From 2021 to 2022 the Institute for Information Systems and Society conducted a project on transhumanistic narratives as found in major media outlets, in particular Yuval Harari’s book “Homo Deus”.

Harari's narratives range from a reductive view on humans as flawed organic algorithms, to direct calls for technologically enhancing humans in order to improve or overcome biological evolution. Mr. Cokyasar’s Masterthesis (“Deconstructing the Transhumanist Narrative: Origins, Characteristics, and Presence in Contemporary Popular Science Media”)investigates four central transhumanist narratives and anchors them in their respective philosophical and historical background. His thesis includes a detailed overview of the actual presence of transhumanist thoughts in Homo Deus. In rigorous detail, the student developed an overview over how often specific arguments are made, which stand the author appears to take regarding them and what effects this may have on readers. Mrs. Drewo’s thesis shed light on the unique chains of arguments Harari presents in his book, which often lead readers to the conclusion that transhumanist developments are inevitable.

Master Thesis Heval Cokyasar

The Harari Project in Süddeutsche Zeitung, Nov 12th, 2022

Süddeutsche Zeitung Article

Participants

Esther Görnemann (PhD)

Heval Cokyasar (MSc)

Clarissa Drewo (BSc)

Lukas Rubenthaler (BSc)

Dr. Sarah Spiekermann

Armin Stanic (BSc)