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Existence

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Transhumanism as a New Social Movement

Abstract

This chapter recounts the various existential claims and assumptions which I found associated with THEA. This chapter opens by exploring the attitudes towards theism which were relayed to me by THE advocates, and proceeds to reflect on how some particularly elaborate forms of advocacy appeared driven by a strategic combination of rationalism and faith. The chapter closes suggesting that, on an existential level, transhumanism represents an attempt to tactically resolve deep-seeded cultural ambivalences towards death in the post-secular era.

“God is dead, but given the way of men, there may still be caves for thousands of years in which his shadow will be shown. And we-we still have to vanquish his shadow, too.”

—Friedrich Nietzsche The Gay Science (1882)

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MacFarlane, J.M. (2020). Existence. In: Transhumanism as a New Social Movement. Palgrave Studies in the Future of Humanity and its Successors. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40090-3_7

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