32. Transhumanism from the View of a Psychologist, Focusing on Mental Health Issues

Being human means striving to new advances in science and technology for the good of all people and of all unfortunate conditions we may encounter. Having no mental health issues would solve many other problems around the world and this is a topic which needs to be discussed one by one and segment by segment. Physical health issues would improve tremendously in those that are suffering from comorbid mental health issues.This is yet another reason Mental Health should be number one priority today. There are people who have many difficult and painful chronic physical illnesses however, they manage to stay positive and happy throughout their lives; but there are many people who are physically healthy, yet spend their lives just waiting for it to end.Is this not a good argument to do anything possible to prevent or cure mental health issues whichever means science can offer us and this includes the ideas that transhumanism may offer.To begin discussing Mental Health in general terms and without taking into account people’s religious and existential views is very difficult, however necessary in the context of Transhumanism debate. So, we will try to put our point of view as objectively as possible and stay on the side of (my own) logic. Technology has long been involved in mental health, although the use of it was detrimental in the past. Lobotomies were used as a means to health people with mental illness at one time; using the technology of the time to attempt to improve mental health. One of the most infamous uses of technology in “treating” mental health would come in World War II. Hitler opened the gates for the most morally corrupt scientists to use technology to intervene in those with mental health. Euthanasia and sterilization were the most common forms of technology to be utilized with those suffering from mental illness. Unfortunately, this severely injured the transhumanism movement. However, we have made great progress since that time. Just as the technology of cochlear implants has improved physical health, the technology of deep brain stimulation implants is making progress as a treatment for depression.