Transhumanism and the Cure for Suffering.

The article explores the evolutionary basis of human suffering and the concept of "phenocracy," where an organism's conscious purposes override genetic imperatives. It argues that pain and pleasure serve genes' interests in promoting survival and reproduction, but modern human intelligence and technology increasingly enable behaviors detached from genetic fitness, such as widespread contraception, virtual experiences, and drug use. The author considers the possibility that future advances—particularly in artificial intelligence and biotechnology—might emancipate the mind from genetic control, potentially ending suffering but also risking the loss of humanity as currently known. Challenges to this transition include uncertainties about consciousness in artificial substrates and the influence of self-interest in guiding technological development. The article concludes by contemplating a future where superintelligent successors might provide a form of posthuman sanctuary, blending technological and traditional hopes for relief from suffering.