The anti-human religion of Transhumanism

The anti-human religion of Transhumanism

Author: Damien Walter June 9, 2022 Duration: 1:28:23
Transhumanism makes grand claims about the future of humankind, from genetic engineering and artificial wombs to immortality and uploading humanity to the cloud. Lead by pseudo-scientific thinkers like Ray Kurzeil, Transhumanism has become a popular ideology among Silicon Valley tech leaders including Elon Musk and Peter Thiel. In recent years it has also become the focus of conspiracy theorists from Anti-Vaxxers to Qanon, who claim the ultimate goal of the "global elite" is to turn humans into post-humans. The truth is that Transhumanism is a fantasy born in the pages of science fiction. While authors like Bruce Sterling and William Gibson warned against the terrors of Transhumanism, today's Transhumanists see it as an inevitability, and have transformed the fantasy of Transhumanism into an anti-human religion. 00:00:00 The Torment Nexus 00:01:34 Welcome to the Science Fiction podcast 00:04:06 Beyond our ape brained meat-sacks - a profile of Elise Bohan 00:08:23 We are in a time between worlds & Transhuman conspiracy theories 00:13:14 Understanding Transhumanism as narrative, storytelling and modern mythos 00:19:15 ONE - Transhumanism is Utopian 00:24:06 TWO - Transhumanism assumes fundamental change 00:26:00 THREE - Transhumanism is a pseudo-science 00:29:34 FOUR - Transhumanism is a religious vision of transcendence 00:34:38 FIVE - Transhumanism is authoritarian 00:39:12 SIX - Transhumism wants to liberate us from our human bodies 00:44:38 SEVEN - Transhumanism is science fiction 00:48:04 EIGHT - Transhumanism believes technology is the force of progress 00:51:40 NINE - Transhumanism devalues the human 00:55:58 TEN - "We're building God you know." 01:06:53 ELEVEN - Transhumanism is a power structure 01:13:01 TWELVE - Transhumanism is dystopian 01:16:20 THIRTEEN - Transhumanism is anti-humanism Beyond Our Ape Brained Meat Sacks - https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/jun/04/beyond-our-ape-brained-meat-sacks-can-transhumanism-save-our-species Jonathan Rowson on Zak Stein and our time between worlds - https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Rowson/status/1532318004071084034 Follow the the Science Fiction podcast and become a member https://damiengwalter.com/podcast/ Advanced Scifi & Fantasy Writing https://damiengwalter.com/advanced-scifi-and-fantasy/ The Rhetoric of Story https://damiengwalter.com/the-rhetoric-of-story/ Join the discussion on the Science Fiction community https://www.facebook.com/groups/324897304599197

Damien Walter has spent years thinking about how the future shapes our present, and in his Science Fiction podcast, he shares those conversations. Rather than just reviewing books or films, this series digs into the ideas that make the genre so vital, using it as a unique lens to examine everything from current technology and social change to ancient myths and human psychology. Each episode feels like a thoughtful discussion with a well-read friend, one who can draw a line from classic novels to the latest TV series with ease. You’ll hear analysis of stories that predicted our world, explorations of how fictional futures reflect our deepest anxieties and hopes, and considerations of why certain narratives endure. Walter’s background as a writer and storyteller informs a approach that is both accessible and deeply insightful, making connections across the arts, science, and popular culture. This isn't about escapism; it's about using the imaginative tools of science fiction to better understand the reality we're all living in. For anyone who finds themselves wondering about the world that's coming next, this podcast offers a compelling and regular dose of perspective.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 88

Science Fiction
Podcast Episodes
Prof. Elana Gomel on Stanislaw Lem [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:26
00:00:57 Introduction 00:03:39 Professor Elana Gomel 00:09:55 Charles Dickens as scifi writer 00:14:17 Stanislaw Lem and The Other 00:18:59 Anti-Humanism 00:22:46 Lem vs the SFWA 00:26:27 Beyond Humanism 00:28:12 LEM and…
Iain McGilchrist interview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:54:11
00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:50 Is Iain McGilchrist a scifi fan? 00:07:05 Iain McGilchrist's work and philosophy 00:17:34 Reason vs Rationalisation 00:22:30 Kubrick's 2001 and the hemispheres 00:27:14 Why do we take every…
The Verhoeven Paradox with Olga Yakimenko [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:14:17
Olga Yakimenko is a filmmaker who sometimes answers questions in the Science Fiction community https://www.facebook.com/groups/324897304599197/ Become a member of the Science Fiction community to continue the discussion…
The Age of the Rockstar Critic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:10
BUY MERCH https://my-store-ef7a8e.creator-spring.com Become a member of the Science Fiction community to continue the discussion Website - https://damiengwalter.com YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/DamienWalter/member…
J G Ballard vs Andreessen Horowitz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:53:11
Watch J G Ballard's Towering Inferno https://youtu.be/XYjjaalZHlY Music 'Sensula' by Ralph Cree https://soundcloud.com/ralphcree/sensula The Techno-Optimist Manifesto https://a16z.com/the-techno-optimist-manifesto/ Becom…
Loki Who? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:46
PS - man with midlands accent is Alan Moore There is an ancient English ritual, performed in the grey and rainy times (which is the entire year save 2 weeks in July), when the tribes people gather around a glowing screen…
Isaac Asimov’s Foundation and Hegelian history [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:04:34
Become a member of the Science Fiction community to continue the discussion Website - https://damiengwalter.com/members/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/DamienWalter/membership Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/Damie…
The dangerous philosophy of Ursula Le Guin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:28
Listen to the full podcast episode by becoming a member and adding the members RSS feed to your app Become a member of the Science Fiction community to continue the discussion Website - https://damiengwalter.com Patreon…