Publication details
Sculptors of our humanity. Anthropotechnics – the improvement of the human being from Biotechnology
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2023 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Česká antropologie |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | http://anthropology.cz/cs/aktualni-cisla/ |
| Keywords | Anthropotechnics; human beings; biotechnology; adaptation; modification |
| Description | The present article aims, first and foremost, to provide a conceptual delimitation of the term “human enhancement” from the perspective of its evolutionary continuity and historical persistence. It is concluded that human enhancement is an inherent process in human beings, making it highly challenging to stop or prohibit it, as it would negate our very essence. This initial analysis leads us to the evident symbiosis that exists today between human enhancement and technology, whether mechanical, genetic, or pharmacological in nature. Therefore, an analogy is drawn between technology and human enhancement, examining this circumstance from a Heideggerian perspective on technique. From these findings, we can deduce an approach to the concept of human enhancement, which clearly links two areas of study: anthropology and biotechnology. The second part of the dossier explores the concept of anthropotechnic in order to elucidate the connections between anthropology and biotechnology, with the aim of analyzing the current issues generated around human enhancement. Finally, proposals are put forward to shed light on the debate surrounding human enhancement: adopting a serene attitude by studying the pros and cons of human enhancement and technology; interdisciplinarity (BASTES) as an approach to addressing life improvement; the use of calculative thinking and meditative thinking in the biotechnological process addressing human enhancement; the necessary legal and professional regulation in the biotechnological research process and the application of human enhancement in everyday life. |