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“Understand” Eserindeki Transhümanist Unsurlar

Year 2024, , 204 - 209, 22.06.2024
https://doi.org/10.53487/atasobed.1417196

Abstract

İnsan gelişen bir makinedir. Doğal olarak sadece kendisini değil, etrafındaki her şeyi, basit bir aletten soyut kavramlara veya bilinçli atalarının başlangıcından beri sorulan sorulara kadar sürekli olarak değiştirir ve geliştirir. Dolayısıyla insanın evrim sürecinin hiçbir zaman durmadığı ve durmayacağı evrensel olarak kabul edilmektedir. Günümüz dünyasında insan Homo Sapiens olarak değerlendirilmektedir. Ancak eğer evrim varsa zamanla yeni, daha zeki, çok daha sağlıklı, daha ahlaklı bireyler ortaya çıkacaktır.
Yirminci yüzyılın ikinci yarısı popülerleşen bilim kurgu eserleriyle birlikte üstün insan düşüncesinin yolunu açmıştır. Uzaylılar ve robotlar, beyin kapasiteleri ve bedensel fonksiyonlarıyla insanlardan üstün varlıklar olarak tasvir edilmektedir. Ancak İkinci Dünya Savaşı sırasında yapılan tıbbi deneylerle ortaya çıkan bir süper insanın olasılığı düşüncesini güçlendiren şey, süper kahraman çizgi romanları ve kitaplarıydı. Artık insanlar ölümsüzlüğü ya da en azından yaşlanma karşıtını tartışıyor. Ölümcül hastalıkların tedavi edilip edilemeyeceğini görmek için yeni ilaçlar test ediliyorAmaçlanan hedeflere ulaşıldığında insana post-insan (insan ötesi) denilecektir. Ancak önceki ile sonraki arasında bir dönemde olduğumuz için ulaşacağımız ilk kilometre taşı transhuman olmaktır. Nebula ve Hugo ödüllü yazar Ted Chiang, Amerikalı bir Bilim Kurgu yazarıdır. Romanları en çok transhümanist özellikleriyle tanınır. Bilgisayar bilimi mezunu olan Chiang, ‘Understand’ adlı kısa öyküsünde, bir azınlığın insan sınırlarının ötesinde yeteneklerle ayrıcalıklı olduğu bir dünyanın olası sonuçlarını başarılı bir şekilde kurgular. Onun böyle bir dünyayı tasvir etmesi, insanlığın genetik merdivende bu denli bir yükselişe "gerçekten" hazır olup olmadığını, yoksa kendimizi hızla kendi yok oluşumuza mı ittiğimizi düşündürmektedir.

References

  • Bostrom, N. (2005). Transhumanist Values. Journal of Philosophical Research, 4, 3–14. https://doi.org/10.5840/jpr_2005_26
  • Chiang, T. (2016). Stories of your life and others. Vintage Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.
  • Elrick, J. (2019). Seig High! Psychostimulants and Opioids in World War II. Torch Magazine.
  • Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (2024, January 5). Eugenics. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/eugenics-genetics
  • Lindberg, S. (2022). On Prosthetic Existence: What Differentiates Deconstruction from Transhumanism and Posthumanism. In Humanism and Its Discontents the Rise of Transhumanism and Posthumanism (pp. 37–65). essay, Springer International Publishing, Imprint: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Peters, T. (2011). Transhumanism and the Posthuman Future: Will Technological Progress Get Us There? In G. R. Hansell & W. Grassie (Eds.), H±: Transhumanism and its critics (p. 152). Metanexus Institute.
  • Promethean English meaning - cambridge dictionary. (n.d.). https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/promethean
  • Ross, B. (2020). The Philosophy of Transhumanism: A critical Analysis Emerald Publishing Limited.
  • Sandberg, A. (2013). Human Enhancement: The Somatic Sphere. In The Transhumanist Reader (p. 132). essay, Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Stolyarov, G. (2019). The United States Transhumanist Party and the Politics of Abundance. In The Transhumanist Handbook (1st ed., p. 90). essay, Springer International Publishing.
  • The Transhumanist Declaration. Humanity. (n.d.). https://www.humanityplus.org/the-transhumanist-declaration

Transhumanist Elements in ‘Understand’

Year 2024, , 204 - 209, 22.06.2024
https://doi.org/10.53487/atasobed.1417196

Abstract

Humans are progressing machines. Naturally, it is continuously changing and modifying not only itself but also everything around it, from a simple gadget to abstract concepts or questions asked from the very beginning of conscious ancestors’ times. Therefore, it is universally accepted that the human evolution process has never ceased and never will. In today’s world, Homo Sapiens are considered as human. However, if there is evolution, new, more intelligent, much healthier, and morally better individuals will emerge in time.
The second half of the twentieth century paved the way for a thought on transcendent human with the popularized science fiction works. Aliens and robots, with their brain capacities and bodily functions, were depicted as beings to superior to humans. It was the superhero comics and books that reinforced the thought of a possibility of a superman seeded by the medical experiments conducted during WWII. Now, people are discussing immortality, or at least anti-aging. New drugs are tested to see whether deadly diseases can be cured. There are countless areas working to enhance and make better human conditions. Once the aimed goals are achieved, human will be called post-human. But, since we are in an epoch between the former and the latter, our first milestone to reach is being a transhuman.
Nebula and Hugo-awarded author, Ted Chiang, is an American science fiction writer. His novellas are best known for their transhumanist features. As a computer science graduate, Chiang, in his short story called ‘Understand’, successfully fictionalizes the possible outcomes of a world in which a minority is privileged with abilities beyond human limitation. His portrayal of such a world makes one ponder whether humanity is “really” ready for such a move up on the genetic ladder or whether we are pushing fast ourselves to our own demise.

References

  • Bostrom, N. (2005). Transhumanist Values. Journal of Philosophical Research, 4, 3–14. https://doi.org/10.5840/jpr_2005_26
  • Chiang, T. (2016). Stories of your life and others. Vintage Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.
  • Elrick, J. (2019). Seig High! Psychostimulants and Opioids in World War II. Torch Magazine.
  • Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (2024, January 5). Eugenics. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/eugenics-genetics
  • Lindberg, S. (2022). On Prosthetic Existence: What Differentiates Deconstruction from Transhumanism and Posthumanism. In Humanism and Its Discontents the Rise of Transhumanism and Posthumanism (pp. 37–65). essay, Springer International Publishing, Imprint: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Peters, T. (2011). Transhumanism and the Posthuman Future: Will Technological Progress Get Us There? In G. R. Hansell & W. Grassie (Eds.), H±: Transhumanism and its critics (p. 152). Metanexus Institute.
  • Promethean English meaning - cambridge dictionary. (n.d.). https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/promethean
  • Ross, B. (2020). The Philosophy of Transhumanism: A critical Analysis Emerald Publishing Limited.
  • Sandberg, A. (2013). Human Enhancement: The Somatic Sphere. In The Transhumanist Reader (p. 132). essay, Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Stolyarov, G. (2019). The United States Transhumanist Party and the Politics of Abundance. In The Transhumanist Handbook (1st ed., p. 90). essay, Springer International Publishing.
  • The Transhumanist Declaration. Humanity. (n.d.). https://www.humanityplus.org/the-transhumanist-declaration
There are 11 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects World Languages, Literature and Culture (Other)
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Enfal Erkan 0000-0003-0909-6101

Publication Date June 22, 2024
Submission Date January 9, 2024
Acceptance Date May 6, 2024
Published in Issue Year 2024

Cite

APA Erkan, E. (2024). Transhumanist Elements in ‘Understand’. Current Perspectives in Social Sciences, 28(2), 204-209. https://doi.org/10.53487/atasobed.1417196

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