.  A recent interview with Richard Marshall at 3.16am gives more of an idea of stuff I have thought about, and how I got back to where I once started with all this philosophy stuff.

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Contact

Organised by Brad Wray, Associate Professor, Aarhus University.