How We Became Posthuman

How did the Macy Conferences on Cybernetics view human beings (in the hypothetical hierarchy of animal-human-machine)?

The Macy Conferences on Cybernetics viewed human beings “…as information-processing entities who are essentially similar to intelligent machines,” (Hayles 7). The Macy period related homeostasis of living organisms to machines. Just like living organisms can maintain homeostasis, machines are able to maintain it as well. “Like animals, machines can maintain homeostasis using feedback loops,” (Hayles 8). Homeostasis was highly emphasized during the times of The Macy Conferences on Cybernetics.

How does Hayles define humanism, and how would you, in your own words, define the same term? How does Hayles define posthuman, and how would you, again using your own words, define the term? In what way do these things differ?

Hayles defines humanism as a type of posthuman with the use of all the technological advances leading about to today and the future. I define humanism as being a good and free individual. The dictionary definition of humanism is “a system of values and beliefs that is based on the idea that people are basically good and that problems can be solved using reason instead of religion,” (merriam-webster.com).

Hayles defines the posthuman as an amalgam: “…a collection of heterogeneous components, a material-informational entity whose boundaries undergo continuous construction and reconstruction,” (Hayles, 3). I define posthuman as someone who goes beyond what a human can do now.

Humanism and Posthuman are different because humanism means that humans are good while posthuman means going beyond what a human can actually do know.

To what extent are you posthuman? 

I don’t know what extent I am as a posthuman. I think that we would end up being posthuman as technology advances through time.