Straw transhumanist

A character in Detroit: Become Human echo sentiments about inevitablism of 'progress'

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'
• 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