This was originally published in VoegelinView on August 19, 2015. Allergic to Crazy: Quick Thoughts on Politics, Education, and Culture, Rightly Understood. Peter Augustine Lawler. South Bend, IN: St. Augustine’s Press, 2014. Peter Lawler’s Allergic to Crazy
The book sounds wide ranging and relevant, but it has a few questionable assumptions and recommendations. First of all, the problem today is not transhumanism; the problem is the conservative governmental agenda of unending economic growth that exploits labor and the environment for the financial profit of stockholders. Second, transhumanism is not all about immortality -- though it may be for some-- postmodern conservative religion is -- though it may not be for all. Rather, posthumanism is about the liberation of human beings from oppression in all areas of life through the wise use of technology, medicine, commerce and a government based in egalitarian principles, such as fairness and fraternity. Yes, humanity does need to de-emphasize productivity, and, as Norwegian philosopher and scientist John Scales Avery writes, to seek a "steady state economy" in order to improve life for more people and to preserve the Earth's resources for future generations.
The book sounds wide ranging and relevant, but it has a few questionable assumptions and recommendations. First of all, the problem today is not transhumanism; the problem is the conservative governmental agenda of unending economic growth that exploits labor and the environment for the financial profit of stockholders. Second, transhumanism is not all about immortality -- though it may be for some-- postmodern conservative religion is -- though it may not be for all. Rather, posthumanism is about the liberation of human beings from oppression in all areas of life through the wise use of technology, medicine, commerce and a government based in egalitarian principles, such as fairness and fraternity. Yes, humanity does need to de-emphasize productivity, and, as Norwegian philosopher and scientist John Scales Avery writes, to seek a "steady state economy" in order to improve life for more people and to preserve the Earth's resources for future generations.