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Transhumanism as a Techno-Gnostic Challenge to Theological Anthropology Open Lecture on-line with Prof. Michal Valco 24.04.2023
16.04.2023
Mark your calendars! Philosophy in English is getting ready to kick off the Summer Semester's Open Lecture series with Dr. Michal Valčo's lecture on "Transhumanism as a Techno-Gnostic Challenge to Theological Anthropology". We invite you to join us for the lecture on Webex on April 24 at 1800 (CEST).
My lecture examines the philosophical and theological underpinnings of transhumanism, a movement that advocates for the use of technology to enhance human abilities and transcend biological limitations. Drawing on the concept of Gnosticism, which posits that salvation (or: liberation, elevation, fulfillment) comes through secret knowledge or gnosis and that the human bodily existence is to be overcome as something inherently limiting, low, and detestable, I argue that transhumanism can be seen as a form of techno-Gnosticism. Transhumanists, like Gnostics, seek to transcend the limitations of the material world through the acquisition of knowledge and the manipulation of reality. In my lecture, I explore the implications of this perspective for our understanding of human nature, ethics, and spirituality, and argue that it raises important questions about the relationship between technology and human flourishing. Ultimately, I contend that while transhumanism offers tantalizing possibilities for human enhancement, it also carries significant risks and challenges that must be carefully considered in any attempt to pursue a transhumanist future.
Prof. Michal Valčo, Ph.D. is a professor at the Department of Church History within the Evangelical Lutheran Theological Faculty of Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia. Following his postgraduate studies in Theology at Comenius University, he shifted his focus to philosophy and the sociology of religion. Prof. Valčo received his habilitation in religious studies in 2003 from the University of Prešov. There, he was inaugurated to full professorship in December 2018. His research interests include selected topics and authors from the Philosophy of Religion, dialogue between religion and science, the challenge of Transhumanism, the theology of Martin Luther and Leonard Stöckel, and the situation of the churches during and after the era of socialism.
To join the meeting please use this link.
You may also join by entering meeting ID: 2732 211 5610 and password: 24042023 in Webex.