Straw transhumanist
A straw transhumanist or straw transhumanism is the popular negative characterization of transhumanism in science fiction and contemporary society.
Straw arguments
A straw transhumanist:
- Is epitomised by a mad scientist who performs unethical or dangerous experiments claiming various rationalisations
- Is featured in uber-collectivist race of entities such as The Borg who repress individuality and freedom
- Possesses a dehumanizing preference of logic over emotion, deconstructed as the 'Straw Vulcan'[1]
- Lives in a technophilic society which narrowly prefers single technologies to structure their society such as in Gattaca or Minority Report
- Is a member of an elitist group who seek to benefit only the few rather than the many
- Is is either immortal or desires immortality, for selfish ends
- Purveys the torture of involuntary immortality rather than indefinite life extension
- Is a techno-utopian who ignores contemporary social and political issues around inequality and more present-day issues
- Sees themselves as better than others in society
- Prefers machines or animals over people
- Sees transhumanism as a religion
- Secretly rules, or is trying to take over the world
Fair arguments
Not all criticism of transhumanism are invalid. Many actual transhumanists are:
- More talk than action online
- Often technophiles and techno-utopians
- Anxious about the politicisation of various technologies associated with the movement
- Quick to label their critics as luddites or deathists
- Silicon Valley fan boys/girls
Reasons for prevalence
- Presenting transhumanists as bug-a-boo can help drum up support for whatever ideology the writer is advocating
- Dystopia generally sells better than a positive assessment
- As noted above, some of the criticisms make fair points
- Many writers (on transhumanism, as on other subjects) are lazy, and prefer simple targets instead of nuance
See also
- Misconceptions about transhumanism
- Straw-manning transhumanists for fun and profit - by Chris Monteiro
