Human Desire and Transhumanism

• 발행기관: 가톨릭생명윤리연구소
• 저자명: Kampowski, Stephan
• 간행물 정보: 『인격주의 생명윤리』9권 2호, 55~82쪽, 전체 28쪽
• 주제분류: 인문학 > 철학
• 파일형태: PDF
• 발행일자: 2019.07.30

영문 초록

Human desire is for a fullness. Confronted with any earthly good, it can always be indifferent, it can always want more, and will never be satisfied. Hence, the plausibility of transhumanism, which moves along with our desire for the infinite, seeking, however, not an eschatological but an earthly fulfillment. Transhumanism seeks to alter the very conditions under which life is given to us, possibly turning ourselves into a new species: more intelligent, stronger, longer-lived, perhaps even morally superior through the use of technology. But it is important to perform a hermeneutic of our desire, to interpret our desire well. This is what the present article proposes to set out to do in three particular fields: the desire for better children, the desire for higher performance, and the desire for an extended life-span. It will be argued that our desires need direction, criteria, and limits in order to be legitimate and so to lead us to the true infinite good that is ultimately what we desire in every finite good. As a condition to reach that which we truly want, it is indispensable for us to embrace our finitude. Here our desire receives a measure, direction, criteria, quite beyond the rather fallacious principle according to which more is always better.

목차

Ⅰ. A Threat to the Welfare of Humanity?

Ⅱ. Human Desire for Better Children

Ⅲ. Human Desire for Higher Performance

Ⅳ. Human Desire for an Extended Lifespan

Ⅴ. Conclusion

키워드

Transhumanism Biotechnology Enhancement Finitude President’s Council on Bioethics Education Genetic manipulation Performance enhancing drugs Earthly immortality