Difference or Defect? Disability Considered in the Context of Transhumanism

Abstract

Transhumanism advocates the development and use of technologies to eradicate disease and suffering, enhance humans’ abilities, and extend humans’ life spans. Some such technologies are currently in use, including prosthetics to facilitate movement and medications to enhance focus.  As technologies become increasingly sophisticated, it is likely that they will be accessible to relatively few individuals as a result of their cost and availability. We examine the potential impact of a Western society’s increasing use of enhancements by a privileged segment of its population on its understanding of disability as compared with current models of disability and associated ethical issues.