A philosophical assessment of Julian Huxley's perspectives on transhumanism

Abstract

Throughout history, philosophers have debated humanity’s drive to surpass its limitations, whether biological or encompassing political, economic, social, and religious constraints. Transhumanism, emerging as both a philosophical debate and a movement, originated as a critique of humanism during the Middle Ages through the Enlightenment. Humanists sought to overcome biological limitations like intelligence, aging, and wellbeing, yet their solutions, from alchemical quests for longevity to modern pharmaceuticals like Prozac, have proven impermanent. Julian Huxley and modern transhumanists argue similarly, yet both humanism and transhumanism have often overlooked essential human traits guided by moral and relational codes. This study aimed to address three objectives: identifying transhumanism’s philosophical concerns, assessing the moral agency of future hypothetical posthumans, and exploring motives behind modern humanist support for transhumanism. The study is purely qualitative, rooted in philosophical anthropology. It employs three primary approaches typical in this field: Conceptual and document analysis, critical analysis, and philosophical hermeneutics. These methodologies encompass analytical, rational, and critical dimensions. Grounded in Thomas Aquinas’ framework emphasizing self-consciousness and freedom, the analysis concludes that biotechnological enhancements favoured by transhumanists may not permanently resolve biological limits. The researcher proposes the implementation of legal and moral restrictions on biotechnological enhancements until their necessity is unequivocally proven, aiming to safeguard humanity from potential unforeseen consequences of radical scientific advancements.