ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, TRANSHUMANISM, POST-HUMANISM AND THE ALLEVIATION OF THE HUMAN CONDITION

Abstract

The trio of Artificial Intelligence, Transhumanism and Post-humanism intend to improve the quality of human existence by alleviating the “facticity” component of human condition using the “freedom” component. While Artificial intelligence improves the human condition by automating tasks and also making cognitive enhancement possible through brain-computer interfaces, intelligence amplification and neural implants among others: Transhumanism impacts the “human condition” by making the following possible; life enhancement, physical augmentation and cognitive enhancement among other means: Post-humanism impacts the “human condition” by making hybridity possible, which entails integrating humans with non-other human elements such as cyborg and Artificial Intelligence among others. This paper examines these attempts to impact the “human condition” by the trio using analytic, hermeneutic and Marxian methods. Gauging the impacts, this paper concludes that though the technological advancements driven by the trio have to an extent improved the quality of human existence, they have also raise concerns about social inequality, job displacement, dissolution of human agency and identity, and deepening the despair over the inevitability of death. Measures to address these concerns should be explored.