A critical analysis of human improvement projects from the perspective of the self-organization theory

Autores

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17648/2175-2834-v22n1-430

Resumo

Based on the theory of self-organization, the objective of this paper is tocritically discuss the theses defended by the postulators of two projects that aim toimprove human nature: eugenics and transhumanism. We will try to show that the“science of eugenics”, proposed by Francis Galton (1883), and the contemporarytranshumanist project, outlined since the second half of the 20th century, share thecontroversial belief that human beings, through science and technology, are able tosuccessfully control the evolutionary processes of human species. We will try to showthat this belief disregards the central characteristics of the complex self-organizedadaptive evolutionary processes of organisms in general. For this purpose, we willcritically analyse the central theses of the transhumanist project and the “status quo bias”argument proposed by Bolton and Ord (2006) in defence of such theses. We conclude byemphasizing that the proponents of the contemporary transhumanist project would benefitfrom a fallibilistic perspective that would allow them to face the project's social andethical possible implications with epistemic prudence.

Biografia do Autor

Mariana C. Broens, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP

Possui graduação em Filosofia pela Universidade Federal do Paraná (1985), graduação em Direito pela Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (1983) e doutorado em Filosofia pela Universidade de São Paulo (1996). Atualmente é professora adjunta (Livre Docente) da Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho. Desenvolve pesquisas na área de Filosofia, com ênfase em Epistemologia, Filosofia da Mente e Ciências Cognitivas, atuando principalmente nos seguintes temas: Teoria da Auto-Organização, Teoria da Cognição Incorporada e Situada, Conhecimento Comum, Informação Ecológica, Pragmatismo, Naturalismo, Abordagem mecanicista da mente.

Downloads

Publicado

2020-07-03

Como Citar

C. Broens, M. (2020). A critical analysis of human improvement projects from the perspective of the self-organization theory. Natureza Humana - Revista Internacional De Filosofia E Psicanálise, 22(1), 16. https://doi.org/10.17648/2175-2834-v22n1-430