What are the limits of the "human"? And what comes after us?
This week, we’re taking on the big questions: What does it mean to be “human,” and is it possible we’re already moving beyond that? Starting with Foucault’s provocative claim that “the human is an invention… perhaps nearing its end,” we look at how history, culture, and technology have shaped—and continue to shape—our understanding of ourselves. Are we still the “rational, autonomous individuals” of the Enlightenment’s humanist legacy, or are we becoming something more complicated?
Our conversation tackles the key ideas of posthumanism and transhumanism: while transhumanists seek to enhance human abilities with technology, posthumanists want to question the very boundaries that define “the human” and its place at the center of everything. Drawing from feminist thinkers like Donna Haraway, we consider what it means to challenge traditional notions of the human, especially in a world where the line between humans, animals, and machines is increasingly blurred.
Finally, we get into the ethical and practical stakes. With gene-editing tools like CRISPR and advanced AI systems on the rise, how do we draw the line between human and machine—or should we? And if freedom is what makes the human worth preserving, does technology ultimately support that freedom or put it at risk?
Grab a drink and join us as we ask what “posthuman” could mean for our future—and whether we’re already there.
Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-160-posthumanism
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