The essay collection Nietzsche, Critical Posthumanism, and Transhumanism marks the inaugural volume of the “Posthuman Studies” book series. It offers an insightful examination of the posthuman paradigm shift through a critical reinterpretation of Friedrich Nietzsche’s legacy and philosophical thought in relation to critical posthumanism, classic, and Euro-transhumanism. This thought-provoking volume presents a well-articulated analysis of Nietzsche’s philosophical influence on various posthuman schools of thought and their approaches to contemporary challenges. It engages with key topics such as the ethics of human enhancement, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies, while also addressing environmental ethics and the transformative impact of the digital revolution on education and culture. Furthermore, it examines the role of posthuman art and aesthetics, alongside the contemporary relevance of a ‘refined posthuman hedonism’ for a meaningful life. The volume contributes to a more accurate understanding of Nietzsche’s contribution to the field of posthuman studies.

Aura Elena Schussler is a university lecturer at Babes-Bolyai University’s Department of Philosophy, Faculty of History and Philosophy in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. She is the founder of the “Posthuman Studies Research Group” and the “Transhumanism, Posthumanism, and Metahumanism” student circle at the University. She also leads and organizes the “Posthuman Studies” (PSC) international conference series and the national “Human Nature, Culture, Technology” (NUCT) conference series. Furthermore, she is the Director and founder of the “Posthuman Studies Association” in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Additionally, she is the series editor for the Posthuman Studies book series published by Trivent Publishing and the lead editor of the essay collection "Metahumanism, Euro-Transhumanism, and Sorgner’s Philosophy—Technology, Ethics, Art" (Trivent Publishing, 2024). She serves on the Editorial Board of “Deliberatio: Studies in Contemporary Philosophical Challenges” (West University of Timisoara). Her research explores trans-/posthumanism, posthuman art and aesthetics, eroticism, and sexuality, with several articles published in international peer-reviewed journals.