Dying in a Transhumanist and Posthuman Society

Description

Exploring both the intrapersonal (moral) and interpersonal (ethical) nature of death and dying in the context of their development (philosophical), Dying in a Transhumanist and Posthuman Society shows how death and dying have been and will continue to be governed in any given society. Drawing on transhumanism and discourses about posthumanity, life prolongation and digital life, the book analyses death, dying and grief via the governance of dying. It states that the bio-medical dimensions of our understanding of death and dying have predominated not only the discourses about death in society and the care of the dying, but their policy and practice as well. It seeks to provoke thinking beyond the benefits of technology and within the confinements of the world transhumanists describe. This book is written for all who have an interest in thanatology (i.e. death studies) but will be useful specifically to those investigating the experiences of dying and grieving in contemporary societies, wherein technology, biology and medicine continuously advance. Thus, the manuscript will be of interest to researchers in a broad range of areas including health and social care, social policy, anthropology, sociology, philosophy, cultural studies, and, of course, thanatology. Cover Half Title Series Information Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Figures Acknowledgements Introduction Previous Explorations of the Policing of Grief and Dying Policing/medicalisation of Grief Policing/medicalisation of Death 21st-century Challenges The Aim of this Book Overview of the Book References Chapter 1 Transhumanism and the Posthuman Being Introduction What Do We Mean With the Terms ‘Transhumanism’ and ‘Posthuman’? Religion and Transhumanist Debates Who Is the Human? Technological Advancements Robotics, Robots and Social Life Cyberrevolution and Smart Devices Digital Immortality and Mind Cloning Technology By Geography Tech-death and Tech-Grief Altered Conceptions of Death and Grief The Technological Dimensions of Regulating Death Notes References Chapter 2 Biomedicine and Death Introduction Biomedical Advancements Cryonics Robotic Surgery Artificial Organs Biohacking Cloning Nanomedicine Disposal of the Body and Revival Prolongation of Life and Immortality in Utopian Realities? Notes References Chapter 3 Transhumanism in the Social Context Introduction Human Relationships and Virtual Selves The Social Environment and Alienation Human Experience in a Transhumanist Social Environment The Natural Environment Transhumanism and Human Rights Notes References Chapter 4 An Unsettled Future Introduction Why Is the Future Unsettled? The Uneven Progressions of Technology, Medicine and Society Advancements in a Changing Environment Death, Dying and Grief in the Hamster Wheel of the Future Futuristic Dialogue Death as a Choice Coda References Conclusions References Index