Our posthuman futures and education: Homo Zappiens, Cyborgs, and the New Adam Bo Dahlin * Rudolf Steiner University College, Prof. Dahls Gate 30, 0260 Oslo, Norway 1. Introduction The idea of the New Man is not new, it goes back at least to St. Paul and his notion of the New Adam. Hence, the understanding that the human being is not a ‘‘finished product’’ but a being that is – or can become – engaged in processes of further future development is not exclusive to modern theories of evolution. But the qualitative conceptual content of such notions vary between ages and cultures, sometimes pointing in opposite directions. The purpose of this paper is to explore some present ways of seeing the possible future of human evolution and their relations to and consequences for education. Of special interest will be the contrast between what may be called software and hardware technologies of human self- development. Whereas earlier visions of human evolution have focused on the soul, mind or spirit, towards the end of the previous century another kind of vision emerged, related to gene- and computer technology and often calling itself transhumanism. After a brief note on methodology I will present a short overview of the historical development of ideas about human nature and development. I will then go into the transhumanist vision of our ‘‘posthuman’’ future as presented by Ray Kurzweil. I will contrast this to the views of human evolution presented by philosophical traditions, especially those of Futures 44 (2012) 55–63 A R T I C L E I N F O Article history: Available online 11 August 2011 A B S T R A C T This paper is a philosophical reflection on the historical development of ideas about the nature of human beings and what this development may mean for the future of and in education. In terms of the causal layered analysis developed by Sohail Inayatullah, it is an investigation on the levels of worldviews and archetypes. Ideas of human nature describe a trajectory from supranature (theological and mystical) via nature (philosophical and mechanical) to subnature (digital). With the development of psychological science about a century ago, so called psycho-utopian visions of a better society arose, based on the transformation of the human mind. Such visions seem today to have been replaced by digital utopias, based on the development of superfast computers and the enhancement of brain capacity through neural implants. The latter is a prominent feature of so called transhumanism. The transhumanist ideas of Ray Kurzweil are briefly presented and contrasted with traditional religious and spiritual ideas. Of special interest in this context is Rudolf Steiner’s philosophical–spiritual understanding of human being and develop- ment, which underpins Steiner Waldorf education. There is an existential choice confronting us today: whether to see humans as essentially spiritual beings, or as highly complex bio-computers. This choice has obvious ramifications for education as well as for the future of human being in general. ß 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. * Tel.: +47 41218750; fax: +47 22540595. E-mail address: bo@rshoyskolen.no. Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Futures jou r nal h o mep ag e: w ww .elsevier .co m /loc ate/fu tu r es 0016-3287/$ – see front matter ß 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.futures.2011.08.007