The History of Transhumanism: New Horizons
Summary
In this episode of *Past, Present, Future*, host David Runciman and guest Duncan Bell explore how the advent of modern computing and the Cold War space race transformed transhumanist ideals. They discuss how machine intelligence and biological engineering became intertwined, shifting the focus from purely biological enhancement to cyborg integration and the potential for human replacement. The conversation also traces the political evolution of transhumanism, highlighting the 1990s shift from state-led initiatives to libertarian, market-driven visions championed by figures like Max More.
Topics discussed
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Introduction: History of Transhumanism Part 2
Impact of modern computing on transhumanist ideas
J.D. Bernal's 'The World of Flesh and the Devil'
Turing, the Imitation Game, and intelligence explosion
Speculation, science fiction, and the Singularity
Human augmentation vs. replacement by machines
The Space Race and Cold War acceleration
Astronautics and the need for human transformation
AI Winter and the gap between promise and reality
Early computing limitations and public imagination
Shift from state-led to private space exploration
Science fiction as a dominant cultural medium
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Political economy and the shift to libertarianism
Political variability and US dominance in transhumanism
Max More, Extropians, and libertarian philosophy
Transhumanism's relationship with democracy
Public engagement and the 'secretive' perception
Tech billionaires and the political economy of ideas
Gender and racial demographics in transhumanism
Cryonics: history, practice, and AI connections
Conclusion and preview of next episode
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