Transhumanism sounds like fantastic technological progress: we are supposed to live forever, become smarter, and overcome the limits of our human bodies. Brain-computer interfaces are supposed to merge us with machines or upload our consciousness to the cloud. We will genetically optimize ourselves, freeze ourselves for centuries, and continue to live on other planets. Florian Aigner's lecture examines such visions scientifically and shows: they are often completely untenable. They ignore the laws of nature and claim the impossible. However, they become understandable when considering their social and political function: transhumanism serves as a promise of salvation that consolidates and expands capitalist power. The people need new opium, think tech billionaires—and Silicon Valley provides it.
Transhumanism sounds like fantastic technological progress: We are to live forever, become smarter, overcome the limits of our human bodies. Brain-Computer Interfaces are supposed to merge us with machines or upload our consciousness into the cloud. We will genetically optimize ourselves, freeze ourselves for centuries, and continue living on alien planets.
Florian Aigner's lecture examines such visions scientifically and shows: They are often completely untenable. They ignore natural laws and claim the impossible. However, they become understandable when considering their social and political function: Transhumanism serves as a promise of salvation that consolidates and expands capitalist power. The people need new opium, think tech billionaires — and Silicon Valley supplies it.
The first re:publica Vienna brings the most important European festival for digital society, politics, technology, and culture to Austria.
From October 2 to 3, 2026, the Kulturhaus Brotfabrik will transform into a place for debates and keynotes with international speakers.
The event will be recorded by OKTO and presented from October 5 in slots at 6:00 PM and 11:10 PM.
