transhumanism

[trans-hyoo-muh-niz-uhm, ‐-yoo‐, tranz‐]

noun

1. a philosophy that explores human transcendence above or beyond organic, corporeal limitations through technological and philosophical evolution.

Other Word Forms

• transhuman adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of transhumanism¹

First recorded in 1955–60; trans- ( def. ) + humanism ( def. )

Example Sentences

Douthat prefaced his question by saying: “a number of people deeply involved in artificial intelligence see it as a mechanism for transhumanism—for transcendence of our mortal flesh—and either some kind of creation of a successor species or some kind of merger of mind and machine.”

From Slate

The human species, Huxley affirms, should embrace transhumanism: “man remaining man, but transcending himself, by realizing new possibilities of and for his human nature.”

From Slate

Thiel has turned his considerable wealth toward transhumanism.

From Slate

Thiel has long been cagey and ambiguous about his beliefs—likely a strategic play for his career as an investor—but he has clearly been fascinated with transhumanism for a long time.

From Slate

Transhumanism was coined by the English biologist Julian Huxley in a 1951 lecture, and refined in his 1957 book New Bottles for New Wine.

From Slate