From: Samantha Atkins (samantha@objectent.com)
Date: Thu Sep 12 2002 - 04:31:29 MDT
Eliezer S. Yudkowsky wrote:
>
> No, Samantha. I am not attempting to limit who is or is not part of
> transhumanism. I am, however, objecting to a statement that "racial
> diversity" is valued by transhumanism/extropianism because I personally
> feel that race is *absolutely irrelevant* and that to value "racial
> diversity" departs from the principle of colorblindness. Others may
> feel differently and still be part of transhumanism. Thus a statement
> intended to represent transhumanist views as a whole should ideally
> remain neutral on the subject.
I agree and disagree. To those of various different types who
have been marginalized, knowing that they are welcome and that
we truly are open to all who share our principles with no
exclusions is quite important. In that sense it is not simply
"irrelevant".
>
> >> And likewise from the perspective of combating racism, I believe
> >> there is no value to either racial diversity *or* racial unity; in
> >> the face of the future race is simply irrelevant. To attempt to
> >> value "diversity" is to abandon colorblindness.
> >
> > Hardly. Seeing everything has monotone is not the same thing as full
> > acceptance and welcoming of all persons of like mind regardless of
> > otherwise different from you they may be.
>
> Race is not relevant as either a difference or a similarity.
>
Well, yes, but it was one of many differences. That they are not
relevant to you or your treatment of others within our outside
of transhumanism/extropianism does not mean it is of no value
for these groups to state that such openness is a matter of policy.
> >> If every transhumanist were of the exact same race and body type, I
> >> don't see how it would make the slightest difference one way or the
> >> other. How does this supervene on cognition?
> >
> > Cognition is not everything.
>
> Race is not anything, except insofar as there are still some people
> remaining who unfortunately pay attention to the irrelevant bundle of
> characteristics they call "race".
Why keep harping on race and seemingly ignore the more general
point?
- samantha
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