Art and Literature

Transhumanism and Singularity: A Comparative Analysis of a Radical Perspective in Contemporary Works

Volume: 18 Number: 1 January 22, 2019
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Transhumanism and Singularity: A Comparative Analysis of a Radical Perspective in Contemporary Works

Abstract

A new literary tendency of the 21st century has reached a certain level where it encapsulates both the past and future of humans. We call this tendency ‘transhumanism’, and it endeavors to combine science and technology through the filtration of fantastic elements of literature to amalgamate the entity of man and the ideas of singularity and immortality. The choice of three contemporary novels, namely Brave New World, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and The Transhumanist Wager brings a consolidation towards the initiated movement of transhumanism in literature. Therefore, in principal, the first aim of this article is to present how the basic logic of transhumanism embodied in the selected contemporary works. For this reason, a transhumanist analysis of works will be applied on them after an explanation of the different perceptions of transhumanism since it is a fresh approach. A secondary objective of this text is to redeem the idea of singularity and immortality in the 21st century to demonstrate the journey of this ever-lasting desire. The continuation of this longing from ancient times to our own is not something astonishing, but the way this desire maintains and manifests itself through science and literature is worth mentioning.


Keywords

References

  1. Bostrom, N. (2016). Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  2. Dick, P. K. (2008). Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?: The inspiration for the films Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049 (Kindle Edition ed.) [Kindle Version].
  3. Griffin, A. (2015, October 09). Artificial intelligence is going to get so good that machines will kill us by accident, Stephen Hawking says. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/stephen-hawking-artificial-intelligence-could-wipe-out-humanity-when-it-gets-too-clever-as-humans-a6686496.html
  4. Huxley, A. (1978). Brave New World. New York: Harper & Row.
  5. Istvan, Z. (2013). The Transhumanist Wager (Kindle ed.) [Futurity Imagine Media LLC].
  6. Kurzweil, R. (2005). The Singularity İs Near: When Humans Transcend Biology. New York: Viking.
  7. Kurzweil, R. (2013). How To Create A Mind The Secret Of Human Thought Revealed. New York: Penguin.
  8. Kropotkin, P. (2003). Anarchism. New York: Dover Publications.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Creative Arts and Writing

Journal Section

Art and Literature

Authors

Publication Date

January 22, 2019

Submission Date

July 22, 2018

Acceptance Date

January 7, 2019

Published in Issue

Year 2019 Volume: 18 Number: 1

APA
Edman, T. B. (2019). Transhumanism and Singularity: A Comparative Analysis of a Radical Perspective in Contemporary Works. Gaziantep Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 18(1), 39-49. https://doi.org/10.21547/jss.446662
AMA
1.Edman TB. Transhumanism and Singularity: A Comparative Analysis of a Radical Perspective in Contemporary Works. GAUN-JSS. 2019;18(1):39-49. doi:10.21547/jss.446662
Chicago
Edman, Timuçin Buğra. 2019. “Transhumanism and Singularity: A Comparative Analysis of a Radical Perspective in Contemporary Works”. Gaziantep Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi 18 (1): 39-49. https://doi.org/10.21547/jss.446662.
EndNote
Edman TB (January 1, 2019) Transhumanism and Singularity: A Comparative Analysis of a Radical Perspective in Contemporary Works. Gaziantep Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi 18 1 39–49.
IEEE
[1]T. B. Edman, “Transhumanism and Singularity: A Comparative Analysis of a Radical Perspective in Contemporary Works”, GAUN-JSS, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 39–49, Jan. 2019, doi: 10.21547/jss.446662.
ISNAD
Edman, Timuçin Buğra. “Transhumanism and Singularity: A Comparative Analysis of a Radical Perspective in Contemporary Works”. Gaziantep Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi 18/1 (January 1, 2019): 39-49. https://doi.org/10.21547/jss.446662.
JAMA
1.Edman TB. Transhumanism and Singularity: A Comparative Analysis of a Radical Perspective in Contemporary Works. GAUN-JSS. 2019;18:39–49.
MLA
Edman, Timuçin Buğra. “Transhumanism and Singularity: A Comparative Analysis of a Radical Perspective in Contemporary Works”. Gaziantep Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, vol. 18, no. 1, Jan. 2019, pp. 39-49, doi:10.21547/jss.446662.
Vancouver
1.Timuçin Buğra Edman. Transhumanism and Singularity: A Comparative Analysis of a Radical Perspective in Contemporary Works. GAUN-JSS. 2019 Jan. 1;18(1):39-4. doi:10.21547/jss.446662

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