Transhumanism Timeline: Significant Contributions Shaping the Evolution of Transhumanist Philosophy[]
The Transhumanism Timeline chronicles the evolution of transhumanist thought, capturing humanity's longstanding ambition to transcend biological limits through technological and philosophical advancements. This extensive timeline covers significant figures, movements, and ideas that shaped transhumanist philosophy from early speculative thoughts to modern scientific endeavors.
Historical Foundations[]
- 1308-1321: In The Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri introduces terms like "Transumanare," symbolizing human transcendence beyond natural limits.
- 1605: Philosopher Francis Bacon writes in The Advancement of Learning about extending human life, foreshadowing future longevity studies.
- 1773: Benjamin Franklin muses about hypothetical life extension methods, reflecting early Enlightenment thoughts on overcoming death.
- 1794: Marquis de Condorcet, a French philosopher, speculates that science may one day eliminate disease and extend human life indefinitely.
19th Century and Early 20th Century Precursors[]
- 1850s-1903: Russian philosopher Nikolai Fyodorov introduces cosmism, advocating for immortality and space exploration through scientific progress, influencing future transhumanist ideas.
- 1923: J.B.S. Haldane’s essay, Daedalus; or, Science and the Future, raises ethical concerns around scientific advancements, emphasizing human enhancement.
- 1929: British scientist J.D. Bernal publishes The World, the Flesh, and the Devil, discussing space colonization and the potential for physical augmentation.
- 1932: Aldous Huxley's novel Brave New World depicts a dystopian future of genetic control, sparking debate on the ethical use of biotechnology.
Mid-20th Century: Conceptual Foundations of Transhumanism[]
- 1940: Canadian poet W.D. Lighthall uses "transhumanism" in English, referencing spiritual and intellectual transcendence.
- 1951: Julian Huxley coins "transhumanism," proposing humanity's pursuit of greater potential through evolutionary advancements.
- 1957: Huxley further refines transhumanist thought, promoting a future where human evolution can be guided and enhanced by science.
Cryonics, AI, and Nanotechnology Developments[]
- 1964: Robert Ettinger publishes The Prospect of Immortality, founding the cryonics movement, which aims to preserve humans in cryogenic suspension for future revival.
- 1965: Cryptographer I.J. Good publishes an essay predicting an intelligence explosion, where artificial intelligence could surpass human intellect and control.
- 1986: Eric Drexler's Engines of Creation introduces molecular nanotechnology, envisioning transformative possibilities in human enhancement and resource creation.
Rise of Modern Transhumanist Movements[]
- 1992: The Extropy Institute, led by Max More, advances Extropy principles advocating for life extension, morphological freedom, and post-human intelligence.
- 1993: Vernor Vinge popularizes the concept of the Technological Singularity, forecasting that AI might drive rapid, uncontrollable technological advances.
- 1998: Nick Bostrom and David Pearce establish the World Transhumanist Association (Humanity+), providing an organizational platform for transhumanist thought.
21st Century Advances and Global Transhumanist Outreach[]
- 2005: Ray Kurzweil's The Singularity is Near anticipates a merging of human and machine intelligence, drawing widespread attention to transhumanist ideas.
- 2013: Zoltan Istvan’s novel The Transhumanist Wager presents a fictional narrative of transhumanism, exploring political and ethical conflicts in a tech-dominated future.
- 2018: The World Health Organization classifies aging as a disease, recognizing life-extension research within healthcare frameworks.
Influence and Legacy[]
The transhumanism timeline reflects a growing intersection of philosophy, ethics, and technology, documenting humanity's quest for enhanced capabilities. Figures from Bacon and Franklin to modern technologists have envisioned a future where humans are not bound by current physical or mental limitations. Transhumanist thought influences modern discussions on AI, gene therapy, longevity, and the ethical scope of scientific advancements.
See Also[]
- Technological Singularity
- Human Longevity
- Cryonics
- AI Ethics
- Morphological Freedom
References[]
For the complete, detailed timeline, refer to the official U.S. Transhumanist Party’s [timeline page](https://transhumanist-party.org/transhumanism-timeline/).
A History of Transhumanist Thought: Nick Bostrom: https://nickbostrom.com/papers/a-history-of-transhumanist-thought/A History of Transhumanist Thought