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Introduction to the learning approach

Posthumanism: changing times and self-understanding 

Place 

The learning will be conducted through face-to-face meetings and this hub of communication. 

Context 

The human being understands itself as an individual agent and perhaps unique amongst things in that it originates action and is a source of value.  

This modern self-understanding supports and maintains our theories of justice and rightness (who is to blame?), labour (who produced what?), property (who owns what?), intellectual property (essay writing, artistic creation), talent (who deserves what?), family (genetic choices for offspring), politics (who rules me?) and sports (who deserves to win?). 

However, this certainty in one’s own place is weakening with the emergence of new technologies and new understandings. Human modifying technology (HMT) impacts (our) “self-understanding” against contexts of technology and changing interests. The main enhancements leading to transformation are genetic, morphological, pharmacological, robotic, intellectual and social and the main effects will be on: 

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First phase of production.

So, two participants have ideas and I am giving them some pointers on how I would approach their interests. They remain anonymous here, but they should recognize their own ideas. These are only suggestions about how I would start planning an initial first draft, but writing is a great activity for thought if we let it change what we are doing, so be flexible and ready to reject what I suggest (I am not an authority).  

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Humanism

Definition: the human being is exceptional in the world of things, it is the sole thing we know to have a mind, reason, will. It makes its decisions for itself and is not determined by nature or other objects. 

Claim: we understand ourselves as individuals responsible for our actions and deserving of the consequences 

The point of will is the mind or decision which is a property only of human beings. 

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Robot and Performance Olympics

So there was yet another recent article in the Guardian about how technology has an effect on social practices. Currently, performance drugs are banned in sport and are considered cheating. However, a sort of techno-transhumanist wants to innovate and see how far we can push the body through intervention:

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