Transhumanists to meet in Toronto

About TransVision 2004

Transhumanism is a nascent approach to bioethics, futurism, art and culture whose adherents affirm the use of technology to overcome the limitations of the human body. Transhumanism, as both a philosophical and cultural phenomenon, has experienced exponential growth worldwide in recent years.

Presently two international transhumanist organizations exist, the World Transhumanist Association and the Extropy Institute, both of which publish online journals, while supporting and promoting the work of transhumanists around the world. There are local transhumanist groups in many countries, discussion groups in many major cities and a proliferation of transhumanist discussion lists. A growing body of transhumanist culture is being published on the web as well as in books and journal articles.

Transhumanism has been implicit in the writings of many humanists, futurists and ethicists for centuries, but the trend has only become visible with the emergence of transhumanist groups, journals and books in recent years. And transhumanism has only recently acquired critical viability now that the breadth, power and scope of 21st century biotechnologies and their inevitable impact on the human condition is becoming widely apparent.

Cloning, stem cell research, cybernetics and other novel reproductive and health technologies illustrate the rapid pace at which society and culture are changing. Our sense of who and what we are is rapidly expanding and diversifying, as are our means of expression and self-actualization. Consequently, an exciting and provocative new community of social activists, artists and cultural facilitators is emerging. As art and life continue to reflect and create each other, both are changing as we move into a posthuman form and into a posthuman era.

TransVision 2004 seeks to capture and highlight these trends by bringing together a wide array of transhumanist thinkers, artists, scientists and ethicists. In a celebration and investigation of the new culture, TV04 will provide captivating and avant-garde performance art and exhibitions, in concert with academic discussions, debates and presentations.