Böcker av - le Berthélaine

Post- and transhumanism is an urgent issue that demands reflection, as the coming biotech revolution inevi-tably will change human life. The essay trilogy offers a vivid and comprehensible insight into the topic through the different angles of literature, art, film, philosophy, religion and science, enlightening newcomers as well as those already fa-miliar with the discourse. The intention is an impartial presentation that captures the complexity of post- and transhumanism - spurring the reader to his or her own reflections on humanity version 2.0.The matter is not a sci-fi scenario, and critics argue that we already live in a Post- and Transhumanistic age. A conviction Poetic Parloir endorses, and for certain the view that it will have a major impact, chang-ing our understanding of humankind and how to live a human life. It calls for moral attention, as the new biotechniques evolve at a far higher pace than ethics can keep up with.Part III inquires into the expected furcation of mankind into different versions or subspecies, according to the extent of modification and enhancement. The focus of interest is »ethos«, that is, the attitude and ten-dency of the improved, superior humans towards those less enhanced and the original, unmodified ones. Will the biotech engendered superhumans feel themselves so lofty and apart that they will seize power and take control of the society, demand special rights and establish themselves as a nouveau aristocracy - as kings. In a future stratification of distinct lower and higher castes, reviving ancient and feudal forms of society. This might be the scenario of the pending biotech era. A utopia or a dystopia?Dear reader, I hereby give you Poetic Parloir part III on post- and transhumanism. Yours to read, roam and revel in.

The subject of post- and transhumanism is a pending area of interest that demands reflection, as the coming biotech era inevitably will change human life.The essay trilogy offers a vivid and comprehensible insight into the discourse through the different cultural angles of literature, art, film, philosophy, religion and science, enlightening newcomers as well as those already familiar with the topic.Poetic Parloir is dedicated to - and thus suitable for - the reader who wants to be well versed in the pivotal questions of contemporary life. The taken view is philosophical; the context is literature, art, film, philosophy, religion and science; and the intention is the impartial presentation that captures the complexity of post- and transhumanism.At a first glance, post- and transhumanism has a futuristic aura, hence, if one were to speak of such an era it would be a future one or merely a fictive sci-fi scenario. However, this is not the case and critics argue that we already live in a post- and transhumanistic age. A conviction Poetic Parloir endorses, or at least the view that the biotech revolution will prevail, and certainly the view that it will have a great impact on human existence and mankind, changing our understanding of what it means to be a human and to live a human life. The situation calls for moral attention, as the new biotechniques evolve at a far higher pace than ethics can keep up with.New times are descending, some say the promised land, the Millennial Kingdom from the Book of Revelation. I say, it is a rabbit hole and we are invited whether we like or not, with Alice, either into the wonderland of utopia or the gloomy wasteland of dystopia.Dear reader, I hereby give you Poetic Parloir [part II] on the topic of post- and transhumanism. Yours to read, yours to roam - yours to revel in.

Preface - Essay trilogy (part I) on post- and transhumanism, each part focusing separate issues. Post- and transhumanism are to most people new areas of interest and therefore, when they encounter these discourses, they have only a slight understanding of the problematics in question and the serious conse-quences the new bio-tech era inevitably will entail. The intention of the present trilogy on post- and transhumanism is thus: to give an introductory account of the matters and questions in play in a comprehensible way, so that the trilogy will be informative and enlightening, both to newcomers and those already familiar with the topic. At a first glance, post- and transhumanism undeniably have a futuristic aura; hence, if one were to speak of such an era, it would be one belonging to the future or merely a sci-fi scenario. Nonetheless, this is not the case, and several critics in the field argue that we, in fact, already live in a post- and transhumanistic age. A conviction Poetic Parloir endorses or, at least, the view that the biotech revolution is unstoppable, urgent and pending. And certainly, the view that it will have a great impact on humankind and human existence, changing our understanding of what it means to be a human and to live a human life; a decisive influence that demands our moral attention, as the new bio-techniques evolve at a far higher pace than moral and ethics can keep up with. Poetic Parloir is unique in how it introduces the pending era, as it often bases itself on popular as well as acknowledged literature, art and film, together with perspectives of philosophy, religion and science. Spheres, of which the reader may have a good foreknowledge and understanding. This will facilitate the comprehension of the sometimes complex post- and transhumanistic issues. Certainly, new times are pending, some say the promised land, the Millennial Kingdom from the Book of Revelation. I say, it is a rabbit hole, and we are invited, whether we like or not, with Alice, either into the wonderland of utopia or the gloomy wasteland of dystopia. It needs our attention. Dear reader, I hereby give you Poetic Parloir [part I] on the topic of post- and transhumanism. Yours to read, yours to roam - yours to revel in.

Dagens politiske debat dikteres på den ene side af økonomi, effektivisering og produktivitet, og på den anden side af negative følelser, af mistillid og frygt. I denne bipolære sump råber politikerne højt i blandt hverandre som i en børnehave: Se og hør mig! Medie-Megafonen er slået til, og det udbasunerede der danner grundlag for det politiske er ´mistilliden til den anden´, til borgeren, til naboen, til flygtningen og den ansatte ... til læreren, til dagplejemoderen, til lægen, til politimanden og sygeplejersken. Og den dominante jargon lyder, at borgeren ikke gør det godt nok, at dig og mig og vi to skal effektiviseres - særligt i den offentlige sektor, der den politiske magt er størst. Ingen gør noget tilfredsstillende, alle skal optimeres, i et menneskesyn der idémæssigt slægter på industrialiseringens fabrikshaller. Og tro mig, de var langt fra menneskevenlige. I dag skal den dydige borger producere: Således skal læreren under fortsatte nedskæringer producerer den fremtidige mønsterborger, produktivitetens soldat i samfundets nyttetjeneste, produktiviteten, der er blevet politikernes guldkalv og afgud; således skal lægen producere mest mulig folkesundhed, så dig og mig og vi to kan gå på arbejde og haste økonomiens hjul; således skal hjemmehjælperen producere mest mulig renhed, på målt tid og taksameter, så verdens materielle glans kan glinse blingbling og rekordrens. Det er kort sagt politikernes instrumentalisering af dig og mig og vi to, vort liv og levned. Og for at sikre dette sker som dikteret - i et menneskesyn af mistillid - har landets ledere og håndlangere indstiftet moderne tids slaveåg: det totalitære kontrolapparat, hvor dagplejemoderen skal dokumentere i stedet for at passe; hvor politimanden skal rapportere i stedet for at sikre gaden fred og orden; hvor lægen skal registrere medicinudskrivninger og journalisere i stedet for at helbrede; hvor læreren skal administrere og føre logbog frem for at undervise. Det kan være nyttigt for BNP, men ej for menneskers liv og levned. Det kan være rentabelt for DJØF, og syndikatets brødre gnidder i fnidder deres eksistentielt små hænder. Men det er uheldssvangert for GNH (Gross National Happiness), det lykkemål som det lignende lille kongerige Bhutan har sat som alternativ til BNP, fokuserende bæredygtighed og indbyggernes mentale vel. Summa siger jeg: Tiden fordrer et nyt parti, »Dansk Tillid«, og dets genskrevne eventyr er Danmark - i tillid til dig! ... Afsættet er etik, perspektivet 'det gode'.

Transhumanisme: "»Fremtidens grænseløse menneske« Vi uploader vores hjerner til computere. Vi tager piller for at bevare forelskelsen i vores ægteskab. Vi bliver klogere, hurtigere og mere tolerante – og så lever vi meget længere. Sådan tegner fremtiden sig, hvis det står til de udviklingsoptimistiske transhumanister. De accepterer ikke uden videre menneskets biologiske grænser. Kritikere mener derimod, at transhumanismen er på et sidespor, og at vi som samfund må sætte klare grænser." … Saadan lyder over-log-in paa Artiklen »Det optimerede menneske«. (note) Derhen Tiden haste, og inden De kan taste – tikke det fagre ny Aartusindmenneske ind:biotechnificeret, genmanipuleret og psykotropt accelereret. Det indlejrer den gryende posthumane Æra; den, hvori det traditionelle gammelkendte humane Subjekt er transcenderet og skraveret til fordel for en stærkere, sundere, klogere og lykkeligere Menneskeudgave. – "O", hil denne! begejstres de Begejstrede i en Geist, der har afspunden sin helt egen optimistiske world-wide-vækkelse: Transhumanismen, forenet i Humanity. En Bevægelse, der kun afventer det ny Tusindaarsmenneskes Nedstigen – i Utopia. For efter lang og ulidelig Tid, underkuet og kastet for Guds Skaberværk eller Darwinismens Mekanik – tager Mennesket endelig Haand om egen Skæbne, udformende sig selv, i sit eget Billede. Det er Mennesket, der enfin frigør sig og bliver sin egen Herre, i en Aura af Promethiske Længsler. – "O" hiin Mytterist. Men! samtidigt frygter de Frygtsomme: grueligt galt det gaa, naar Bio- og Genteknik frit Gænge faa – i Dystopia. For, hvad sker der egentlig naar Mennesket leger Gud? Bliver det af ´det Gode´ … af ´det Slette´ … endsige udslettende – Humaniteten, som vi hidtil kender den, befærdes i, tiltror! – "O" dette hulde Menneske, hvem vi kende. Hvem Gud den almægtige i sin Alvidenhed og Godhed skabte … eller, ´det bedst tilpassede´ Væsen som aldres Darwinisme har tilskikket os – saare egnet. Spørgsmaalene ere mange, og de taarne sig op. Derfor, plugin i den vankende Disput – belæs »Poetisk Parloir – Aarbog 2014« og faa belyst Transhumanismen i ulige Vinkler af Litteratur, Kunst, Film, Filosofi og Videnskab. Attentio: Aarbog 2014 er første Del i en tricyklisk Struktur af Aarbog 2014, 15 og 16, trefold belysende – hver centrerende sit centrale post- og transhumanistiske Tema. 2014: Tema – den fri Flux Hjerne-Up-and-Download af Viden, Færdighed og Bevidsthed. Note: au.dk files 34400626