Michael baggott biography

A Thomistic assessment of contemporary transhumanism as a postmodern, secular, liberal movement

Enhancement Fit for Humanity: Perspectives on Emerging Technologies, 2022

The chapter analyzes from a Thomistic perspective the convergence of postmodernism, secularism, a... more The chapter analyzes from a Thomistic perspective the convergence of postmodernism, secularism, and political liberalism in contemporary transhumanism. First, the postmodern rejection of overarching metanarratives opens the path to the fluidity of personal identity that can take on cyborg or even post-biological expressions. Second, the secular humanist rejection of faith in God in favor of a strictly natural scientific account of physical reality prompts the transhumanist insistence upon finding solutions to the problems of suffering, aging, and death through biomedical enhancement without reference to the transcendent. Third, political liberalism’s rejection of a shared societal comprehensive doctrine in favor of a peaceable coexistence of diverse, individually chosen life projects develops into the transhumanist value of radical autonomy through enhancement-driven morphological freedom. Through a tradition-constituted approach, Thomists can find in transhumanism an admirable and shared desire for constant human improvement. Nonetheless, the same approach also exposes the philosophical limitations of the movement latent in its intellectual pedigree. The chapter thus concludes with a critique of transhumanism’s tendencies toward moral relativism, nihilism, and divisive individualism that together prevent the school from reaching its noble goals of human betterment.

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Fr. Michael Baggot is currently a Professor Aggregato of Bioethics at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, Italy. He also serves as a professor for the Joint Diploma in Leadership: Service through Virtues. He teaches at the Catholic Worldview Fellowship summer program in Germany and Italy. He was an Adjunct Professor of Theology at the Christendom College Rome program from 2018-2022. In addition, Baggot is a Research Scholar at the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights. Baggot also serves as a member of the Scholarly Advisory Board for Magisterium AI.

His writings have appeared in First Things, Studia Bioethica, The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, the National Catholic Register, and Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy. Baggot is the chief editor of and a contributor to the book Enhancement Fit for Humanity: Perspectives on Emerging Technologies (Routledge, 2022).

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A Thomistic assessment of contemporary transhumanism as a postmodern, secular, liberal movement

A Thomistic Proposal to Move Beyond the Posthuman and Toward Human Perfection.

Michael bought his first 'proper' antique – a Chester silver Vesta case – for £22.00 while he was still in school. It took him a long time to buy it, as he had to save up his dinner money for over a month!

From these humble beginnings, Michael progressed in his career in antiques working at the prestigious saleroom Christie's whilst still at university. After graduation, he went on to run Sotheby's south silver department for four years, after which he began to work as a private consultant dealing 'by appointment' in antique silver.

Alongside this, Michael carries out research into provincial British silver having a particular passion for early spoons. He is also an author of expert works on silver, having written An Illustrated Guide to York Hallmarks 1776-1858 among other things, including numerous articles for The Finial, the journal of the Silver Spoon Club of Great Britain. Michael of course is a proud member!

BBC Flog It! star Michael Baggott has died aged 65 after suffering a heart attack at Good Hope Hospital in Birmingham.

The antiques expert passed away yesterday following months of treatment after experiencing a stroke in October.

His death was confirmed in a statement posted on his social media accounts on Monday evening.

Baggott, who appeared on the BBC antiques show from 2017 until it was decommissioned in 2020, had been receiving inpatient care at the Birmingham hospital since his stroke last autumn.

"He was a dearly loved son, brother, nephew and uncle who will be deeply and profoundly missed."

The family announced that details of a memorial service would be shared in the coming weeks.

Tributes have poured in from fellow antiques experts and television personalities.

Bargain Hunt star Charles Hanson described Baggott as "a giant of our antique industry" and "our Arthur Negus".

"Michael's thirst for knowledge for the 'object within' merited far more TV time too for a true and proper expert," Hanson wrote.

Flog It! expert Nick Hall praised him as "a true connoisseur and ambassador of the antiques world, a font of knowledge and generous with his knowledge".

BBC Presenter Roo Irvine expressed her "sad news and condolences", while Bargain Hunt's Colin Young noted: "Michael made so many people smile, what more is there to wish for in life?"

In December, Baggott raised serious concerns about his care at Good Hope Hospital through social media posts.

In emotional video updates, he claimed he had been left severely dehydrated, receiving insufficient water for several days.

"I'm dying of thirst in a British NHS hospital and no one seems prepared to do anything about it," he said in one clip.

While praising junior doctors and nursing staff as "the saving grace", he criticised senior management and doctors for allegedly refusing water and treatment.

He later shared a more optimistic update, saying he was "slightly happier, slightly more hopeful" after fin