The Effect of Technology on Human Identity in Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash: A Philosophical Study of Posthumanism

Abstract

This study attempts to present a philosophical analysis of Posthumanism and evaluates its functionality in terms of its technological and social concerns through an investigation of Francesca Ferrando’s Philosophical Posthumanism. Practically, Posthumanism appears due to rapid technological progress and its deep impression on humans in the era of Posthumanism and what it means to be posthuman identity. The posthumanist novel Snow Crash (1992) by the American writer Neal Stephenson is a good representative image of Posthumanism that fades away all traditional and conventional ideas concerning human familiarity and his experiences of knowledge. In this posthumanist novel, the writer attempts to develop and enhance the literary landscape of posthuman science fiction through tales that pass the limits of the conservative tradition to delve into certain inquiries about the relationship between human identity and technology under the umbrella of Posthumanism. The significance of this study lies in showing the relationship between the character's identity and technology which is represented by the roles of the characters and artificial intelligence. Within this context, it explores the issues of human identity and technology in the field of Posthumanism to the characters in the works and also to the readers as well.