1. MilesTro

    MilesTro Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2007
    Messages:
    1,233
    Likes Received:
    101
    Location:
    Springfield

    Posthuman or Transhuman?

    Discussion in 'Character Development' started by MilesTro, Oct 11, 2013.

    In my fictional setting, there are colonies who transformed themselves from human to alien like beings on alien planets in order to adapt and survive. Would they be consister as posthuman or transhuman people?
     
  2. Daniel

    Daniel I'm sure you've heard the rumors Founder Staff

    Joined:
    May 14, 2006
    Messages:
    2,815
    Likes Received:
    696
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    I would consider them posthuman, but I think it depends on the extent of the change.

    My understanding is that a transhuman is a being that is between human and posthuman, but still distinctly human. Such as a normal person with genetically modified advanced eyesight that lets them see better than any human. Posthumans can no longer can justify the label of human and is something distinctly different from human, such as humans who moved their consciousness into machines or genetically engineered new bodies.

    Since you described them as alien-like beings, I think posthuman is a more accurate description, because that suggestions they look more like aliens than humans.
     
  3. MilesTro

    MilesTro Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2007
    Messages:
    1,233
    Likes Received:
    101
    Location:
    Springfield
    So basically a transhuman is a hybrid of a human and a non-human. But when the human becomes conpletely non-human, he or she won't be consider human. I guess I'll call them Posthuman colonies.

    The mutants in X-men could also be known as Post humans I guess.
     
  4. Daniel

    Daniel I'm sure you've heard the rumors Founder Staff

    Joined:
    May 14, 2006
    Messages:
    2,815
    Likes Received:
    696
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    Sort of, more or less. There's a little more to it than that; in case you aren't aware, posthuman and transhuman are terms used by the transhumanist movement, and I believe they have connotations of being better than humans, not necessarily just different, and probably other implications.

    Transhumanism is kind of considered humanity, plus. So I might consider the X-men transhumans, since they're humans but have some advancement that makes them better. Additionally, I might consider an advanced intelligent cyborg that's been completely transformed from human to machine a posthuman since it's no longer recognizable as human, though it has human traits and origin and has capabilities that make it more advanced.

    Keep in mind this is coming from someone who supports the transhumanist/extropian movement so I might be reading more into these terms than you need to - I'm also no expert.
     
  5. MilesTro

    MilesTro Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2007
    Messages:
    1,233
    Likes Received:
    101
    Location:
    Springfield
    If there are post human colonies, how would it effect the original humans?
     
  6. Daniel

    Daniel I'm sure you've heard the rumors Founder Staff

    Joined:
    May 14, 2006
    Messages:
    2,815
    Likes Received:
    696
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    I think that's up to your creative imagination. ;)
     
  7. jazzabel

    jazzabel Agent Provocateur Contributor

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2012
    Messages:
    4,255
    Likes Received:
    1,688
    I'd say 'transhuman'. 'Posthuman' would be the result of evolution into a different life form, such as a transcendence into a pure energy being, or some such.
     
  8. MilesTro

    MilesTro Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2007
    Messages:
    1,233
    Likes Received:
    101
    Location:
    Springfield
    It does make sense.
     
  9. Gilborn

    Gilborn Member

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2011
    Messages:
    63
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    I would say that when using posthuman it implys a time and place where the human species has died out. However, when you use the term transhuman you are implying and evolution be that physically or culturally. So, post would equal a negative connotation while trans would equal a positive or neutral connotation.
     
  10. MilesTro

    MilesTro Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2007
    Messages:
    1,233
    Likes Received:
    101
    Location:
    Springfield
    I thought posthumans are the next step in human evolution?
     
  11. Daniel

    Daniel I'm sure you've heard the rumors Founder Staff

    Joined:
    May 14, 2006
    Messages:
    2,815
    Likes Received:
    696
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    According to the transhumanist movement, it is, and transhuman is the step between human and posthuman. That said, hypothetically humans could die out after evolving to a new posthuman species and posthumans could continue to live on.
     
  12. MilesTro

    MilesTro Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2007
    Messages:
    1,233
    Likes Received:
    101
    Location:
    Springfield
    But they wouldn't call themselves posthuman because they would become a different race. They would have their own new name as a new species.
     
  13. Daniel

    Daniel I'm sure you've heard the rumors Founder Staff

    Joined:
    May 14, 2006
    Messages:
    2,815
    Likes Received:
    696
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    Probably. Unless they still admired their human origin. But you could call and consider them posthumans even if they wouldn't refer to themselves as such.
     
  14. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2013
    Messages:
    17,674
    Likes Received:
    19,891
    Location:
    Scotland
    So, are we all post-monkeys?
     
  15. MilesTro

    MilesTro Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2007
    Messages:
    1,233
    Likes Received:
    101
    Location:
    Springfield
    I also have another story, which is an anthropomorphic future sword and sorcery fiction with a post apocalyptic setting. Most of the human race were mutated into animal hybrids by a magical crystal comet, which destroyed all of their advance civilization. They now live as blood thirsty beasts raging wars against different primitive beast tribes. I suppose they can be considered as post-humans in a future fantasy setting. However, they only think of themselves as beasts with little human qualities.

    And I think we are preferred as Post-Apes, not Post-Monkeys, or else we would have tails.
     
  16. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2013
    Messages:
    17,674
    Likes Received:
    19,891
    Location:
    Scotland
    Oh, I know. But Post-Monkeys sounds better...:)
     
  17. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    May 19, 2007
    Messages:
    36,161
    Likes Received:
    2,828
    Location:
    Massachusetts, USA
    I thought Post-Monkeys was another term for forum crawlers.
     
  18. MilesTro

    MilesTro Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2007
    Messages:
    1,233
    Likes Received:
    101
    Location:
    Springfield
    I think they are called Trolls.
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice