Transhumanizing War
Performance Enhancement and the Implications for Policy, Society, and the Soldier
Questioning whether the military is ready to push the boundaries of human performance.
Description
The concept of soldier enhancement often invokes images of dystopian futures populated with dehumanized military personnel. These futures serve as warnings in science fiction works, and yet the enhancement of soldiers' combat capability is almost as old as war itself. Today, soldier enhancement is the purpose of military training and the application of innovative technologies, but when does it begin to challenge individuals' very humanity? Bringing together the work of a diverse group of practitioners and academics, Transhumanizing War examines performance enhancement in the military from a wide range of perspectives. The book builds on two key premises: that rapid advances in science and technology are outstripping governments' and military organizations' capacity to adapt, and that this has put pressure on the connection between the military and the public. The contributors to this collection grapple with the implications of continued technological advancement and the possibility that innovative solutions to performance enhancement will risk further alienating the soldier from society. Navigating the fine line between technological promise and ethics, this volume presents a guide to responsible implementation in Canada and abroad. Offering unique insights into a debate on the bleeding edge of public discourse, Transhumanizing War considers the best ways to improve combat effectiveness while still preserving soldiers' humanity.
Reviews
“This book will be valuable in reintroducing ethical dilemmas to the field of HPE. It should be read by a wide audience, partly because it is fascinating and partly because it serves as a prescient warning of the future weapons of modern warfare. It would be well placed as required reading in any graduate class on scientific ethics and philosophy, just as it would in courses in professional military education. Similarly, this book provides an excellent overview of present and historical HPE, and policy-makers in Canada and its allies should take the opportunity to receive a crash course on the studies underway in research organizations of NATO forces.” International Journal