
Ideological Figures of Transhumanism

-
Combined Orthodox spirituality with
collectivism and a mission for human resurrection.
​​
-
Supported scientific cooperation to overcome death.
​​
-
Rejected individualism for a collective cosmic project.
Nikolai Fyodorov (1828-1903) was a Russian philosopher, Monarchist and visionary who is often regarded as the founder of the cosmist movement. Fyodorov's vision of the future was based on the idea of a universal "common task" which he believed would unite all of humanity in the pursuit of a common goal. The resurrection of the dead and the creation of a new, immortal human race. He argued that science and technology could be used to bring about this resurrection, by preserving the bodies of the dead and eventually finding a way to revive them.

-
Promoted space colonization as humanity’s destiny.
​​
-
Believed technology drove human progress.
​​
-
Envisioned a scientific utopia beyond Earth.
Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (1857-1935) was a Russian scientist, visionary, Socialist, and inventor who developed the theoretical principles of rocket propulsion and wrote extensively on the potential of space travel and the colonization of other planets. Despite his ideas not immediately being embraced by the Soviet government, he continued to work tirelessly on developing the technology and ideas that would eventually lead to the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, in 1957.

-
Supported socialism focused on culture and education.
​​​
-
Saw science and tech empowering the working class.
​​
-
Believed in collective human improvement.
Maxim Gorky (1868–1936) was a Russian and Soviet writer, political thinker, and revolutionary who became one of the most prominent literary figures of his time. Rising to fame in the late 19th century with powerful stories about the struggles of the poor and working class, blending realism with deep social concern. As well as supported scientific efforts aimed at human improvement, including experiments in rejuvenation and blood transfusion, viewing them as part of a broader mission to create a new kind of human being under socialism.

-
Introduced the noosphere as a new evolutionary stage.
​
-
Emphasized human responsibility for Earth’s future.
​
-
Advocated global cooperation and stewardship.
Vladimir Vernadsky (1863 – 1945) a well-known Russian and Ukrainian scientist and philosopher, widely recognized for his pioneering work in the fields of geochemistry, biogeochemistry, and the development of the concept of the "noosphere." In his career he took an interdisciplinary approach in which he blending geology, chemistry, biology, and philosophy. He made significant contributions to our understanding of the Earth's processes and the interactions between living organisms and the physical environment. Paving the foundation for the modern science of biogeochemistry.

-
Developed early systems theory for society and biology.
​​
-
Combined Marxism with biology and social planning.
​
-
Supported collective human enhancement.​
Alexander Bogdanov (1873 -1928) was a Russian physician, philosopher, economist, and revolutionary who was influential in a number of fields, including Marxist theory, sociology, science and science fiction. In addition to being a founder of the Bolshevik Party he also practiced as a physician who developed his own theories about blood transfusions and their potential use in treating a wide range of illnesses.

-
Used secular socialism to change humans.
​​
​
-
Integrated art, science, and politics for social change.
​
-
Promoted education as a path to progress.
Anatoly Lunacharsky (1875 -1933) was a Russian Marxist revolutionary, statesman, and intellectual who became the first Soviet Commissar of Education after the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. He was a leading advocate of "God-Building" a philosophical movement that aimed to blend Marxism with some of the emotional and moral functions of religion. Centered on humanity, art, and science. Meant to uplift and unite people around socialist ideals.

-
Backed socialist science in an effort to advance humanity.
​​
-
Saw genetics as key to future evolution.
​​
-
Linked technology with social progress.
J. B. S. Haldane (1892 - 1964) was a British scientist, Marxist, and founder of population genetics. He published "Science and the Future" which presents an initial perspective on Transhumanism that focuses primarily on the ethical ramifications stemming from scientific progress. In addition he published works such as "Possible Worlds" and "The Inequality of Man".

-
Focused on life extension within socialist health programs.
-
Believed science would overcome aging.
-
Advocated state support for longevity research.
​​
Vasily Kuprevich (1897 – 1969) was a Soviet botanist, statesman, public figure, naturalist, and proponent of unlimited longevity. He went on to make important contributions to the understanding of processes of photosynthesis. Later in his career, he turned to the study of aging in plants, animals, and humans, and essentially introduced the science of gerontology to the USSR winning drawers full of awards and medals. Kuprevich's investigations into the process of aging in plants proved to his satisfaction that in nature there is no permanently fixed human lifespan, no prohibition against extreme longevity, no reason why we cannot live as long as the universe itself As Kuprevich puts it: "Having invented death, nature should also show us how to combat it".

-
Combined Marxism with techno-utopian ideas.
-
Supported human-machine integration under socialism.
-
Advocated scientific planning for equality.
John Desmond Bernal (1901 - 1971) was an Irish scientist, Marxist, and a pioneer in X-ray crystallography. He made significant contributions to molecular biology, including early work on the structure of proteins and viruses. Bernal was also known for his involvement in the development of science policy and his Marxist political views, which influenced his perspective on the social function of science. He authored several influential books, such as "The Social Function of Science" and "The World, the Flesh and the Devil" where he introducing concepts fundamental to transhumanism, such as the creation of habitable space structures and the potential advancements science may bring to human physicality and intelligence.

-
Rejected fixed identities like race or gender.
-
Supported libertarian techno-optimism.
-
Called for radical self-transformation and immortality.
FM-2030 (1930 - 2000) was a Belgian-born Iranian-American futurist, philosopher, advocate for Upwingism and Transhumanism. He gained recognition for his 1989 book "Are You a Transhuman?", which explored the concept of enhancing human capabilities through technology and "Up-Wingers: A Futurist Manifesto" which envisions a future where humanity transcends traditional political divisions, embracing a new ideology centered on technological progress, optimism, and the pursuit of physical immortality called "Upwing". Upon his death in 2000, he chose cryonic preservation, hoping to be revived in a future era.

-
Challenged fixed ideas of gender and identity.
-
​Blurred lines between human, machine,
and animal to challenge identity boundaries.
-
Promoted socialist feminism
within techno-scientific discourse.
Donna Haraway (1944) Donna Haraway is a feminist scholar known for her 1985 essay "A Cyborg Manifesto," where she writes about "Cyborg feminism" which, as proposed by Haraway, challenges traditional ideas of gender, biology, and dualisms (like human/machine or male/female). Instead of viewing technology as something separate from humanity, she embraces the cyborg as a symbol of hybridity, fluid identities, and resistance to fixed categories.

-
Supports the right to change and design the body.
​
-
Combines enhancement with artistic expression.
-
​Promotes equal access to technologies.
Natasha Vita-More (1950) is a visionary architect of transhumanist thought, blending science, philosophy, ethics, and design to advocate for a future in which humans transcend their biological limitations. Her work continues to influence discussions on longevity, identity, posthumanism, and the responsible integration of advanced technologies into human life.

-
Combines social democracy with technology optimism.
-
Supports laws to ensure fair access to enhancements.
-
Balances personal freedom with social safety.
James J. Hughes (1961) is an American sociologist and bioethicist known for advocating for left-wing transhumanism and techno-progressivism. He is the Executive Director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies and author of “Citizen Cyborg”. Hughes promotes the ethical use of technology to enhance human well-being while ensuring democratic oversight and social equity. His work focuses on aligning emerging technologies with progressive values and public good.

-
Promotes continuous self-improvement and progress.
-
Supports individual freedom in enhancement choices.
-
Opposes stagnation and supports cryonics.
Max More (1964) is a philosopher, futurist, and cryonics advocate who helped define and lead the transhumanist and extropian movements. He emphasized reason, self-direction, and technological progress as paths to overcoming the limitations of human biology, aging, and even death. His work continues to influence debates on life extension, personal identity, and posthuman futures.

-
Extends moral rights to animals and AI.
-
Supports social justice in tech development.
-
Advocates for the political rights for posthumans.
George Dvorsky (1970) is a Canadian bioethicist, futurist, and transhumanist known for his work on emerging technologies, ethics, and the future of humanity. He is a prominent advocate for transhumanism, writing extensively on topics like artificial intelligence, life extension, and moral enhancement. He is a contributor to outlets like Gizmodo and io9, and has served on the board of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET), where he explores the societal impacts of advanced technologies.

-
Promotes libertarian futurism and tech secularism.
-
Emphasizes future-based human identity.
-
Rejects traditional religion.
Zoltan Istvan (1973) is an American-Hungarian transhumanist, journalist, entrepreneur, libertarian, and futurist, renowned for his advocacy of using science and technology to enhance human capabilities and extend life. In 2013, Istvan published “The Transhumanist Wager”, a philosophical science fiction novel that explores themes of life extension and human enhancement through technology Zoltan also formed the United States Transhumanist Party with the goal of Putting Science, Health, and Technology at the forefront of American politics.

-
Focuses on avoiding risks to humanity’s future.
-
Supports valuing all forms of intelligence.
-
Calls for careful development of superintelligence.
Nick Bostrom (1973) is a Swedish philosopher known for his work on transhumanism, artificial intelligence, and existential risk. He is a professor at the University of Oxford and founded the Future of Humanity Institute. Bostrom is widely recognized for his book “Superintelligence” which explores the risks of advanced AI, and for proposing the simulation argument. His work focuses on the ethical implications of emerging technologies and the long-term future of humanity.

-
Supported human enhancement through tech.
-
Advocated morphological freedom.
-
Focused on safe superintelligence.
Anders Sandberg (1972) is a Swedish neuroscientist and philosopher known for his work in transhumanism. He focuses on exploring and advocating for the ethical use of technology to enhance human capabilities, such as intelligence, longevity, and physical performance. He examines the scientific possibilities of human enhancement and the philosophical, ethical, and societal questions it raises, promoting responsible progress toward a posthuman future.

-
Combines Enlightenment rationalism with libertarianism.
-
Frames life extension as a civil right.
-
Supports minimal government in enhancement.
Gennady Stolyarov II (1987) is a Belarusian-American writer, libertarian, actuary, and transhumanist activist. He is the chairman of the Transhumanist Party and promotes life extension and human enhancement through science and technology. He authored “Death is Wrong”, a children's book on overcoming death, and edits “The Rational Argumentator”, an online publication on reason and futurism.

-
Combines anarchism with transhumanism.
-
Supports decentralized control of technology.
-
Envisions a society beyond scarcity.
William Gillis is an anarchist theorist and activist known for advocating anarcho-transhumanism, a philosophy merging anarchism with support for technology as a means to enhance individual freedom and dismantle oppressive systems. His writings challenge traditional anarchist perspectives, particularly primitivism, advocating instead for a technologically advanced society that enhances individual freedom and dismantles hierarchies.

-
Combines Marxism with cosmic communism.
-
Critiques capitalist control of technology.
-
Supports collective human evolution.
Dawid Rogacz (1992) is a Polish philosopher who links Marxism and transhumanism. He explores how Mao Zedong’s ideas anticipated a future where humans transcend physical limits through technology and revolution. Rogacz’s work highlights the transhumanist aspects of Maoism, blending Chinese philosophy with visions of technological evolution.

-
Challenges traditional gender and identity norms.
-
Supports body modification as political expression.
-
Uses art and tech to rethink human form.