Becoming Posthuman

Becoming Posthuman - Sport and Genetically Modified Athletes

Becoming posthuman, there are many theories and explanations to explain this term, some of these include: posthumanism is a hypothetical future generation of beings whose basic capacities so radically exceed those of present humans as to be no longer human by our current standards. Another definition of the term posthuman is that it is a person of unprecedented physical, intellectual and psychological capacity, self-programming, self constituting and possibly immortal. It has even been suggested that posthumaness is a rejection of what makes us human, rejection in that we are not happy to be simply human anymore. My own understanding of posthuman derives from the first definition of posthuman, that it suggests an advancement and progression past that, of what seems capable of the human being.

Posthumanism can be used with reference to a wide range of discourses, including medicine, art, intelligence and even death. In medicine, issues concern cloning and transplants and in intelligence it is the fantastical idea of artificial intelligence. However in sport one of the main issues concerning posthumanism appears to be genetically modified athletes. A genetically enhanced athlete capable of performing on a higher level than humanly capable just now, with what I would consider many advantages such as higher endurance levels and perhaps even greater adapted body physique for their chosen sport to name but a few.

There have been many arguments suggesting that athletes are already posthuman - their diet, their routines, their lifestyle, their pain, their drive and determination. Andy Miah (2003), suggests that athlete's and indeed sport is already posthuman. In this article it is suggested that athlete's have already developed into "super-humans", athlete's are continually looking for ways to enhance their performances through the use of different technologies, be it merely a new pair of running shoes or by the use of altitude chambers, Miah suggests that the use of such technologies suggests the movement of athlete's towards the ideals of transhumanism and that the determination of the athlete to surpass all that already exists makes them and the world of sport posthuman. However, I will argue in this essay that athlete's are not posthuman as they are not capable of anymore than the next person, anyone can do near enough anything with the right quantity of work and determination.

In what ways have specific authors argued that athletes are posthuman? It has been suggested that by using altitude chambers, athletes use these in order to acclimatise their bodies to differing heights and altitudes above sea-level, athletes are on their way to becoming posthuman. This does not make an athlete posthuman. After all an athlete could go and train on a mountain thus gaining the same effects. If you consider the Olympic games where many athletes from many different countries compete against each other, would competitors from certain countries hold an advantage over other competitors from different countries based on the climate of that country? An example of this, although not factual and not based on the Olympics, is within the film "Rocky 4", throughout the film we see Drago (Dolph Lundgren) being trained by a team of coaches with state of the art sport technology and constant injections intended to boost his potential all of which is done indoors. Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) on the other hand trains outdoors against the cold winter weather as naturally as possible using the land and daily chores to enhance his fitness and capabilities. By the end of the film the natural athlete overcomes the drug enhanced athlete. Although this is a fictional story, it appears to suggest that there is no place for the posthuman athlete and that to become a posthuman athlete is in someway immoral. It also suggests that in order to evolve and become the best in one's sport a person is not required to become posthuman. That the everyday athlete can triumph by sheer guts and determination. Thus suggesting that there is no place in today's society for these posthuman athletes. That sport and taking part in sport is based upon more than breaking records.

At this stage genetically modified athletes are merely speculative ideas for the future of competitive sports, as human beings are seeking new ways of breaking the next record and performing past human capability. This idea originated from the developments in genetics for therapeutic medicine.

"Genetics is the study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics" (English Oxford Dictionary,) However what genes are is complex to explain, simplified genes are the essential encoded fragments of information that carry what is required in order to determine growth and functioning of an organism. The technique of genetic modification was originally referred to as gene therapy, however it is now known as "genetic transfer technology". (Miah, 2004:45) This works by inserting functioning genes into an individuals cells and tissues, this was originally introduced in order to try and combat hereditary disease. Research is being carried out in both Europe and America currently in order to understand the entire human genome. This work will allow scientists to understand the genes that control all diseases that mankind is susceptible to and, in turn, the understanding will allow scientists to develop new treatments and therapies to treat and counter diseases. However since being introduced, the science of genetic engineering has posed many new ideas for its use, namely in the field of sport.

Imagine, for example, it were possible to use cloning within sport, can you imagine a football team full of Ronaldinho's, Rooney's and Gerrard's, if cloning were made legal, this is merely one example of how genetics could effect the world of sport. Although, it is my belief that with enhancement through genetics and doping, no longer will there exist the same admiration for the athlete who is naturally good at the sport. And also will this type of athlete even exist if the introduction of genetically modified athletes made its way into the world of sport and if so how would they be identified? There wouldn't be any athletes standing out from the crowd. There would be no outstanding athlete's like Rooney and Gerrard. Athletes may feel forced into doping in order to remain competitive in their field and therefore pushed into procedures which otherwise they would not have considered. And what sort of further social implications may this have on future society? Not just the athletes that may feel forced into procedures. It is suggested