An Argument Against Weiism: A Nietzschean and Philosophical Posthumanist Reading of Ira Levin's This Perfect Day

In this paper, I set out to argue in favour of a philosophical posthumanist and Nietzschean reading of Ira Levin's This Perfect Day while demonstrating how transhumanism isunbefitting of being called a Nietzschean theory. I will do this by establishing Chip, the protagonist, as a posthuman and being on the path of the 'Overhuman' whereas Wei, the antagonist, will be illustrated as Chip's intended counterpart the Last Human. Through explaining 'Transhumansim' and connecting the field to Wei, I will showcase a new way of reading transhumanist ideology, namely 'Weiism'. The polar opposite in characters of 'Overhuman' and 'Last Human' will argue in favour of the Nietzschean paradoxical, as part of philosophical posthumanism. Amor fati and the eternal recurrence become posthumanist narrative tools through their weaving into the posthuman narrative of Chip. My argument is that by making philosophical posthumanism more existentialist in nature, it becomes simpler to argue against nihilistic and totalitarian tendencies of worshipping technology. Finally, it is the spiralling motion forward as a mix between the Nietzschean, eternally cyclical re-inventing of oneself and the posthumanist consideration for the future which makes for a literary combination of the two fields of study.

Automated summary

This paper argues for a philosophical posthumanist and Nietzschean reading of Ira Levin's This Perfect Day, demonstrating the inappropriateness of transhumanism as a Nietzschean theory. The author establishes Chip as a posthuman on the path to the 'Overhuman', while Wei is presented as Chip's intended counterpart, the Last Human. By connecting 'Transhumanism' to Wei, a new way of reading transhumanist ideology called 'Weiism' is showcased. The contrasting characters of 'Overhuman' and 'Last Human' support the Nietzschean paradoxical within philosophical posthumanism. The integration of amor fati and eternal recurrence into Chip's posthuman narrative serves as tools for posthumanist storytelling. The argument is made that by making philosophical posthumanism more existentialist, it becomes easier to argue against nihilistic and totalitarian tendencies of worshipping technology. The combination of the Nietzschean cyclical self-reinvention and posthumanist consideration for the future creates a literary fusion of the two fields of study.