Transhumanism has been defined as “a cultural, intellectual and scientific movement that affirms the moral duty to improve the physical and cognitive capacities of the human species, and to apply new technologies to human beings, so that undesirable aspects of the human condition can be eliminated, such as suffering, illness, aging and even mortality”. Thus, Nick Bostrom, one of the major theorists of this field, affirms that “Transhumanism” represents a new operational conception of the future of man. This conception brings together scientists and experts from different scientific fields: Artificial intelligence, neurology, nanotechnology, genetics and other researchers in applied biotechnology. These experts are joined by philosophers with the same goal: to alter, to “improve” human nature and prolong its existence.

Transhumanism, a theory or cultural paradigm, raises numerous scientific-technical, philosophical-anthropological, bioethical and legal questions, contemporary issues, but above all questions for future generations. All of them will be the subject of study and analysis at the conference “Transhumanism: homo sapiens or cyborg?”

Do we have a moral duty to improve the human species? What concept of the human being underlies the transhumanist approach? Is there a possibility of a spiritual dimension and openness to transcendence in this perspective? What role do science and technology play in the transhumanist ideal? What are the bioethical implications of the interventions proposed by transhumanists? What role do fiction and literature play in the anticipation of possible worlds? Is transhumanism a utopia? Is it a new form of techno-scientific gnosticism? Where are we going as a species? Is our species destined to become extinct or to be surpassed by the posthuman? To answer all these questions our conference will have specialists in science, technology, philosophy, art, cinema, bioethics, law, theology, etc., who will analyze from an interdisciplinary perspective and expanded reason all the issues raised by this paradigm of the human.