The document discusses the origins and evolution of posthumanism from the 1940s cybernetics movement. It explores how developments in biology and technology could enhance and extend human capabilities. However, it also notes threats around how technology may undermine human values and control. The document calls for more research on posthumanism to understand how technology shapes human existence and to prepare for potential impacts on law, environments, and what it means to be human.

1. ‘ Posthumanism’ The Future of Follow-up on expressed interest Society of Australian Media and Humanity Social Research Contact: Katherine Lamont (e) katherine.lamont@AMHRS.com (a) 411 Mobart Street, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006 “ To Expand Research of the Future” Note: This is strictly a university assignment, uploaded for university purposes

2. Origin of Posthumanism Evolved from the 1940’s cybernetics movement (Gane 2006,432) Saw revolutionary ambitions to allow humanity to dominate over information and organisation Creation of the digital computer is considered a cybernetic device, offering technological control to improve life If we consider this approach, then we are already living in the age of cybernetics. Thus it is no surprise that humanity grew to realise the extent of human intelligence and began the evolution of posthumanism. Resonates with new media and technology theory Although aware of the potential destruction of the natural human form (before information, communication and computation), shifts in the media hallucinated this movement of transformed intelligence Inevitably, this encouraged theorists to “re-vision” humanity as posthuman and so the trend moved forward Convergence of biology and technology to extend humanity Enhancing thoughts, emotions, experiences, health and longevity (Asaro n.d.; Bostrom 2011 ; Clarke 2008, 4; Gane, 2006, 432; Hassan 1977; Hayles 1999, 16; Lister et. al. 2009, 282; Reyes 2007,34 ) “ To Expand Research of the Future”

3. Threats Opportunities “ To Expand Research of the Future” ( Braman 2005; Hayles, Hassan and Moreavec in Reyes 2007; Moravec 2000; Wolfe 2010 ) The multi-facted complexity of posthumanism and technology is a growing concern for the future of the natural human Posthuman law Nanotechnology: mechanic, rather than social, values will be imperative for decision-making This means future distinctions between natural environments and mechanic information may be harmed Direct impact on long-term human involvement, resulting in loss of control over lawful decisions The human mind might ultimately become “disembodied,” fundamentally resulting in an “informational pattern” Downloading human consciousness into computers Predicted machinery would reach human intelligence by 2040 and exceed the mind by 2050 Haraway examines posthumanism with liberating potential, breaking down boundaries through a technological and anthropological transformation The human is not a given, it is made, and will be made more justly as humanity should be progressing Embrace the reconstruction of life’s boundaries and Take responsibility for social relations of science and technology

4. Need “ To Expand Research of the Future” AMHSR request that you to focus your future studies and literary theory on posthumanism in order to fill in the gaps of current research. To envision our future we must decide for ourselves if the rise of posthumaisn is something to be feared, or an opportunity. There is a need for exploration of the way technology structures the basis of ‘human’ existence and understanding. Research must be conducted to prepare for what is to come. (www.kamalkrishna.com)

5. References “ To Expand Research of the Future” Asaro, Peter. M. N.d. “What ever happened to cybernetics?.” PhD diss., University of Illinois. Bostrom, Nick. “Posthumanism.” Accessed September 9, 2011. http://www.posthumanism.com. Braman, Sandra. Posthuman law in the human world. In Digital Media and Digital Culture Seminar Series, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, April 2005 . Coleraine: Centre for Media Research, University of Ulster. Clarke, Bruce. 2008. Posthuman metamorphosis: narrative and systems . 1st ed. United States of America: Fordham University Press. Gane, Nicholas. 2006. “Posthuman.” Theory, Culture & Society 23 (2-3): 431-434. Hassan, Ihab. 1977. “Prometheus as Performer: Toward a Postmodern Culture?.” The Georgia Review 31 (4): 830-850. Hayles, Katherine. 1999. “How We Became Posthuman: Virtual Bodies in Cybernetics, Literature and Informatics.” Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Lister, Martin, Jon Dovey, Seth Giddings, Iain Grant, and Kieran Kelly. 2009. New media: a critical introduction . 2nd ed. Oxon: Routledge. Moravec, Hans. 2000. Robot: Mere Machine to Transcendent Mind . New York: Oxford University Press. Wolfe, Cary. 2010. What is posthumanism? 1st ed. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.