STIBET | Introduction to Post-, Trans-, and Metahumanism as Recent Reworks of Humanist Discourses

Over the second half of the past century up until the present time, various discourses have (in)directly emerged from humanism in the form of positive and/or adverse reactions to its theoretical vectors. Although humanism is far from being considered a monolithic movement, a signature pattern that grew out of its philosophical framework, i.e., the centrality of the human paradigm, could be mapped with quite a high certainty. Accordingly, this workshop aims to introduce its participants to some of the leading currents that tend to, despite having disparate ideological agendas, destabilize the notion of human established mainly from the Enlightenment onwards. 

When it comes to post- and transhumanism, it is primarily a war on ideas at stake. Thus, if the leading orientation of posthumanism seems to be advertizing the reduction of human centrality (Braidotti, 2013; Ferrando, 2019), the transhuman paradigm opts for an urgent need for the expanded and vastly upgraded conceptual horizon of humanness (Fuller, 2017). The workshop’s theoretical part will also emphasize the plurality of the post- and transhumanisms and the dense network of their complex inter- and intra-relations. We will critically discuss the approaches given above, drawing on both stances’ relevant outcomes and inherent deficiencies. 

On the other hand, some recent voices argue that “we ought to think in between post- and transhumanism, and affirm a type of metahumanism instead” (Sorgner, 2021; Sorgner, del Val, 2011). The metahumanist approach also attempts to operate “in-between post and transhumanism”, dismissing any dualisms their conceptual dispute might foster. It consists of a consequent weakening of certain aspects of transhumanist argumentation and a specific re-thinking of posthumanism simultaneously. As a result, metahumanism leans on a revamped program of human flourishing, but not to the detriment of the non-human entities and their agentic potential for the prospective planetary consensus. 

On a final note, apart from basic information on the chief thinking fashions beyond humanism, the participants will get familiar with the current tendency to shift from humanities as a discipline toward the emerging line of the “critical posthumanities” (Braidotti, 2018). The concluding discussion on such a twist is designed to be a gainful reflection on both drawbacks of ‘traditional’ domains of scholarly analysis and potential issues that could pop up while attempting to implement their fundamental restructuration. 

The workshop will be supported by short readings, videos, and specific questions prepared in advance for discussion and debate.

// Aleksandar Talović (GCSC)