Theumanic

Theumanic is a term used primarily in speculative fiction and philosophy to describe a human-centered framework for interpreting mind, ethics, and agency. It denotes an approach that foregrounds human experience, responsibility, and narrative sense-making, often in opposition to technocentric or posthuman paradigms.

Origins and usage: The coinage lacks a single provenance and appears in diverse niche writings from the late 20th century onward. It is often invoked to critique the loss of human-scale perspective in discussions of artificial intelligence, automation, and cognitive enhancement.

Core ideas: Theumanic thought emphasizes embodied cognition, moral responsibility of decision-makers, and the value of subjective, first-person experience. It tends to argue for ongoing human oversight in critical systems and design, while acknowledging the limits and fallibility of human judgment.

In literature and criticism: Theumanic elements appear as narrative devices that anchor speculative stories in human values and ethical dilemmas, focusing on what is at stake for individuals and communities.

Variants and distinctions: Theumanic ethics refers to a set of principles prioritizing human welfare and agency in technology use. Theumanic realism stresses plausible, human-centered portrayals of technology. Theumanic aesthetics highlights art that foregrounds human experience over mechanized abstraction.

Reception: The term remains relatively obscure outside narrow academic and fan communities. Proponents see it as a useful lens for evaluating AI, automation, and futures narratives; critics view it as vague or nostalgically anthropocentric.

See also: Anthropocentrism, Humanism, Posthumanism, AI ethics, Philosophy of technology.