Transhumanism is a widespread concept in the Sixth World, proclaiming that, with the help of technology, metahumanity can push the boundaries of nature and reach a new stage of development.
Origins[]
Transhumanism is not a new movement. Small subcultures, strongly tuned into new scientific knowledge and their possibilities, that saw technology as a chance to overcome the innate deficiency of human nature, existed long before the Awakening.[1] Depending on the criteria, the first beginnings can be traced back to the 2000s or even further back to the 1920s.[1]
Those movements expanded as time passed, and became more and more mainstream. In the 2050s, there were significantly influential transhumanists - Policlubs like Techno Republic[2] and GenTex.[3]
But the movement really took flight in the 2060s - only since then has transhumanism become a true mass movement. And that is mainly due to one megacorp: Evo.[4]
Philosophy[]
There are two main currents in augmentation culture - those who want to change and those who want to improve.[5]
Change[]
To change means personal development by changing the body itself. Whoever tries to achieve this by augmentation is usually searching - for what they are, what they could be, what they want to be, and what they can be.[5] Some feel like they are born in the wrong body, some just want to change some things about themselves, and some desire novelty, a different way of existence, a differnet perspective on life. The Sixth World offers support for everyone - provided they can pay for it.[6] Among other things, such self-discovery trips are not solo trips - in order to achieve their goals, many are looking for change through the wonders of augmentation technology, and for the aid of like-minded people.[5]
Improvement[]
Many augmented metahumans strive for personal improvement, literally augmentation. They want to be faster, stronger, better than others, are hyper-competitive and constantly comparing themselves with each other and with everyone else. Is someone else stronger than me, smarter, a better warrior, thinker, more attractive? Striving to be the absolute best of the augmented determines their lives.[6]
Transhumanism[]
Transhumanists see beyond these two currents. They are above this behavior and the desires for self-evolution, preferring to keep an eye on the really big goals.[6] Augmentations and related technologies are seen as potential with which metahumanity is renewed and a better, stronger species is created with the means of science and technology.[3] This, according to their beliefs, is how metahumanity will be able to develop its full potential, to fully control and shape its own evolution and its bodies.[6] The whole spectrum of medicine and augmentation technology is, above all, to serve the goal of advancing metahumanity, and it's worth going beyond the acceptable framework of current ethics to achieve this greater good.[3]
To achieve their goals, transhumanists use all varieties of augmentation.[3] Pronounced body modifications and gene mods are much more common among transhumanists than in mainstream culture.[1]
Cyberware, and especially Bodyware is seen both as an improvement of physical abilities, as well as an opportunity to change the body with cosmetic modifications or unusual implants and thus adapt them to their own wishes.[7] In addition to classic Cyber- and Bioware, however, Nanoware and in particular Geneware are at the center of their interest.[6] Their ultimate goal is a state they call call Posthuman - more than metahuman.[1]
Most Transhumanists do not do this out of the belief that they are superior or that they want to be superior to others. They see the further development of metahumanity through augmentation as a noble ideal that encompasses everyone, even the Awakened. Some transhumanists believe in the synthesis of magic and technology and strive for this as the highest form of their ideal.[6]
But they are also very open to other phenomena, especially AIs and Technomancers. In 2070 it was transhumanists who helped these two groups, granted refuge and organized escape routes and an underground railroad. In the course of Cognitive Fragmentation Disorder, they suffered a split: some saw the AIs affecting the brains and overwriting personalities as a grave danger, while others saw it as a way to get rid of the weak flesh entirely and to fuse with a superior, technological being. It was this faction that accepted and welcomed the Monads.[6]
Allies and Supporters[]
Transhumanism has always been controversial. On the one hand, there are religious and cultural taboos against metahumans "playing God", on the other hand, such borderline research is often not ethically justifiable.[3] Therefore, transhumanists have quite some enemies. But they also have allies. There is scene of Policlubs and associations that are committed to transhumanism. And then of course there is Evo.[6]
Transhuman League[]
The Transhuman League is an association that invites all sapient beings to jointly reach the path of progress and self-improvement.[7] They are a gathering point for those who the mainstream considers freaks, even in the Sixth World - extreme biomodders, splicers, changelings and other, even stranger things. The league also finances and conducts all kinds of borderline research in augmentation technology as best as they can, and supposedly even has an own shadow clinic.[8]
GenTex[]
The GenTex movement developed in the 2050s in Central Europe, especially in Germany and Austria, but also in Switzerland. Their name is derived from the term 'Genetics&Technology', and those are the things that GenTex is most interested in. Although they are not a Policlub as such, followers of the GenTex philosophy are very well networked. Unlike the Transhuman League, GenTex mainly come from wealthy backgrounds, and many followers work in tech-related professions.[3]
The GenTex philosophy is radical transhumanism: metahumanity has reached the point of taking its evolution into its own hands. All new technologies are seen as part of the way to renew humanity and use technology to create a better, stronger species. Genetic Changes are their priority, a point where they differ only slightly from the Transhuman League.[3]
What differs GenTex from other transhumanists is their elitism. According to many GenTex, this leap in evolution should only be available to an elite, namely the GenTex. their philosophy is clearly shaped by their megacorp background, in particular the Proteus AG, which is in many aspects very close to GenTex.[3]
The Gesellschaft für menschliche Entwicklung (Society for Human Development), which funds research as a foundation, is the core of the GenTex circle. The GmmE has been associated with cruel metahuman experiments for a long time and definitely does highly questionable, unethical research.[3]
Outreach and Unité[]
The Outreach Association is a network of pro-AI and pro-technomancer activists supported by several megacorporations. They are also openly interested in transhuman ideas, but focus primarily on these two groups. Outreach relies on many young college activists and some more experienced admins and is largely organized through the Matrix.[9]
Unité is a similarly structured lobby group supported by NeoNET. It has a reputation for being obedient to the megacorporation and is therefore viewed as a front and not very upright. Their inclination to attract promising talent from Outreach does not help to improve the relationship between the two organizations.[9]
Both have in common that they are not afraid to strike deals and make compromises as usual in a parliamentary democracy in order to enforce their views. Both organizations are excellently networked in Washington, FDC.[9]
EvoCulture[]
Those looking for transhuman enlightenment or the correction of nature's mistakes don't have their own state, but there is a culture they can rely on: EvoCulture. No megacorporation or nation state is as committed to the transhuman idea as Evo. Regardless of whether you have tusks, a tail, arms made of steel or not even a body of your own, everyone (and everything) gets a chance at Evo. No organization allowed to issue SINs has awarded as many to non-metahumans as Evo has.[6]
EvoCulture is not pure transhumanism, but it broadly picks up on the ideals and ideas of the movement - the dissolution of the metahumanity, the idea of the post-human, the desire for a community in which all sapient beings coexist and freely exchange and develop ever new ideas. Of course Evo also does this with corporate profits in mind - it is a megacorp. But with the chronically deficient MetaErgonomics and MetaMatrix branches, it also practices something like transhumanist philanthropy.[6]
Controversies[]
Transhumanist philosophy says to leave the limitations of the metahuman body and mind behind and to achieve a posthuman state through augmentation technology. To achieve this goal, transhumanists are promoting research in the areas of anti-aging and life extension, biotechnology and genetic engineering, as well as everything that increases cognitive and intuitive skills.[8]
It is not always ethically sound. The Gentex' GFME[3] and megacorps like the Proteus AG[10], Yakashima[10], Universal Omnitech[11], Spinrad Global [12] and of course Evo [4] all do trans- and posthuman research, often far beyond ethical principles. This has led to a series of scandals that have given transhumanists an at least controversial image.[8]
Cybered Predators[]
In conjunction with Cyberpsychosis, a dark side of transhumanism has become apparent. While many transhumanists see their pursuit as focused on knowledge, enlightenment and greater intelligence and farsightedness, others take the possibilities of augmentation technology as an opportunity to strive for another form of purity: that of the hunter. And all too often their prey is other metahumans who they feel superior to.[13] Cult-like gangs such as the Night Hunters in Seattle embody this sentiment - and did a lot of harm to the transhuman idea.[14]
Teiko Ikemoto[]
In 2073, the world learned that the admired Japanese Idoru Teiko Ikemoto was actually a bioelectronic construct, made from prototypes - cyberware, bioware and cloned brain tissue.[15] The metahumanity of the heavily augmented singer whose "maibumu" pop music took the world by storm and soothed some devastated fans over the death of Christy Daee in 2072 and 2073 was therefore cast doubt on.[16] Critics see Teiko as little more than a Song-O-Mat with a humanoid chassis, and deny her sapience right away,[17], though this is refuted by many fans and also factual evidence.[18]
Unsurprisingly, post-revelation Teiko polarized a lot, but her fans in technophile Japan remained loyal to her.[18] Nevertheless, her case once again showed the public what modern technology was capable of - and showed ways but also limits to metahuman powers of creation.[16]
KFS[]
Transhumanists struggled a lot with CFD, as the heavily cyber-enhanced are more susceptible to the nanoplague - especially, of course, when using nanoware, geneware or even nanite breeders.[19] And worse was to come. Nothing hurt transhumanism as bad as the nanite plague of the 2070s.
Evo, the global face of transhumanism, was directly involved in the creation of the disease.[20] Although they deflected a lot of blame on NeoNET, their research and involvement in Vulkan Project couldn't be denied.[21]
And then they took in the children of this plague, the Monads, lost their Mars base to them, and allowed them to build their generational ship.[22] All in all, the corp has put itself in a predicament and lost much of its appeal to everyone except the true hardcore transhumanists.[23] Since then Evo has been backtracking and shifting its focus away from the idea of transhumanism and towards universal acceptance and liberality, striving for more general appeal at the loss of their core fans. They are a megacorp, after all.[23]
Known Transhumanists[]
- Aaron Creench, Evo researcher in Boston, infected by CFD.[24]
- Darius Tzanev, Urban Brawl player of the Hamburg Rams and husband of Paye Tzanev.[25]
- Johnny Spinrad - Billionaire, party animal, corporate raider.[12]
- Keith Jones - Group researcher at Ares, former New Revolution supporter.[26]
- Paye Tzanev, DeMeKo news anchor, wife of Darius Tzanev and cyber-fetishist.[25]
- Plan 9 - Shadowtalker and JackPointer, conspiracy theorist, infected with CFD (and happy about it)[27]
- Svetlana Jurjewa - Urban Brawl player, Scout of the SK Centurions Essen[28]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Augmentation p. 87
- ↑ Just Compensation p. 89
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 Walzer, Punks & Schwarzes ICE p. 93
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Shadowrun 20th Anniversary p. 46
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Run Faster p. 56
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 Run Faster p. 57
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Loose Alliances p. 147
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Loose Alliances p. 42
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Emergence p. 113
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Man & Machine: Cyberware p. 63
- ↑ Man & Machine: Cyberware p. 62
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Chrome Flesh p. 196
- ↑ Chrome Flesh p. 59
- ↑ Seattle 2072 p. 184
- ↑ Anarchy Subsidized 8
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Anarchy Subsidized p. 11
- ↑ Anarchy Subsidized p. 3
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Anarchy Subsidized 19
- ↑ Lockdown p. 199
- ↑ Lockdown p. 31
- ↑ Lockdown p. 204
- ↑ Market Panic p. 82
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Market Panic p. 75
- ↑ Lockdown p. 211
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Schattenstädte, Neuauflage p. 166
- ↑ Firing Line p. 36 - 37
- ↑ System Failure p. 183
- ↑ Attitude p. 145
External Links[]
- This page was translated from Shadowhelix's Transhumanismus page
Shadowhelix (German Wiki): Transhumanismus
