| dc.description.abstract | Transhumanism is concerned with developing human life beyond its current form and limitations using biomedical technologies. The purpose of this project is to make a theological and ethical assessment of proposed transhumanist enhancement technologies, in the light of developments in chemical therapeutics that have already taken place, during the so-called “therapeutic revolution” years of the twentieth century (1950-1990). The key research question that will be addressed is: what can be learned from theological and ethical engagement with past therapeutic developments, and how does this learning inform an evaluation of proposed future transhumanist biomedical technologies within Christian theological ethics? In this project, a case study methodology is used to examine two areas of past therapeutic development, the contraceptive pill and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants. The historical context and theological implications of these therapeutic developments are explored, and they are assessed against standard criteria for transhumanist developments. The findings from the case studies are then applied to proposed future transhumanist technologies, to determine how past experiences of therapeutic developments might inform ethical evaluation of future proposals in transhumanist technologies, and how issues with previous therapeutic developments might be reconsidered in the light of this evaluation. The thesis will be structured as follows: a) introduction and development of the research question, discussion of the methodology used and the assumptions made, b) description of transhumanist objectives and technologies and a theological and ethical critique of these, in order to develop theologically-informed criteria of what constitutes a transhumanist technology, c) presentation of two case studies of previous therapeutic developments (the contraceptive pill and SSRI anti-depressants) and evaluation of these cases against the criteria for transhumanist technologies, d) discussion of these findings, and their implications for a revised ethical understanding of future transhumanist technologies. | en_GB |
