The Importance of Dignity : A Kantian Perspective on Transhumanism

The transhumanist movement has been hailed as optimistic and forward thinking in itsambition to “ascend humanity beyond its biological constraints” and bring it to the next stageof evolution. However, critics such as Nicholas Le Dévédec have claimed that the movementrepresents a reversal of the Enlightenment project of autonomy, despite claims otherwise. Inthis paper, we shall adopt the perspective of the moral philosophy of an Enlightenmentthinker important for the democratic thought of the era: Immanuel Kant. With an emphasis onKant’s conception of Dignity and the second formulation of the categorical imperative, thestudy shows that Kantianism is irreconcilable with transhumanism. The findings not onlyexpand upon Dévédec’s claims, but also emphasizes the potential of dignity as a concept indelineating the limits and use of enhancement technology.