Transhumanism has been defined as “a cultural, intellectual, and scientific movement that affirms the moral obligation to enhance the physical and cognitive capabilities of the human species and to apply new technologies to human beings to eliminate undesirable aspects of the human condition, such as suffering, disease, aging, and even mortality.” Consequently, Nick Bostrom, a leading theorist of this movement, states that “Transhumanism” represents a new operational conception of the future of humankind. This vision unites scientists and experts from various disciplines, including artificial intelligence, neurology, nanotechnology, genetics, and researchers in applied biotechnology. They are joined by philosophers and cultural figures with the shared goal: to alter or “improve” human nature and prolong human existence.

Transhumanism, as a theory or cultural paradigm, raises numerous scientific, technical, philosophical, anthropological, bioethical, and legal questions; these are questions for today, but above all, questions for future generations. All these questions will be examined and analyzed at the conference “Transhumanism: Homo sapiens or cyborg?”.

Do we have a moral obligation to improve the human species? What concept of the human being underlies the transhumanist approach? Is the possibility of a spiritual dimension and openness to transcendence possible in this perspective? What role do science and technology play in the transhumanist ideal? What bioethical implications do the interventions proposed by transhumanists raise? What role do fiction and literature play in anticipating possible worlds? Is transhumanism a utopia? Is it a new form of technoscientific gnosticism? Where are we headed as a species? Is our species destined for extinction or to be surpassed by the posthuman? To address these issues, our conferences will bring together specialists in science, technology, philosophy, art, film, bioethics, law, theology, and other fields that will analyze, from an interdisciplinary perspective and with an open mind, all the questions raised by this paradigm of humanity.