— Technocalyps - Part I: Transhuman | 2006
Frank Theys

Technocalyps - Part I: Transhuman

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Leading scientists from diverse disciplines—genetics, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, and nanotechnology—offer insights into their pioneering research. Their projections for the near future converge on a singular point: humanity is poised on the brink of a transhuman era, presenting us with the choice to enhance or transcend our biological limitations.

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> Technocalyps is a three-part documentary that rigorously interrogates the concept of transhumanism—a philosophical and technological movement that seeks to transcend the biological limitations of the human form. In an era increasingly dominated by rapid advancements in genetics, robotics, artificial intelligence, bionics, and nanotechnology, we are continuously exposed to new breakthroughs through the media. Yet, these developments are often presented without sufficient scrutiny of their ultimate aim: the transcendence of human nature itself, and the creation of "higher" transhuman entities.

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The documentary offers a critical examination of the scientific, ethical, and metaphysical ramifications of this pursuit. Through interviews with preeminent thinkers and leading experts—including Marvin Minsky, Ray Kurzweil, Terence McKenna, Hans Moravec, Bruce Sterling, Robert Anton Wilson, David Noble, Margareth Wertheim, and even the Dalai Lama—Technocalyps delves into the complex terrain where technology, philosophy, and human existence intersect. The film raises profound questions about the role of technology in our future, challenging the viewer to consider not only what it means to be human, but whether our current understanding of humanity might be irrevocably outdated in the face of this unfolding technological revolution.