Humanity – or post-humanity? We can belong to one or the other. Humanity is given to us, by God or by nature, but it comes with imperfection. Post-humanity – humanity enhanced by chemistry and technology – is something we choose, in the hope of bringing us closer to perfection. But it comes with a risk. By opting for perfection, we risk creating a world that does not tolerate imperfection or disability. In such a world, “mistakes” of birth must be avoided – or if that isn’t possible, they must be repaired. Yet it is precisely these “imperfect gifts” that inspire our tenderness. If they disappear, we will lose the sense of our own radical, metaphysical frailty – the source of the compassion that distinguishes us from mere machines. So are we really talking about post-humanization here – or planned dehumanization?


Illustration by Claude Maclean, L'Arche Beloeil, Québec, Canada