Humans, Angels, And Cyborgs Aboard Theseus' Ship

This book addresses the most suggestive themes of transhumanism and critical posthumanism by placing them in dialogue with classic problems of metaphysics, and with some great thinkers of the past (Bruno, Spinoza, and above all Leibniz). The main purpose of this comparison is to invite transhumanists and critical posthumanists to consider a highly complex problematic tradition rooted in the history of philosophy. This study also makes use of examples drawn from the history of mythology, angelology, and mysticism. At the same time, the book promotes dialogue between scholars of classical metaphysics and philosophy of religion, and the potential metaphysical/spiritual theories developed independently by transhumanist and posthumanist thinkers within an anti-dualist and naturalistic philosophical framework.

The goal is to 'enhance' contemporary transhumanism and posthumanism by promoting the need to safeguard intelligence as a principle, without falling into the trap of a violent and egotistic metaphysics.

Explores the spiritual potentials of critical and philosophical posthumanism Highlights the new 'mythical' ideas present within posthumanist thought Challenges the dominant Spinozian neo-materialism, and promotes an ontology of the 'posthuman person'

Auteur

Mattia Geretto received a PhD in Philosophy of Religion at the University of Perugia, Italy. Among his publications, L'angelologia leibniziana (2010) and many other articles on Leibniz. Since 2011 he is affiliated to Ca' Foscari University of Venice.

Contenu

Chapter 1. Preliminary Metaphysical Discourse.- Chapter 2. The Theseus' Ship Paradox: Possibilities and Limits of a Trans-/Posthumanist Interpretation.- Chapter 3. Theseus and the Minotaur, Ariadne and the Labyrinth. Addressing Contemporary Monsters, Death, and Trans-/Posthumanist 'Mysticism'.