How going to space changes the debate about radical human enhancement

Abstract

This paper predicts that humans will venture into space and that, to survive and thrive in space, we will need to enhance our capacities radically. Moderate enhancement is insufficient for a humanity that commits to a future in Space. The paper is a partial retraction of the author's claims about the morality and prudential rationality of radical human enhancement. It allows that radical enhancement may be imprudent and immoral for Earth-bound humans, but essential for humans who settle in space. The paper advances a conjecture about how to assess which kinds of radical enhancements are required and which should be rejected. A humanity that commits to a future in Space may make progress on some disputes that today seem intractable.