by Harold Fensky
March 14, 2024
from
Human-Level Website
This
writer correctly makes the association between
Technocracy and Transhumanism and how they hold the same
mechanistic worldview about the utopian/dystopian
future.
This
radical worldview clashes with over 95 percent of the
people in the world and yet is every bit as tyrannical
as anything seen in history.
Source
In the realms of both
technocracy and
transhumanism, there lies a shared
belief, a kindred spirit, if you will.
This belief holds that science and technology are
not just tools or conveniences, but rather the very keystones of a
utopian future, a "perfect" society...
It's an alluring vision, an ambitious dream where the boundaries of
humanity are not just pushed but entirely redrawn through the power
of scientific management and technological integration.
Let's delve into this philosophy, beginning with
its roots in technocracy.
The term itself, 'technocracy', was coined in
1919, but it was in 1938 that it crystallized into a more
defined ideology.
Technocrats argue that politicians and
traditional forms of governance are ill-equipped to handle
modern problems.
Instead, they advocate for a society governed
by technical experts - scientists, engineers, and technologists,
those who understand the intricate workings of complex systems,
be they in energy, transportation, or economics.
This governance model is underpinned by a
profound trust in scientific methodology.
Technocrats believe that through careful,
rational, and scientific management of resources, a more efficient,
equitable, and prosperous society can be achieved.
The appeal is clear:
decisions made not on the whims of politics,
but on the solid ground of data, logic, and expertise...
Transhumanism dovetails with
technocracy in its enthusiasm for technology, but it takes a more
personal focus.
Where technocracy is concerned with societal
systems, transhumanism zeroes in on the human condition
itself...
It's a philosophy or movement that advocates
for enhancing the human experience through the application of
technology.
It's not just about making life easier or
longer; it's about fundamentally enhancing human capabilities -
cognitive, physical, emotional.
Imagine, for a moment, a world where humans
merge with technology so seamlessly that the line between
biology and technology blurs.
Transhumanists dream of a future where we
overcome biological limitations - where aging, illness,
and perhaps even death are no longer inevitable.
But this vision, as inspiring as it might seem, is not without its
critics.
Ethical concerns abound...
In a technocratic world, who decides what is
efficient or equitable?
In a transhumanist future, who gets access to
these life-altering technologies?
There's a fear that such a society could
exacerbate inequalities, or worse, create new forms of division
between the 'enhanced' and the 'unenhanced'.
Then there's the question of humanity itself.
In augmenting our physical and mental
capacities, do we risk losing something essential about being
human...?
There's a delicate balance between improvement
and loss, between gaining new abilities and losing our intrinsic
nature.
In their own words,
technocrats view their approach as the
"science of social engineering."
This phrase captures both the promise and the
hubris of technocracy and transhumanism.
It suggests a belief in the power of science not just to understand
the world, but to reshape it according to rational principles.
Yet, it also hints at a kind of arrogance,
an assumption that complex social and ethical issues can be
engineered away as easily as technical problems...
As we continue to advance technologically, these philosophies offer
us a lens through which to view our future - a future that is as
exciting as it is uncertain.
The challenge lies in,
navigating this terrain thoughtfully,
recognizing the potential of technology to transform society for
the better, while also being mindful of the profound ethical
questions and social implications that such transformations
entail...
|