About Philosophical Posthumanism
The notion of ‘the human’ is in need of urgent redefinition. At a time of radical bio-technological developments, and in light of the political and environmental imperatives of our age, the term ‘posthuman’ provides an alternative.The philosophical landscape which has developed as a response to the crisis of the human, includes several movements, such as: Posthumanism, Transhumanism, Antihumanism and Object Oriented Ontology. This book explains the similarities and differences between these currents and offers a detailed examination of a number of topics that fall under the “posthuman” umbrella, including the anthropocene, artificial intelligence and the deconstruction of the human.
Francesca Ferrando affords particular focus to Philosophical Posthumanism, defined as a philosophy of mediation which addresses the meaning of humanity not in separation, but in relation to technology and ecology. The posthuman shift thus emerges in the global call for social change, responsible science and multispecies coexistence.
Table of contents
Foreword:
The Posthuman As Exuberant Excess by Rosi Braidotti
Introduction:
From Humans to Posthumans
1. Part 1
What is Philosophical Posthumanism?
1. Premises
2. From Postmodern to Posthuman
3. Posthumanism and Its Others
4. The Birth of Transhumanism
5. Contemporary Transhumanism(s)
6 The Roots of Transhumanism
7 Transhumanism and Techno-Enchantment
8. Posthumanist Technologies as Ways of Revealing
9. Antihumanism and the Übermensch
10. Philosophical Posthumanism
Interlude 1
Part 2
Of Which “Human” is the Posthuman a “Post”?
11. The Power of the Hyphen
12. Humanizing
13. The Anthropological Machine
14. Almost, Human
15. Technologies of the Self as Posthumanist (Re)Sources
16. The Epiphany of Becoming Human
17. Where does the word “human” come from?
18. Mammals or Homo sapiens?
Interlude 2
Part 3
Have We Always Been Posthuman?
19. Post-Anthropocentrism in the Anthropocene
20. Posthuman Life
a. Bios and Zoe
b. Animate / Inanimate
21. Artificial Life
22. Evolving Species
23. Posthumanities
24. Posthuman Bioethics
25. Human Enhancement
26. Cognitive Autopoiesis
27. Posthumanist Perspectivism
28. From New Materialisms to Object Oriented Ontology
29. Philosophical Posthumanist Ontology
30. The Multiverse
a. The Multiverse in Science
b. The Multiverse in Philosophy
c. A Thought Experiment: The Posthuman Multiverse
Concluding Celebration
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Reviews
“Ferrando has written a philosophically original inquiry that addresses the formidable questions our time has given rise to that may rekindle hope in the power of critical thinking-that thinking gets somewhere-even in transcending itself, in all but the most despairing.” – Philosophy in Review
“[An] exceptional and exemplary primer on the subject … [One] cannot overestimate the importance of Ferrando’s timely intervention … The book is an essential reading for all who are interested in a lucid understanding of this new horizon of philosophical theory and praxis of our times. And it is perfect as a textbook on the subject for college or university students.” – Sophia
“An erudite and important contribution to the growing field of Posthumanist literature … An exciting, inspiring and at times dizzying book that successfully identifies the urgency of posthumanist thought in a world increasingly beleaguered by legacies of Western humanist practices.” – Theory, Culture & Society
“[A] pioneering work in the rather young intellectual tradition of Posthumanism … Ferrando’s book has its biggest merit in bringing together a very thoughtful historical analysis of the intellectual roots of posthumanism and at the same time using these considerations within the performance of posthuman theory as nondualist and non-anthropocentric celebration of life in all its diversity. The author meets highest academic standards in presenting the diverse theories involved within this movement of thought and adds a very accessible and engaging text to the canon of philosophical literature.” – AI & Society
“Contains a series of original reflections which will not fail to stimulate robust discussion … [Ferrando] builds an ontology of the posthuman that embraces the whole of reality, extending posthumanism’s scope to the entire universe, and indeed, to all possible universes.” – Philosophy Now
“Engages in a passionate way with the history of posthuman thinking, its future visions and various schools of thought nourished by a critical stance toward classical humanism … [Ferrando] meets highest academic standards in presenting her arguments and adds a very accessible and engaging text to the canon of philosophical literature.” – Popular Inquiry
“A wholly exciting, easy to follow, and useful reference.” – Il Capitale Culturale
“In this stunning book Francesca Ferrando paints a clear and inspirational picture of the future of humankind. Her book is both thorough and exciting. It is a delight to see that she does not simply toe the line and follow ‘official’ thinking, but quite rightly the philosophy of Nietzsche and Lamarck gets an airing. If you want to know what Posthumanism is all about and peek into our future world, then dive into the book and wallow in its pages.” – Kevin Warwick, Emeritus Professor, Coventry University and Reading University, UK
“Francesca Ferrando book will be of great value to those who wish to understand the range of non-anthropocentric approaches to philosophy and politics. In Philosophical Posthumanism, they will find an account of the theoretical foundations and practice of posthumanism that is impressively scholarly, ethically engaged and engaging.” – David Roden, Associate Lecturer in Philosophy, The Open University, UK
“The emergence of posthuman thinking is a paradigm shifting event. Categorical dualities get twisted. Francesca Ferrando is at the forefront of thinking philosophically about the great variety of correlated developments.” – Stefan Lorenz Sorgner, Associate Professor of Philosophy, John Cabot University Rome, Italy