Abstract: The emergence of modernity and scientific revolution laid the grounds for current ideas about what it means to be human, conceived through Western epistemologies and technological innovations. However, with such conceptions of the human being came a concomitant notion of being-ness that is bio-techno-scientific; – susceptible, malleable, and changeable by tides in scientific and technological innovations – to the extent that our ideas about what it means to be human are now overwhelmingly redefined through scientific lenses and for the sake of technological developments. These developments have created notable challenges for the application of ethical imperatives and led to shifting paradigms of normativity, eventually challenging our notions of what it means to be human amidst these fast-paced techno-innovation saturated climes. In this paper, I highlight some foundations of Western epistemologies about being human and I advance that a shift from bio-techno-scientific conceptions of being-ness can only be achieved by the accentuation of non-western and divergent conceptions of personhood. I present 4 unique concepts drawn from the African religious views of the human person, which if presented pari pasu prevalent conceptions of being human, would serve to enrich and enliven astute conceptions of what it really means to be human. I argue that when applied to global discourses, these unique perspectives would present roadmaps for steadying the often-shifting modalities for being-ness and what it means to be human in the 21st century.
Learning Objectives:
After participating in this conference, attendees should be able to:
understand the 4 unique African conceptions of what it means to be human and the benefits and richness inherent in the non-western perspective presented.
evaluate the applicability of the presented ideas to global discourses within normative ethics, bioethics and AI ethics and other fields of interest to them
