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

Year 2019, Volume: 18 Issue: 1, 39 - 49, 22.01.2019
https://doi.org/10.21547/jss.446662

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.




References

  • Bostrom, N. (2016). Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • 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].
  • 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
  • Huxley, A. (1978). Brave New World. New York: Harper & Row.
  • Istvan, Z. (2013). The Transhumanist Wager (Kindle ed.) [Futurity Imagine Media LLC].
  • Kurzweil, R. (2005). The Singularity İs Near: When Humans Transcend Biology. New York: Viking.
  • Kurzweil, R. (2013). How To Create A Mind The Secret Of Human Thought Revealed. New York: Penguin.
  • Kropotkin, P. (2003). Anarchism. New York: Dover Publications.
  • Lewis, T. (2013, June 17). The Singularity Is Near: Mind Uploading by 2045? Retrieved from https://www.livescience.com/37499-immortality-by-2045-conference.html
  • Livingstone, D. (2015). Transhumanism: The History Of A Dangerous Idea. S.l.: Sabilillah Publications.
  • Mind Uploading. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.minduploading.org/
  • Mumford, L. (2010). Technics and Civilization (University of Chicago Edition ed.). USA: The University of Chocago Press.
  • O’Connell, M. (2018). To be a machine: Adventures Among Cyborgs, Utopians, Hackers, And The Futurists Solving The Modest Problem Of Death. New York: Anchor Books.
  • Schneider, S. (Ed.). (2009). Science fiction and philosophy from time travel to superintelligence. Malden (Mass.): Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Sirius, R. U., & Cornell, J. (2015). Transcendence: The Disinformation Encyclopedia Of Transhumanism And The Singularity. San Francisco (CA): Disinformation Books.
  • Sloat, S. (2017, February 15). One Fifth of Readers Experience This Auditory Hallucination After Reading Harry Potter. Retrieved from https://www.inverse.com/article/27820-character-inner-voices-hermione-experiential-crossingWhat is Virtual Reality? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.vrs.org.uk/virtual-reality/what-is-virtual-reality.html

Transhümanizm ve Tekillik: Çağdaş Eserlerde Radikal Bir Perspektifin Karşılaştırmalı Analizi

Year 2019, Volume: 18 Issue: 1, 39 - 49, 22.01.2019
https://doi.org/10.21547/jss.446662

Abstract

21. yüzyılın yeni
bir edebi eğilimi, insanların hem geçmişini hem de geleceğini içine alan
belirli bir düzeye ulaştı. Biz buna “transhümanizm” eğilimi diyoruz ve
transhümanizm, insanın varlığını, tekillik ve ölümsüzlük fikirlerini
birleştirmek için bilim ve teknolojiyi edebiyatın fantastik unsurlarının
filtrelenmesi yoluyla birleştirmeye gayret eder. Üç çağdaş romanın seçimi, yani
Cesur Yeni Dünya, Androidler Eletrikli Koyun Düşler Mi?,
ve Transhümanist Bahis,
transhümanizmin başlatılan hareketine literatürde bir bütünleştirme getiriyor.
Bu nedenle, bu makalenin ilk amacı, seçilmiş çağdaş eserlerde, transhümanizmin
temel mantığının nasıl oluştuğunu ortaya koymaktır. Bu yüzden, yeni bir
yaklaşım olduğu için, transhümanizmin farklı algılarının açıklanmasından sonra,
eserlere transhümanist bir analiz uygulanacaktır. Bu metnin ikincil bir amacı,
21. yüzyıldaki tekillik ve ölümsüzlük fikrinin bedelinin ödenerek bu ebedi
arzunun yolculuğunu sergilemektir.  Bu
özlemin eski çağlardan başlayarak kendi başına devam etmesi şaşırtıcı bir şey
değildir, ancak bu arzunun kendini bilim ve edebiyat aracılığıyla sürdürdüğü ve
tezahür ettiği şeylerden bahsetmek ise kayda değerdir.

References

  • Bostrom, N. (2016). Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • 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].
  • 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
  • Huxley, A. (1978). Brave New World. New York: Harper & Row.
  • Istvan, Z. (2013). The Transhumanist Wager (Kindle ed.) [Futurity Imagine Media LLC].
  • Kurzweil, R. (2005). The Singularity İs Near: When Humans Transcend Biology. New York: Viking.
  • Kurzweil, R. (2013). How To Create A Mind The Secret Of Human Thought Revealed. New York: Penguin.
  • Kropotkin, P. (2003). Anarchism. New York: Dover Publications.
  • Lewis, T. (2013, June 17). The Singularity Is Near: Mind Uploading by 2045? Retrieved from https://www.livescience.com/37499-immortality-by-2045-conference.html
  • Livingstone, D. (2015). Transhumanism: The History Of A Dangerous Idea. S.l.: Sabilillah Publications.
  • Mind Uploading. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.minduploading.org/
  • Mumford, L. (2010). Technics and Civilization (University of Chicago Edition ed.). USA: The University of Chocago Press.
  • O’Connell, M. (2018). To be a machine: Adventures Among Cyborgs, Utopians, Hackers, And The Futurists Solving The Modest Problem Of Death. New York: Anchor Books.
  • Schneider, S. (Ed.). (2009). Science fiction and philosophy from time travel to superintelligence. Malden (Mass.): Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Sirius, R. U., & Cornell, J. (2015). Transcendence: The Disinformation Encyclopedia Of Transhumanism And The Singularity. San Francisco (CA): Disinformation Books.
  • Sloat, S. (2017, February 15). One Fifth of Readers Experience This Auditory Hallucination After Reading Harry Potter. Retrieved from https://www.inverse.com/article/27820-character-inner-voices-hermione-experiential-crossingWhat is Virtual Reality? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.vrs.org.uk/virtual-reality/what-is-virtual-reality.html
There are 16 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Creative Arts and Writing
Journal Section English Language and Literature
Authors

Timuçin Buğra Edman

Publication Date January 22, 2019
Submission Date July 22, 2018
Acceptance Date January 7, 2019
Published in Issue Year 2019 Volume: 18 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Edman, T. B. (2019). Transhumanism and Singularity: A Comparative Analysis of a Radical Perspective in Contemporary Works. Gaziantep University Journal of Social Sciences, 18(1), 39-49. https://doi.org/10.21547/jss.446662