Biological Body vs. Bionic Body: How Merleau-Pontian Philosophy Enhances Understanding of Athletes' Lived Experience in the Age of Transhumanism

The integration of bionic enhancements into athletic performance has introduced a profound shift in understanding human capability, challenging traditional notions of bodily function and identity. This paper explores how Maurice Merleau-Ponty's phenomenology provides a framework for understanding the lived experiences of athletes utilizing advanced prosthetics in the context of transhumanism. As technology advances, prosthetics have evolved from mere aids to integral components of athletes’ bodily experiences, enhancing their performance and reshaping their perceptions of their own abilities. Merleau-Ponty’s concept of the “lived body” offers valuable insights into how these enhancements alter athletes’ body schema, impacting their sense of self and their interactions with the world. This phenomenological perspective reveals that prosthetics are not merely external tools but become extensions of the athlete’s body, leading to a dynamic interplay between biological and technological elements. The study also addresses the ethical implications and policy considerations related to the inclusion of prosthetics in sports, emphasizing the need for fair competition and inclusive practices. By examining the experiences of athletes with prosthetics through Merleau-Ponty's lens, this research underscores the fluid boundaries between the biological and the artificial, providing a deeper understanding of how these advancements redefine human performance and identity. The findings highlight the importance of an interdisciplinary approach, combining philosophy, technology, and sports science, to address the evolving nature of athletic performance in the age of transhumanism.

کلیدواژه ها:

Body ، Bionic ، Lived Experience ، Merleau-Ponty ، Sport ، Transhumanism