A ‘Passing’ of the Human Being? From Embodiment to the Virtual

Grzegorz HOŁUB

Katedra Bioetyki, Wydział Filozoficzny, Uniwersytet Papieski Jana Pawła II, ul. Kanonicza 9, 31-002 Cracow, Poland , Poland

Abstract

The article discusses the issue of a possible ‘passing’ of the human being. The starting point of the considerations is the postulate, put forward by radical environmental philosophers, to ‘liberate’ the natural world from the presence of the human being. Their idea my be accomplished by transferring humanness to virtual and technological spheres, as proposed by transhumanists. The author points out to various practical and theoretical problems involved by such an enterprise. Generally speaking, the latter would lead to the annihilation of both the human being and the human culture. While the virtual and technological domains may be helpful to humans, they fail to provide the environment where humanness—in the form familiar to us right now—could be constituted. The postulate to transfer humanness outside the biological domain stems from the ongoing ecological crisis as well as from the recognition that the human being is a threat to the natural world. However, the author points out to the need to adopt the ‘two-winners’ logic (regarding both humans and the environment as winners) rather than the ‘winner and loser’ one.

Keywords:

biocentrism, transhumanism, human person, enhancement of the human nature, the virtual sphere