Defining What It Means To Be A Biohacker
So what exactly is biohacking? Or more appropriately how do I purposely define biohacking to fit into my particular worldview? A definition I believe which more closely aligns with how the word is commonly interpreted today. As you will see in this post there are some wildly different interpretations and definitions of what biohacking is. And thus, what it means to be a biohacker.
Dictionary Definitions That Are Out Of Touch
For example, according to the Oxford dictionary biohacking is defined as:
Biohacking (noun): “The activity of exploiting genetic material experimentally without regard to accepted ethical standards, or for criminal purposes.”
Oxford English Dictionary
The Merriam-Webster dictionary offers a similar albeit markedly different definition:
Biohacking (noun) : “biological experimentation (as by gene editing or the use of drugs or implants) done to improve the qualities or capabilities of living organisms especially by individuals and groups working outside a traditional medical or scientific research environment”
Merriam-Webster
I truly have zero interest in the biohacking described as defined by these two gatekeepers of the English language. I’m not a mad scientist trying to edit my own DNA in my garage after all. The fact of the matter is biohacking has long held an entirely different meaning in popular culture.
Other Definitions That Come Close
The Urban Dictionary definition hits a little closer to common colloquial usage of the word today:
Biohacking : “refers to managing one’s own biology using a combination of medical, nutritional and electronic techniques.”
Urban Dictionary
Amongst the most popular self proclaimed biohackers this definition still falls short.
Which brings me to Dave Asprey who is often referred to as “The Father of Biohacking” and is just as often credited with creating and popularizing the word “Biohacking”. Dave Asprey is the author of multiple books on biohacking (at least by his own definition) and the owner of Bulletproof a supplement company that markets itself for its “biohacks” around the online “biohacking community”.
Dave Asprey has his own definitions for biohacking on his website and in his books:
Biohacking (verb): “To change the environment outside of you and inside of you so you have full control of your biology, to allow you to upgrade your body, mind, and your life.”
Biohacking (noun): “The art and science of becoming superhuman.”
Dave Asprey
This hits a lot closer to home for me and what I want to blog about on this site.
An Updated Definition for Biohacking
With that said I am going to offer my own definitions which I think better encapsulates what I’d like to write about on this blog:
Biohacking (verb): “An actionable step that one consciously is making to improve or optimize ones state of being in the realm of mind, body, or spirit.”
Biohacking (noun): “The art of making conscious decisions to improve or optimize the conditions of one’s state of being in mind, body, or spirit through intentional action either internally (within their own body and mind) or externally within their given environment.“
Dave McCusker
With that definition, I aim to broaden the definition of biohacking to include anything that one can do to improve or optimize their mind, body, and spirit. Which I believe is how it is already being used today.
And for those of you interested in shoving magnets in your fingertips and doing CRISPR DNA edits in your garage this updated definition would also still work for you too.
Obviously, I think my newly coined definition is the best, but what do you think? Leave a comment below!
