From: George Dvorsky (sentdev@hotmail.com)
Date: Wed Sep 04 2002 - 20:50:31 MDT
The TTA distributed its press release today.
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Toronto Transhumanist Association Forms to Support Growing Movement
Chapter of the World Transhumanist Association will be a rational,
pro-technology voice for positive change
Toronto, Ontario, September 3, 2002-A Toronto association has formed to
support a growing movement that promotes humanity's advancement through the
application of technology.
The movement, called Transhumanism, is similar to Humanism in that it argues
for rational approaches to improving the human condition. It goes further
than Humanism, however, in advocating the use of technology to directly
improve the human species and transcend human limitations.
"Transhumanism, as I understand it, is the philosophical thesis that that we
ought to employ technology in the near-term for the purpose of attempting to
perfect ourselves," says Dr. Mark Walker, who has written extensively on
Transhumanism and is Publications Director with the World Transhumanist
Association. "Even those not friendly to Transhumanism ought to pay heed,
for within the lifetime of most of those alive today humanity will, in all
likelihood, possess the technology to radically reengineer humans, to create
new and better persons."
Over the past few years, Transhumanism has grown from relative obscurity to
an accessible philosophy represented by such works as Ray Kurzweil's The Age
of Spiritual Machines: When Computers Exceed Human Intelligence and Canadian
Christopher Dewdney's Last Flesh: Life in the Transhuman Era.
At the same time, cities around the world have witnessed the formation of
local groups for Transhumanist advocacy, education and discussion. This
August, Toronto joined them, with the formation of the Toronto Transhumanist
Association, a chapter of the World Transhumanist Association.
"As we develop increasingly powerful technology, ignorance and inaction
become increasingly dangerous," says Simon Smith, President of the Toronto
Transhumanist Association and Editor-in-Chief of online magazine
Betterhumans. "Conversely, there's tremendous positive potential if we're
informed and active. Over the past few years there's been an explosion of
Transhumanist information. Now people are starting to put that information
into action, by working to support positive changes at the local level."
At its first meeting on August 21, 2002, the Toronto Transhumanist
Association had a diverse array of attendees, from authorities on cryonics
to electronic musicians to a computer scientist working to create an
implantable personal computer.
The diversity is indicative of how well Transhumanism meshes with many
modern belief systems. "The remarkable thing about Transhumanism is how
wide-ranging its appeal is. Positive and progressive-minded men and women
from all walks of life have joined in on the discussions as to how
technology can continue to alleviate misery and suffering, and also improve
the human condition," says George Dvorsky, Vice-President of the Toronto
Transhumanist Association. "Transhumanism, as the philosophical successor to
Humanist and Enlightenment thinking, is starting to gain momentum, and not
just because of recent technological advancements. Its strength is also
derived from its commitment to the dignity, well-being and potential of all
life."
Over the next few months the Toronto Transhumanist Association aims to hold
several discussion groups, social events and public speaking engagements. It
also hopes to assist the media with technology-related issues by providing
story ideas, contacts and fact sheets.
For additional information please visit the Toronto Transhumanist
Association's Website at http://toronto.transhumanism.com or contact George
Dvorsky at gdvorsky@cogeco.ca.
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