Presentation Schedule
Against Transhumanism: Embodiment and the Vulnerability of the Human Being (109652)
Friday, 13 November 2026 16:40
Session: Poster Session
Room: Hall G (Level -2)
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
Contemporary transhumanism, exemplified by thinkers such as Ray Kurzweil, envisions the technological transcendence of the human condition, culminating in the so-called Technological Singularity. Within this framework, human beings are expected to move beyond biological limitations—first through cyborgization and ultimately toward existence as disembodied informational entities. This presentation argues that such a vision can be understood as a contemporary manifestation of what Jacques Maritain criticized as the “angelism” of modern philosophy: the tendency to conceive the human being as if it were a purely intellectual or immaterial entity, thereby neglecting the constitutive role of embodiment and finitude. By revisiting Maritain’s critique, the presentation highlights the philosophical and ethical significance of the human body, as well as the positive value of vulnerability and dependency. It suggests that these features are not merely limitations to be overcome, but essential dimensions of human existence that ground relationality, moral responsibility, and lived meaning. In doing so, the presentation offers a critical perspective on transhumanist aspirations and calls for a renewed appreciation of embodiment as central to any adequate account of the human person.
Authors:
Ryosuke Matsumura, Fuji Women's University, Japan
About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Ryosuke Matsumura is currently an Associate Professor at Fuji Women's University, Japan.
Connect on Linkedin
https://researchmap.jp/vie-a-la-vie
See this presentation on the full schedule – Friday Schedule
