Is Everything Sacred Evaporating? Transhumanist Traces on Value Orientation of Generation Z

Abstract

Social values are the basic cultural codes that determine the view of individuals to the world and what is happening and can change with the effect of some developments over time. The concept of generation, which is one of the analytical tools used by social sciences to understand and explain the change in question, is used to express the clusters of people who were born between certain time periods. In this context, the Z generation, which is used to indicate those who were born after 2000, presents a unique structure unlike any previous generation in terms of its values and characteristics. On the other hand, the transhumanism movement, which developed and became widespread in almost the same historical period as the Z generation, is one of the most important social movements of the 21st century. This movement, which aims to transform/develop human nature especially through gene technology, robotics and some medical applications and has a secular character, is gradually increasing its influence thanks on the techno-scientific revolutions experienced in the period. Today, with the increasingly radical globalization process, the individuals of the Z generation are directly or indirectly affected by the secular values adopted by the movement in question. This effect brings with it the questioning of some traditional and religious values adopted by the previous generations. In addition, the pragmatic and hedonist philosophy of life of the new generation of young people pave the way for the blurring of some traditionally sharply defined boundaries, especially gender roles. In this context, our study focuses on the overlaps between the values spread by the transhumanist movement and the value tendencies of the Z generation. It is observed that some values such as individuality, critical thinking and open-mindedness, an inquiring approach to assumptions and beliefs, pragmatism, and opposition to all kinds of racism and gender discrimination, which transhumanism adopts, have reflections on the Z generation as well. Z generation. At this point, the aim of our study is to try to understand the changing value tendencies of the Z generation from the perspective of transhumanism and to provide a theoretical ground on the subject.