One side point about science fiction, eugenics and transhumanism and left/âright politics. I am not a sci-fi expert, but the sci-fi that to me most obviously embodies âtranshumanistâ ideology that I have encountered has GOT to be Iain M. Banksâ Culture novels, depicting a future (apparently) utopian society run by broadly benevolent AIs that makes routine use of genetic modification to reduce human suffering and make humans âbetterâ. I am not the only one to have noticed this, Musk is a fan: https://ââwww.telegraph.co.uk/ââbooks/ââwhat-to-read/ââdoes-elon-musk-really-understand-books-claims-inspired/ââ It would be going a bit far to suggest that the Culture novels are an unambiguous endorsement of the society they depict, but I think they are broadly in favour of it.
But the interesting thing about this is that whilst the books are âlibertarianâ in some sense, the Culture is a socialist society and Banks was an avowedly socialist, far-left writer. The books are also (at least in intent, people can reasonably disagree about how well they realize this) ultra-âliberalâ, depicting a society where almost everyone is pansexual and changes their gender at least once in their lifetime and all racial and gender hierarchy has been abolished. In âPlayer of Gamesâ, an ordinary Culture citizen doesnât even have the concept of gender hierarchy and has to have it explained to him.
I donât think this shows that thereâs no danger in transhumanists ideas. Left utopianism can be dangerous, think Stalin! Many leftists in the 30s supported bad eugenics. And I donât think it shows that there are no concerns about some prominent EAs being sympathetic to bad right-wing views on race, gender politics etc. But I do think it shows that things are more complicated than transhumanism=eugenics=far-right.
One side point about science fiction, eugenics and transhumanism and left/âright politics. I am not a sci-fi expert, but the sci-fi that to me most obviously embodies âtranshumanistâ ideology that I have encountered has GOT to be Iain M. Banksâ Culture novels, depicting a future (apparently) utopian society run by broadly benevolent AIs that makes routine use of genetic modification to reduce human suffering and make humans âbetterâ. I am not the only one to have noticed this, Musk is a fan: https://ââwww.telegraph.co.uk/ââbooks/ââwhat-to-read/ââdoes-elon-musk-really-understand-books-claims-inspired/ââ It would be going a bit far to suggest that the Culture novels are an unambiguous endorsement of the society they depict, but I think they are broadly in favour of it.
But the interesting thing about this is that whilst the books are âlibertarianâ in some sense, the Culture is a socialist society and Banks was an avowedly socialist, far-left writer. The books are also (at least in intent, people can reasonably disagree about how well they realize this) ultra-âliberalâ, depicting a society where almost everyone is pansexual and changes their gender at least once in their lifetime and all racial and gender hierarchy has been abolished. In âPlayer of Gamesâ, an ordinary Culture citizen doesnât even have the concept of gender hierarchy and has to have it explained to him.
I donât think this shows that thereâs no danger in transhumanists ideas. Left utopianism can be dangerous, think Stalin! Many leftists in the 30s supported bad eugenics. And I donât think it shows that there are no concerns about some prominent EAs being sympathetic to bad right-wing views on race, gender politics etc. But I do think it shows that things are more complicated than transhumanism=eugenics=far-right.