Postgenderism: The Genetic Singularity (part 1) posthuman transhuman

postgenderism, and it's connection to the transhumanist movement.

http://www.theageoftransitions.com

Co-created By particleion
http://youtube.com/particleion

Narrated by:

Melissa Karnaze
http://mindfulconstruct.com/

Postgenderism: Beyond the Gender Binary pdf
http://ieet.org/archive/IEET-03-PostG...

Script:

My name is Hera. I'm told that I'm lucky to be one from of the last generations of naturally born humans. Genetic modifications were introduced to humanity for the greater good of all, for the elimination of imperfection, I'm told. But I do not feel lucky, because when I was born my mother died. The
complications that occured during my birth were too severe for the doctors to save her. I was forced to grow up without her, and the feelings of guilt continued to haunt me to this day. I did not want this same butden to befall my own future children, so I made a personal vow to never let such a thing happen.

The miracles of science have transformed maternity for the better. The artificial womb has made the violent way of giving birth a thing of the past. Our first child was recently born from a ResurTech Industries exowomb; A baby boy, Ganymedes. We are so fortunate to be living in the light of a new age.

---

I wrote Hera's story as fiction, but the situation it illustrates is based in current scientific fact. It is now 2009, and the creation of artificial wombs is already at an advanced stage. The information that I've come across while working on the story is mind boggling, and it has lead me to understand why this subject is so ambiguous.

"So why has relatively little attention been paid to research that could lead to a major change in reproductive capacity? In fact, much work goes unpublished because of the uproar it might create among activists, politicians, and religious figures for its social implications." -Colleen Carlston, Harvard Science Review, Fall 2008

The fact that scientific progress has been downplayed on purpose is extremely disturbing. This very same article goes on to explain the driving force behind the development of artificial wombs and their broader implications for global society.

"Beyond imagining new world orders, there are also some pragmatic reasons for why artificial wombs might be employed." -Colleen Carlston, Harvard Science Review, Fall 2008

The new world order could revolve around a genetically reengineered human being. Artificial wombs could bring the birth of a new man. Creating "designer babies" would be far easier with artificial wombs. The transhumanist movement openly calls for a posthuman future in which ALL traits of human biology are subject to change, this includes gender.

The Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, a subgroup of the World Transhumanist Association, recently published a white paper entitled "Postgenderism: Beyond the Gender Binary."

The title says it all, as the paper goes into detail about how a gender Singularity is not only possible, but also desirable.

"Postgenderists contend that dyadic gender roles and sexual dimorphisms are generally to the detriment of individuals and society. Assisted reproduction will make it possible for individuals of any sex to reproduce in any combinations they choose, with or without 'mothers' and 'fathers,' and artificial wombs will make biological wombs unnecessary for reproduction."

Postgenderism, transhumanism and some forms of radical feminism have much in common. This report mentions many radical feminists such as Shulamith Firestone, Donna Haraway, and Judith Butler whose views were labeled "cyberfeminism" and "technofeminism" as they advocated for the eventual use of cybernetics and artificials wombs. These things would supposedly bring women greater freedom by removing the pains of childbirth. Ultimately women would also be freed from the "burden" of raising their own children. This would allow them more time to succeed, and gain equality in the workforce.

The report goes on to say that men would also benefit from altering their gender traits. The genetic predisposition toward aggression could be altered to make males more placid, thus making them less prone to injury.

"If the Left program of social reform is to succeed, Singer argues, we must employ the new genetic and neurological sciences to identify and modify the aspects of human nature that cause conflict and competition."

Category:

Education

Tags:

• science
• news
• technology
• tech
• genetic
• engineering
• gender
• male
• female
• man
• woman
• artificial
• womb

[OrganicKing]

what did I just watch?

[caveatemp]

@Alastair Are you talking about Orko from He-Man? I just searched it. I've never read it. I have read a lot of Kurt Vonnegut. I'm more a Tralfamadorian. Let me know when you're in the south-east.

[Alastair]

@caveatemp I don't know whether to speak to you or not. It seems like you've gone from coherency to full-on trollan, though. Whether said trollan is conscious or just your way of dismissing people that are too ridiculous isn't something I'm able to tell. I don't play instruments or sing anymore, but if there are people who would speak to me about interesting things, I wouldn't mind attending any such hypothetical gatherings.

[caveatemp]

@Alastair Oh! You would fit right in to my dinner party. Your statements sound so perennially new age, with a touch of psycho babble. Have you tried the rope swing? You will be scored heavily on the dismount. After that we have a gallon jar of brandy infused fresh peaches from our tree. Do you play an instrument or sing?

[Alastair]

@caveatemp I was just pleased to be having a conversation with someone that wasn't a complete idiot, theist or not, up until that one statement. I was hoping religion wouldn't enter this conversation. I am interested in the specifics of what you believe in, but I'm concerned about how you would react. If communicating causes unnecessary antagonism towards me, atheists, or transhumanists, it's better than you don't experience that. It's also better than I don't see that I caused that.

[caveatemp]

@Alastair So right! This is not a debate! Would you like another drink? Try the pesto. It's fantastic!

Please do not speak to me of immortality through technology! I need to be much more drunk for that talk!

[caveatemp]

@Alastair I see! You are only your mind. Your mind does not extend past to what caused it. Then you have the problem of infinite regression. That's tidy. I understand your non-communicativeness. I would still invite you to a dinner party. I hope you come.

[Alastair]

@caveatemp You're so antagonistic for no reason at all. But I did consider that I was making assumptions about your beliefs. I was wondering if I should have done that or not.

Also, I'm not dismissing your argument that way, I'm simply asking you not to try to speak about resurrection through christ at me.

You speak garbage and then claim victory when there wasn't even a debate in the first place? This isn't a debate.

[Alastair]

@caveatemp You could at least try instead of spouting nonsense and then claim it as logic. There are more than two possibilities. The stuff composing my body wasn't created, but wasn't always aligned to form it. My mind wasn't always aware or able to experience, it may not have even existed before the body, but that seems equivalent or irrelevant in the face of a mind that can't experience. I can go a lot deeper with this, but I don't want to communicate with you anymore.

[caveatemp]

@Alastair You were not always here but you were not created. This is self contradictory. It's what is commonly called cognitive dissonance. Sorry, your worldview makes no logical sense to me. I can respect your right to believe in it, but the right to believe anything does not mean that anything you believe is right. I'll stick with logic. It makes sense to me.