포스트휴먼 담론과 고통의 존재론

초록

This study undertakes an analysis of posthuman discourse, situating it within the broader problem of suffering. Contemporary claims regarding the future of humanity are diverse and fragmented, with discourses on transhumanism, transhuman, and posthumanism overlapping in ways that generate considerable conceptual confusion. As the volume of discourse expands, so too does the level of ambiguity. While some interpret the posthuman as heralding a utopian future, others regard it with apprehension as a dystopian prospect. The debate surrounding the posthuman thus remains indeterminate. Advocates envision a final stage of human evolution culminating in a world free from suffering, whereas critics fear the emergence of a dystopian condition. These divergent perspectives originate in differing conceptions of human nature. Accordingly, this study seeks to elucidate how human nature is reflected within both posthumanism and transhumanism, and to analyze the distinctions between them. Although discussions of the posthuman have proliferated to the point of becoming almost fashionable, relatively few studies have examined the topic in relation to suffering. This paper critically interrogates the claim that the future human envisioned by posthuman discourse will be liberated from suffering. It further aims to clarify the nature of suffering itself and to illuminate the significance it holds within human life. Finally, it explores whether such significance might continue to confer meaning upon life in a posthuman condition.

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