Detailed Summary of "NEW BOOK: The Transhumanist Temptation with Grayson Quay" – Ascend Podcast

Podcast Information:

• Title: Ascend - The Great Books Podcast
• Hosts: Deacon Harrison Garlick and Adam Minihan
• Episode: NEW BOOK: The Transhumanist Temptation with Grayson Quay
• Release Date: July 16, 2025

Introduction

In a special episode of Ascend - The Great Books Podcast, hosts Deacon Harrison Garlick and Adam Minihan welcome Grayson Quay to discuss his newly released book, "The Transhumanist Temptation: How Technology and Ideology Are Reshaping Humanity and How to Resist." This episode delves into the profound implications of transhumanism through the lens of Western philosophy and the Catholic intellectual tradition, offering listeners a rich exploration of how technology and ideology intersect to redefine what it means to be human.

Grayson Quay: Background and Inspiration

Deacon Harrison Garlick begins by introducing Grayson Quay, highlighting his multifaceted career spanning political communications, classical education, journalism, and ghostwriting.

[02:16] Grayson Quay: "I wrote most of the first draft back in May of last year, so May of 2024, and spent the subsequent six or eight months revising it."

Grayson explains that the inspiration for his book stemmed from a tweet by journalist Catherine D., which suggested that the looming cultural and political divide would center around transhumanists versus their opponents. This concept resonated deeply with Grayson, who noticed that his diverse interests—ranging from bioethics and technology to religion and post-liberal critiques—were unified under the theme of transhumanism.

[03:57] Grayson Quay: "Transhumanism, the way I define it in the book, is not just looking at technological applications... but at root, it's an ideology, a mindset, or a philosophy with roots going back centuries."

Defining Transhumanism

Grayson Quay offers a nuanced definition of transhumanism, emphasizing it as an ideological framework rather than merely the pursuit of technological enhancements. He distinguishes between superficial applications like microchips or genome editing and the deeper philosophical underpinnings that seek to alter human nature and purpose fundamentally.

[04:59] Grayson Quay: "These are all manifestations of transhumanism. But I think at root, it's an ideology... with roots going back centuries."

Historical and Philosophical Context

Teleology and Human Nature

A central theme in the discussion is teleology, the study of purpose or design in natural phenomena. Grayson explains that teleology is crucial for understanding human nature and evaluating the ethical use of technology.

[14:34] Grayson Quay: "Telos is an end or a goal—the proper thing at which something aims. For Aristotle, the answer is eudaimonia, often translated as happiness or flourishing."

Deacon elaborates on how teleology informs our understanding of technology's ethical boundaries:

[17:46] Deacon Garlick: "If the purpose of medicine is to restore sight, then using technology to repair an eye aligns with its teleology. However, adding a third arm violates the natural purpose and becomes unethical."

Humanism as the Prelude to Transhumanism

Grayson posits that humanism—particularly its modern interpretation emphasizing man as the measure of all things—is a precursor to transhumanism. By removing teleological constraints, humanism paves the way for transhumanist ideologies that seek to redefine human nature without inherent purpose.

[12:18] Grayson Quay: "Humanism tends to mean today just that man is the measure of all things... Once you've set up man as the measure, it ceases to be a stable platform from which to measure."

The Role of Technology in Transhumanist Ideology

Technology as Catalyst and Enabler

Technology serves as the "gasoline on the fire" for transhumanist ideologies, enabling unprecedented self-modification and the redefinition of human essence.

[26:58] Grayson Quay: "There's no practical guardrail to prevent technological advancements from being used to fulfill individual whims, reducing everything to what one can do or desire to do."

Ethical Implications and Medical Ethics

The conversation delves into the ethical boundaries of technological interventions, particularly in medicine. Grayson emphasizes that technology should aim to restore what is broken rather than alter human nature fundamentally.

[17:46] Grayson Quay: "The proper use of medical technology is to fix what's broken, not to add functionalities that deviate from human purpose."

[20:21] Grayson Quay: "When you start doing something contrary to the teleology of the body, then are you really performing medicine anymore?"

Freedom, Autonomy, and the Transhumanist Agenda

Redefining Freedom

Grayson and Deacon discuss the modern conception of freedom as the ability to choose any path, contrasting it with classical understandings where freedom is tied to fulfilling one's natural purpose.

[23:51] Grayson Quay: "Freedom, as I define it, is being unencumbered in the pursuit of one's own flourishing. It doesn't mean choosing your own telos."

The Luciferian Autonomy

They critique the Luciferian notion of autonomy, where individuals seek to create their own essence disconnected from any inherent teleology or divine purpose.

[45:11] Grayson Quay: "Our conception of freedom is really broken... It allows man to redefine his essence independently of any natural or divine purpose."

Transhumanism in Contemporary Culture

Pervasive Technological Influence

Grayson highlights how transhumanist ideologies are ubiquitous in modern culture, subtly influencing everyday technologies like smartphones and social media.

[31:26] Grayson Quay: "These apps are designed to trigger dopamine receptors to addict you. It's asymmetrical warfare—families versus Silicon Valley."

Impact on Children and Society

The discussion addresses the impact of technology on children, emphasizing the need for intentional measures to protect young minds from addictive digital influences.

[47:41] Deacon Garlick: "How are children supposed to function if their brains are constantly rewired by screens? We're programming them for a distracted, artificial existence."

[49:31] Grayson Quay: "Fostering real, embodied childhoods is crucial to combating the transhumanist push."

Theological Perspectives and Divine Grace

Sanctification and Theosis

The hosts explore how transhumanism intersects with Christian theology, particularly concepts like sanctification and theosis, which emphasize becoming closer to God while retaining one's true human nature.

[52:01] Grayson Quay: "If you make yourself no longer human, you risk placing yourself outside the category of being that Christ's incarnation addresses."

[55:13] Deacon Garlick: "Reality is a dance between nature and grace. Technologies that smother our nature also dampen our capacity to receive divine grace."

The Risk of Losing Humanity

Grayson warns that abandoning human teleology through transhumanism could lead to exclusion from divine grace, echoing theological concerns about losing one's inherent purpose.

[52:01] Grayson Quay: "There's a risk of placing yourself outside of humanity, thereby severing the connection to divine grace and salvation."

Two Rival Transhumanisms: Divine vs. Demonic

The Divine Transhumanism

Grayson introduces the concept of Divine Transhumanism, rooted in the original Christian plan for humanity to become like gods through grace and sanctification.

[60:36] Grayson Quay: "This temptation is a continuation of the original temptation that has always faced the human race. Satan was the first transhumanist."

The Demonic Transhumanism

Contrastingly, he describes Demonic Transhumanism as the pursuit of self-defined perfection, driven by pride and disconnected from divine purpose.

[60:36] Grayson Quay: "There is a conflict between two rival transhumanisms... transhumanism as divine versus transhumanism as demonic."

[60:36] Grayson Quay: "Satan wasn't lying when he said, 'You shall be as gods.' That was always a temptation towards self-defined transcendence."

Conclusion: Navigating the Transhumanist Temptation

In wrapping up the discussion, Grayson emphasizes the importance of recognizing transhumanism as a pervasive lens through which to evaluate technological and ideological changes. He urges readers to critically assess how technologies align or conflict with human teleology and divine purpose.

[63:12] Grayson Quay: "I want people to come away with this idea of transhumanism as a lens that they can apply to the technologies they encounter... thinking about who I am, my telos, and how to use technology in accord with that."

Deacon Harrison Garlick echoes these sentiments, applauding Grayson’s work as a comprehensive mapping of transhumanist influences and encourages listeners to engage with the book to deepen their understanding.

[65:27] Deacon Garlick: "You've given us a very challenging work... Checking out your book is like being introduced to an entire library of great books."

Notable Quotes

• Deacon Harrison Garlick [00:00]: "Today on Ascend, the Great Books Podcast, we have a special episode discussing Grayson Quay's new book, 'The Transhumanist Temptation.'"

• Grayson Quay [03:57]: "Transhumanism, the way I define it in the book, is not just looking at technological applications... but at root, it's an ideology, a mindset, or a philosophy with roots going back centuries."

• Grayson Quay [14:34]: "Telos is an end or a goal—the proper thing at which something aims. For Aristotle, the answer is eudaimonia, often translated as happiness or flourishing."

• Grayson Quay [23:51]: "Freedom, as I define it, is being unencumbered in the pursuit of one's own flourishing. It doesn't mean choosing your own telos."

• Grayson Quay [26:58]: "There's no practical guardrail to prevent technological advancements from being used to fulfill individual whims, reducing everything to what one can do or desire to do."

• Grayson Quay [63:12]: "I want people to come away with this idea of transhumanism as a lens that they can apply to the technologies they encounter... thinking about who I am, my telos, and how to use technology in accord with that."

Resources and Further Engagement

Listeners interested in delving deeper into Grayson Quay’s exploration of transhumanism can purchase his book, "The Transhumanist Temptation," through the Sophia Institute Press website, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon. Additionally, Grayson is active on Twitter @HemingwayHemingway and encourages readers to connect and engage with his ongoing work.

Looking Ahead

As the episode concludes, Deacon highlights upcoming episodes focused on Plato, including in-depth studies of the dialogues and the "Alcibiades" dialogue, inviting listeners to continue their journey through the Great Books with Ascend.

Deacon Harrison Garlick [65:07]: "Next week, we kick off our studies on Plato with an introduction episode, followed by two episodes on the dialogue 'Alcibiades'."

This episode serves as a compelling invitation to listeners to critically assess the pervasive influence of transhumanism and to engage thoughtfully with the philosophical and ethical questions it raises about humanity’s future.