#1089 Alexander Thomas: The Politics and Ethics of Transhumanism

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Apr 25, 2025

In this discussion, Alexander Thomas, a Senior Lecturer in Media Production at the University of East London and author of The Politics and Ethics of Transhumanism, explores the complexities of transhumanism. He tackles its historical roots, from Enlightenment thinkers to modern tech leaders, and the ethical dilemmas of enhancement. The conversation dives into the marriage of transhumanism and capitalism, highlighting potential elitism, and critiques issues like data totalitarianism and the implications of artificial intelligence on human agency. Thomas advocates for a more inclusive approach to technology.

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INSIGHT

Transhumanism's Political Spectrum

Transhumanism spans political spectrums: techno-progressivism on the left, techno-libertarianism on the right.
Real power comes not from democratic success but from billionaire elites influencing government and tech sectors.

INSIGHT

TESCREAL: The AI Ideological Foundation

TESCREAL is a cluster acronym for transhumanism's linked ideologies like extropianism, singularitarianism, and longtermism.
This interlinked philosophic lineage strongly influences today's AI industry, embedding transhumanist ideas deeply in tech development.

INSIGHT

Transhumanism's Eugenics Connection

Transhumanism has historical and ideological links to eugenics, from Julian Huxley's involvement to some modern proponents openly embracing it.
Dangerous fusions with racist and hierarchical ideas pose urgent societal risks that must be challenged.

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Dr. Alexander Thomas is a Senior Lecturer in Media Production and Film at the University of East London. He is the author of The Politics and Ethics of Transhumanism: Techno-Human Evolution and Advanced Capitalism.

In this episode, we focus on The Politics and Ethics of Transhumanism. We start by discussing what transhumanism is, its tenets, different kinds of transhumanism, enhancement, hierarchy and elitism, and arguments against transhumanism. We delve into advanced capitalism, longtermism, accelerationism, effective altruism, TESCREALism, the politics of transhumanism, and eugenics. We also talk about data totalitarianism, the consequences of a cybernetic approach to the human mind, artificial general intelligence (AGI), and posthumanism. We discuss whether transhumanism can be a religious movement. Finally, we talk about the risk of dehumanization, and how we can ethically approach a potential transhuman future.

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