The 11th Beyond Humanism Conference
Critical Posthumanism and Transhumanism
the posthuman paradigm shift
From the 9th until the 12th of July 2019
Catholic University of Lille, France
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
ETHICS EA-7446
To register to the Conference
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-11th-beyondhumanism-conference-tickets-56140489716
General Conference Schedule
The Conference will start on Tuesday 9 July at 9am and will end on Friday 12 July at 12:30pm. To access the General Conference Schedule, please click on the following download link: <<< in process >>> (will be soon available)
For any informations regarding transport, accommodation,…
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-11th-beyondhumanism-conference-tickets-56140489716
Keynote Speakers
– Katherine Hayles
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._Katherine_Hayles
https://scholars.duke.edu/person/katherine.hayles
– Dale Herigstad
http://ideasondesign.net/speakers/speakers/dale-herigstad/
https://www.typotalks.com/speakers/dale-herigstad/
– Leo Igwe
https://ieet.org/index.php/IEET2/bio/igwe/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Igwe
Argument
This 11th Beyond Humanism Conference aims to intensify the debates between transhumanists and posthumanists on the impact of emerging technologies on our lifeworld. Transhumanism and posthumanism have many different meanings in the literature depending on the context, and the cultural and disciplinary background of the researchers who uses them. This diversity is both a richness and a source of misunderstanding.
Even though there are a great variety of different conceptions of transhumanism and posthumanism, what all of them have in common is an active engagement with the impact of emerging technologies on our lifeworld, and a move away from a traditional humanist understandings of human beings. This is what the posthuman paradigm shift stands for. The 11th Beyond Humanism Conference aims to map the differences between transhumanism(s) and posthumanism(s), as well as their alternatives, but it also tries to investigate possibilities of convergent approaches. These endeavours might lead to the emergence of a new way of thinking. What would a critical transhumanism or a critical posthumanism look like? By being confronted with our current existential risks and our awareness of living in the anthropocene, we need to be open for new ways of thinking in order to prepare ourselves for successfully dealing with the challenges humanity is facing today. Is a non-anthropocentric and post-humanist transhumanism conceivable? What would be the proposal and concrete content of such a synthesis? Are transhumanism and posthumanism compatible with one another? These questions also call for the investigation of alternative ways of thinking which go beyond the limits of transhumanism and posthumanism, such as metahumanism, hyperhumanism, off-centred humanism… The proliferation of such alternatives to transhumanism and posthumanism must also be questioned here. Are radically different options possible, which would not focus on convergences between transhumanism and critical posthumanism but which could provide us with a different horizon within which we could consider our current condition?
Maybe, the realm of art is needed for providing us with an initial stimulus for breaking out of the framework within which we are thinking. Consequently, artists of all kinds and on all media are strongly encouraged to get in contact with us, so that their works can also be considered for inclusion in this event.
In addition to the need to clarify ongoing debates and the evolution of contemporary trends in our reflections on the future of humanity and our place in nature, the 11th BHC will also investigate how contemporary concerns are problematized within transhumanism, posthumanism, and their alternatives. These topics of interest give rise to a great plurality of possible proposals. The 11th BHC will provide a unique opportunity for debates, aesthetic experiences, playful interventions and more. We are open to receiving your suggestions which will provide all of us with alternative ways for thinking about and experiencing the world we live in. We are very much looking forward to getting together with you in the beautiful city of Lille.
Local guest composer, sound designer and video programmer
Local guest composer, sound designer and video programmer will be Antoine Boucherikha (from Life Pass Filter© https://lifepassfilter.com) and Vincent Crauet (from Arkam https://m.mixcloud.com/ARK_A_M/). They will propose a free musical and visual creation based on algorithmic improvisations and inspired by the theme of the conference.
Contact with the local organizer in Lille, France
Any question (regarding logistics, conference schedule, administrative requests, accommodation related to your venue…) must be sent to the local organizer in Lille by using the following email address contact : bhconf2019@gmail.com. Any other questions may be asked to the international organiser of the Beyond Humanism Conference Series through posthuman.conference@gmail.com.
Organising Committee
- Aliocha Wald Lasowski, Catholic University of Lille, France
- Francesca Ferrando, NYU, New York, USA
- Sangkyu Shin, Ewha Woman’s University, Seoul, South Corea
- Evi Sampanikou, University of the Aegean, Greece
- Stefan Lorenz Sorgner, John Cabot University, Rome, Italy
- Alberto Romele, Catholic University of Lille, France
- Benjamin Bourcier, Catholic University of Lille, France
- Halima Mecheri, Catholic University of Lille, France
- Jaime del Val, Reverso-Metabody, Madrid, Spain
- David Doat, Catholic University of Lille, France
