“The Most Dangerous Idea?” Islamic Deliberations on Transhumanism

Year 2018, Volume: 29 Issue: 2, 201 - 228, 06.12.2018

Anke İman Bouzenita

Abstract

This paper provides a discussion of aspects of the transhumanist movement and their intellectual and bioethical implications

from an Islamic perspective. After an introduction to transhumanism and some of its variations, it discusses the underlying

suppositions of transhumanist thought: The supposed absence of the body – mind – soul complex and the idea of volitional

evolution of humankind. It then goes on to discuss the notion of enhancement and body modification, on a technological,

pharmacological and genetic level from an Islamic point of view. In conclusion, the paper discusses the idea of “the good

life”. The paper concludes that, although transhumanism is not a new idea, but rather a conglomerate of old ideas in

technologically backed dystopian garb, and although there are obvious disparages between tenets of transhumanism and

Islam at a very basic level, Muslims ought to be aware of its trajectory, as influences and repercussions will be felt globally.

Keywords

Transhumanism, Islamic bioethics, Volition evolution, Enhancement, Extreme longevity, Maqāṣid al-sharī’a, Islamic worldview

“En Tehlikeli Fikir?” Transhümanizm Üzerine İslami Mülahazalar

Abstract

Bu makale, transhümanist akımın bakış açılarını ve bunların entelektüel ve biyoetik çıkarımlarını İslami bir perspektiften

tartışmaktadır. Transhümanizme ve onun bazı varyasyonlarına bir girişten sonra bu çalışma, transhümanist düşüncenin

altında yatan varsayımları ele almaktadır: Beden-akıl-ruh kompleksinin sözde yokluğu ve insanlığın iradi evrimi fikri. Daha

sonra, iyileştirme ve beden modifikasyonu kavramlarını teknolojik, farmakolojik ve genetik bir düzlemde İslami bakış

açısından tartışmaya devam etmektedir. Sonuç kısmında ise çalışma, “iyi yaşam” düşüncesini konu edinmektedir. Makale,

transhümanizmin yeni bir fikir olmayıp aksine teknolojik açıdan desteklenmiş distopik kisvede eski fikirler yığını olmasına ve

transhümanizmin ve İslamiyet’in ilkeleri arasında çok temel bir düzeyde ayrılıklar? olmasına rağmen, etkileri ve yansımaları

küresel olarak hissedileceği için Müslümanların bunun gidişatının farkında olması gerektiği sonucuna varmaktadır.

Keywords

Transhümanizm, İslami biyoetik, İradi evrim, İyileştirme, Sonsuz yaşam, Makâsıd-ı şerîa, İslami dünya görüşü

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