Reprogramming destiny : Kant’s ‘what is enlightenment?', evolution, and posthumanism

Aquilina, Aaron (2016) Reprogramming destiny : Kant’s ‘what is enlightenment?', evolution, and posthumanism. Word and Text, 6. pp. 130-148. ISSN 2069-9271

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Abstract

This article explores the idea of a genealogy of posthumanism while stressing the gene in genealogy. Starting with an analysis of Immanuel Kant’s essay on the Enlightenment, among other short works of his, this study examines speculation on the improvement of the human race, and consequently the possible shared concerns of Kantian thought and posthumanism. Because the issues in question hover between conceptualities of “destiny”, “progress”, and “man”, this paper examines the past (and future) progress of humanity in terms of evolution and the techno-biological processes of sexual reproduction and gene expression (specifically, genetic reprogramming). In doing so, the present argument aims to better elucidate Kant’s writings and, ultimately, determine if or how Kant may be read as prefiguring the posthumanist ethos.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Word and Text
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1200/1208
Subjects:
?? kantenlightenmentposthumanismfoucaultderridadestinyprogressevolutiongenetic reprogramminggenealogyliterature and literary theorylinguistics and languagelanguage and linguisticsdiscipline-based research ??
ID Code:
86964
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
11 Jul 2017 08:50
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
31 Dec 2023 00:50