Do You Want to Live Forever?

Transhumanism is the view that humanity’s problems can and should be solved through science and technology. Transhumanists envision a techno-utopian society referred to as a triple ‘S’ civilization of Superintelligence, Superlongevity, and Superhappiness, a future where there is a gradual blurring of the traditional boundaries between human persons and machines. This, they propose, will eventually lead to a new species labeled “posthumans.”

But even if such a future is viable, is it desirable? Are there reasons to consider that this techno-utopia may be anything but?

Through the lens of literature (Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings) Dr. Julie Miller challenges the presuppositions of transhumanism. Likening technology to the Rings of Power, Miller argues that the trans-humanism’s project of superlongevity is in fact a counterfeit of true immortality. Miller offers fresh perspective, wisdom, and insight on a topic important to everyone—immortality.

In its broadest sense, transhumanism is the view that humanity’s problems can and should be solved through science and technology. Humanity’s chief problems, on this view, arise from our biological, cognitive, and psychological limitations. Transhumanists, therefore, seek to overcome these limits by applying science and tech-nology to human persons. And this, they propose, will eventually lead to a new species labeled “posthumans.”