[PDF] Posthumanism Singularity And The Anthropocene eBook

Author : Jason Cham Sum Leung
Publisher :
Page : 158 pages
File Size : 37,75 MB
Release : 2019
Category : Humanism
ISBN :

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When speaking of the future of the human, our attention is often on human beings themselves as a species and their capability to survive in the face of the changes of the world. Our understanding of the human body, space and even our connection with technoscience are vastly transformed by the changes brought by the close and interconnected relationship of human and technology in the contemporary world. From Donna J. Haraway’s cyborg to N. Katherine Hayles and Cary Wolfe’s discussions on posthumanism, it is undeniable that we have already entered the age of the posthuman. Science fiction as a form of creative writing explores various possible futures of the human species augmented by the advent of technology while posthumanism looks into how the human should respond in view of the changing connection between human and technology, human and animals, human and the earth, and human and nonhuman. Science fiction with a posthuman theme is a unique genre that deals with the human condition in the world of science and technology and its relation to the nonhuman world. This dissertation examines posthumanism, the singularity, and the Anthropocene in science fiction from a thematic perspective. Chapter One reviews the history of cyborg and posthuman theories and the connection between posthumanism and science fiction to illustrate how posthuman discourses and science fiction works develop together. Chapter Two examines the representations of the posthuman body in science fiction along the development of posthuman discourses. Discussions on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Bicentennial Man (1999), A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), Blade Runner (1982), Blade Runner 2049 (2017), William Gibson’s Neuromancer, eXistenZ (1999), and Robert J. Sawyer’s WWW Trilogy: Wake, Watch, and Wonder demonstrate four main types of imaginations to illustrate different visions of the posthuman in science fiction: (1) the technologically-made monster, (2) artificial intelligence in an organic body, (3) plugging one’s body into the digital realm, and (4) embodiment of the nonhuman. Chapter Three argues for an alternative perspective other than the insistent privileging of the human in posthuman science fiction. From humanistic values and anthropocentric biases to the WWW Trilogy’s embrace of the singularity, there is a paradigm shift from humanism to the concern of the nonhuman. The chapter examines Vernor Vinge and Ray Kurzweil’s visions of the Singularity with reference to the WWW Trilogy and other singularity science fiction works which portray possible worlds of symbiosis, coexistence, and coevolution. Last but not least, Chapter Four focuses on the Anthropocene and science fiction to illustrate the coevolution of human and nonhuman in relation to the environment and climate change with discussions on Paul Di Filippo’s short story “Life in the Anthropocene” and Kim Stanley Robinson’s science fictions New York 2140 and 2312. By examining the development of posthuman discourses, concepts of the singularity and the Anthropocene along the creative narratives of posthuman science fiction, this dissertation aims to affirm science fiction’s role in exploring the posthuman condition and reimagining our future. It also puts science and humanities together in developing new perspectives and ethics for the world we are in.

Author : Mads Rosendahl Thomsen
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
Page : 473 pages
File Size : 19,90 MB
Release : 2020-07-23
Category : Literary Criticism
ISBN : 1350090484

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As our ideas of the human have come under increasing challenges – from technological change, from medical advances, from the existential threat of climate crisis, from an ideological decentering of the human, amongst many other things – the 'posthuman' has become an increasingly central topic in the Humanities. Bringing together leading scholars from across the world and a wide range of disciplines, this is the most comprehensive available survey of cutting edge contemporary scholarship on posthumanism in literature, culture and theory. The Bloomsbury Handbook of Posthumanism explores: - Central critical concepts and approaches, including transhumanism, new materialism and the Anthropocene - Ethical perspectives on ecology, race, gender and disability - Technology, from data and artificial intelligence to medicine and genetics - A wide range of genres and forms, from literary and science fiction, through film, television and music, to comics, video games and social media.

Author : Dr. Indrajit Patra
Publisher : Pen2Print
Page : 353 pages
File Size : 10,86 MB
Release : 2021-06-14
Category : Fiction
ISBN : 8195111963

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The book intends to present a critique of some select, 21st Century, hard science fiction novels in order to explicate the various ways in which the elements of posthumanism, transhumanism, techno-singularity intersect and interact with other such ideas as monstrosity, animality, machinicity, post-anthropocentrism, and Anthropocene. The study divides its analysis into seven different chapters and attempts to present an elaborate study on various aspects of posthumanism, transhumanism, and singularity. The book despite being a collection of miscellaneous essays actually intends to show how a technologically mediated transhuman/posthuman culture will normally be defined by a total dissolution of binaries such as digital and real, animal and human, and machine and man. The book also wants to describe through its analysis of some select hard science fiction novels, that man-machine merger and creation of hyper-immersive virtual reality can function as two of the most effective agents for catalyzing a radically transformative, posthuman, post-scarcity, and techno-utopian culture. The analysis presented in the book is not totally oriented to the discussion of far-future implications of accelerated technological progress which is imperative for arriving at a transhuman or posthuman stage; rather, the book is equally concerned with the implications of rapid technological advancements in our present times, and so the study also posits that before ascending to the heights of posthuman status mankind has to cope with the good and bad aspects of the Anthropocene which is the next stage in our collective evolution and journey towards the trans-/posthuman state. The first chapter of this study attempts to bring to focus the phenomenon of a technologically-mediated dissolution of the binaries between man/animal, human/nonhuman, and subject/object which will be extremely important in the analysis of the emergence of a posthuman culture later in the study. Technological advancements can be seen here as either conducive towards creating a harmonious relationship between man and animal or through systematic denigration of the agency of the animal it can pave the way for the emergence of monstrosity. In Chapter 2 of the book, we shall delve deep into the analysis of horror as illustrated in the novels and video games of the Dead Space series. Here, through a multi-theoretical perspective, we shall find how horrors and monstrosity can manifest themselves in both written as well as digital, virtual media. In Chapter 3, we shall delve into the discussion of the power of simulation in the construction of an immersive and hyperreal post- /transhuman culture where the distinction between real and virtual and material and immaterial vanishes altogether. In Chapter 4 we dedicate the entire chapter to the study of Kim Stanley Robinson’s systems novel The Ministry for the Future (2020) to attempt a critique of the elements of good and bad Anthropocene. Though not directly and intimately related to the study of posthumanism and transhumanism, yet a discussion of the elements of the Anthropocene will be of immense contemporary relevance to us. The next Chapter, i.e., Chapter 5 will attempt to present an explication of the role of machines in the realization of posthuman culture. Chapter 6 is primarily concerned with an analysis of Stephen Baxter’s novels to see how posthuman culture is constructed around the agency of the autopoietic machines. The final chapter attempts to present a brief analysis of three of Iain M Banks’ Culture novels, namely Matter, Surface Detail, and Hydrogen Sonata to elaborate on the employment of posthuman/transhuman tropes in these works.

Author : Sonia Baelo-Allué
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 335 pages
File Size : 12,54 MB
Release : 2021-05-05
Category : Literary Criticism
ISBN : 1000374017

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Transhumanism and Posthumanism in Twenty-First Century Narrative brings together fifteen scholars from five different countries to explore the different ways in which the posthuman has been addressed in contemporary culture and more specifically in key narratives, written in the second decade of the 21st century, by Dave Eggers, William Gibson, John Shirley, Tom McCarthy, Jeff Vandermeer, Don DeLillo, Margaret Atwood, Cixin Liu and Helen Marshall. Some of these works engage in the premises and perils of transhumanism, while others explore the qualities of the (post)human in a variety of dystopian futures marked by the planetary influence of human action. From a critical posthumanist perspective that questions anthropocentrism, human exceptionalism and the centrality of the ‘human’ subject in the era of the Anthropocene, the scholars in this collection analyse the aesthetic choices these authors make to depict the posthuman and its aftereffects.

Author : S. E. Wilmer
Publisher : EUP
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 50,30 MB
Release : 2023
Category : Nature
ISBN : 9781399505277

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Investigates forms of life which lack proper conceptualisation in the field of modern philosophy This collection reconsiders the notion of life and conceptualizes those forms of life which have been excluded from modern philosophy, such as post-Anthropocene life, the life of non-human animals and the life of inorganic objects. The contributors, who include prominent contemporary philosophers and theorists ask a wide range of questions including: what new forms of subjection can we see with the return of the 'Anthropos'?, what can animals teach us in the Anthropocene?, can we reconstruct the perceptual world of animals and take a look into their 'subjectivity'?, what happens to inorganic matter (waste or digital objects) when no longer used by any subject and can we think about inorganic matter in terms of subjective self-awareness? The first section, Life Beyond the Anthropocene, critically questions Anthropocene theory and outlines alternative scenarios, such as Gaia theory or post-Anthropocene forms of life on Earth and other planets, as well as new forms of subjectivity. The second part, Human and Non-Human Interactions, investigates the obscure boundary, between life and non-life, and between human and non-human animal life forms. The third part, Forms of Life and New Ontologies, concentrates on new ontologies and discusses life in terms of vitalism, new materialism, movement, form-taking activity and plasticity. S. E. Wilmer is Professor Emeritus in Drama and former Head of the School of Drama, Film and Music at Trinity College Dublin. Audrone Zukauskaite is Chief Researcher at the Lithuanian Culture Research Institute.

Author : Fouad Sabry
Publisher : One Billion Knowledgeable
Page : 76 pages
File Size : 50,16 MB
Release : 2023-07-02
Category : Computers
ISBN :

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What Is Posthumanism The concept of posthumanism, also spelled post-humanism, is a response to the anthropocentrism that is prevalent in 21st-century thought. It can be found in continental philosophy and critical theory. It incorporates a wide range of subfields, including the following:Antihumanism is a school of thought that takes a scathing stance against traditional humanism and the established canon of thought concerning the human condition, life, and agency.Cultural posthumanism is a subfield of cultural theory that is critical of the foundational assumptions of humanism and the legacy that it has left behind. It investigates and questions the historical notions of "human" and "human nature," frequently challenging typical notions of human subjectivity and embodiment, and it seeks to move beyond archaic concepts of "human nature" in order to develop ones that are constantly adapting to contemporary technological and scientific knowledge.Philosophical posthumanism is a philosophical path that draws on cultural posthumanism. The philosophical strand investigates the ethical consequences of broadening the circle of moral concern and extending subjectivities beyond the human species. Philosophical posthumanism is a philosophical direction that draws on cultural posthumanism.The deconstruction of the human condition as carried out by critical thinkers is referred to as the posthuman condition.Posthuman transhumanism is an ideology and movement that aspires to develop and make available technology that permit immortality and vastly enhance human intellectual, physical, and psychological capacities in order to attain a "posthuman future." This ideology and movement draws from posthumanist philosophy.AI takeover refers to a sub-genre of transhumanism in which the goal is not to augment humans but rather to eventually replace them with artificial intelligences. As a result of a technological singularity, some philosophers and theorists, including Nick Land, advocate for the position that human beings ought to welcome and be at peace with their own impending extinction as a natural consequence of the phenomenon. This is connected to the philosophy known as "cosmism," which advocates for the development of powerful artificial intelligence even if it would result in the extinction of humanity. This is because, in their opinion, "it would be a cosmic tragedy if humanity freezes evolution at the puny human level," which describes the current state of human evolution.Voluntary Human Extinction is an ideology that advocates for a "posthuman future," which in this context refers to a future devoid of human beings. How You Will Benefit (I) Insights, and validations about the following topics: Chapter 1: Posthumanism Chapter 2: Transhumanism Chapter 3: A Cyborg Manifesto Chapter 4: Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Chapter 5: Posthuman Chapter 6: Cyborg anthropology Chapter 7: Directed evolution (transhumanism) Chapter 8: Transhumanist politics Chapter 9: Posthumanization Chapter 10: Antihumanism (II) Answering the public top questions about posthumanism. (III) Real world examples for the usage of posthumanism in many fields. (IV) 17 appendices to explain, briefly, 266 emerging technologies in each industry to have 360-degree full understanding of posthumanism' technologies. Who This Book Is For Professionals, undergraduate and graduate students, enthusiasts, hobbyists, and those who want to go beyond basic knowledge or information for any kind of posthumanism.

Author : Peter Mahon
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
Page : 353 pages
File Size : 40,7 MB
Release : 2017-02-23
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 1474236782

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In Posthumanism: A Guide for the Perplexed, Peter Mahon goes beyond recent theoretical approaches to 'the posthuman' to argue for a concrete posthumanism, which arises as humans, animals and technology become entangled, in science, society and culture. Concrete posthumanism is rooted in cutting-edge advances in techno-science, and this book offers readers an exciting, fresh and innovative exploration of this undulating, and often unstable, terrain. With wide-ranging coverage, of cybernetics, information theory, medicine, genetics, machine learning, politics, science fiction, philosophy and futurology, Mahon examines how posthumanism played-and continues to play-a crucial role in shaping how we understand our world. This analysis of posthumanism centers on human interactions with tools and technology, the centrality of science, as well as an understanding of techno-science as a pharmakon-an ancient Greek word for a substance that is both poison and cure. Mahon argues that posthumanism must be approached with an interdisciplinary attitude: a concrete posthumanism is only graspable through knowledge derived from science and the humanities. He concludes by sketching a 'post-humanities' to help us meet the challenges of posthumanism, challenges to which we all must rise. Posthumanism: A Guide for the Perplexed provides a concise, detailed and coherent exploration of posthumanism, introducing key approaches, concepts and themes. It is ideal for readers of all stripes who are interested in a concrete posthumanism and require more than just a simple introduction.

Author : Giovanni Aloi
Publisher : Columbia University Press
Page : 559 pages
File Size : 47,79 MB
Release : 2021-09-28
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 0231551762

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Posthumanism synthesizes philosophical, literary, and artistic responses to technological advancements, globalization, and mass extinction in the Anthropocene. It asks what it can mean to be human in an increasingly more-than-human world that has lost faith in the ideal of humanism, the autonomous, rational subject, and it models generative alternatives cognizant of the demands of social and ecological justice. Amid rising social justice movements, collapsing economic structures, and the dwindling power of cultural institutions, posthumanism advances thinking on new and previously unenvisionable challenges. Posthumanism in Art and Science is an anthology of indispensable statements and artworks that provide an unprecedented mapping of this intellectual and aesthetic development in a global context. It features groundbreaking theorists including Donna Haraway, Rosi Braidotti, Mel Y. Chen, Michael Marder, Alexander Weheliye, Anna Tsing, Timothy Morton, N. Katherine Hayles, Bruno Latour, Francesca Ferrando, and Cary Wolfe, as well as innovative, influential artists and curators such as Yvonne Rainer, Skawennati, Chus Martínez, William Wegman, Nandipha Mntambo, Cassils, Pauline Oliveros, and Doo-sung Yoo. These provocative and compelling works, including previously unpublished interviews and essays, speak to the ongoing conceptual and political challenge of posthumanist thinking in a time of unprecedented cultural and environmental crises. An essential primer and reference for educators, students, artists, and art enthusiasts, this volume offers a powerful framework for rethinking anthropocentric certitudes and reenvisioning equitable and sustainable futures.

Author : Rosi Braidotti
Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 27,22 MB
Release : 2019
Category : Act (Philosophy)
ISBN : 9781786608222

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Through specific readings and uses of Deleuze's conceptual apparatus, this volume examines the operation of human-actioned systems as complex and heterogeneous arenas of affection and accountability.