Transhuman is a term that refers to an intermediary form between the human and the posthuman.
The etymology of the term "transhuman" goes back to futurist philosopher FM-2030, formerly known as F. M. Esfandiary, who, while teaching new concepts of the human at New School University in 1966, introduced it as shorthand for "transitional human." Calling transhumans the "earliest manifestation of new evolutionary beings," FM argued that signs of transhumanity included protheses, plastic surgery, intensive use of telecommunications, a cosmopolitan outlook and a globetrotting lifestyle, androgyny, mediated reproduction (such as in vitro fertilisation), absence of religious beliefs, and a rejection of traditional family values.
A transhumanist, on the other hand, is simply someone who advocates transhumanism. Transhumanism as the modern philosophy was created the philosopher Max More, Ph.D. Dr. More originally defined transhumanism as "Philosophies of life, such as extropy, that seek the continuation and acceleration of the evolution of intelligent life beyond its currently human form and human limitations by means of science and technology, guided by life-promoting principles and values." It is a common error for some social commentators to think and say that transhumanists "claim to be transhuman" or "call themselves transhuman." However, adopting a philosophy which says that someday everyone ought to have the chance to overcome their limitations is not to say that one is better or somehow currently "more evolved" than one’s fellow humans.
Further Reading
- "Interview with FM-2030" Transhuman.org website is dedicated to FM-2030
- James Hughes, Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future (Westview Press, 2004) ISBN 0813341981
- Natasha Vita-More, Create/Recreate: The 3rd Millennial Culture