From: paul@i2.to
Date: Fri Jul 16 1999 - 15:35:18 MDT
A few weeks back Anders or someone suggested a great idea of creating
a personality test to determine where extropians and transhumanists of various
ilk stood on a wide variety of philosophical and practical issues. One thing that
seems obvious to me is that in reality there is a wide variety of opinions on what
transhumanism means to various people. As time goes on, this opinion variance
continues to diversify and widen. I think the post-human future will probably be the
equivalent of the cambrian explosion in terms of future diversity and evolutionary
pathways. Wouldn't it be interesting to see what people most share your core
ideals and ethics? Frankly, transhumanism is becoming increasingly too general
and vague in describing how we each feel about the future. Perhaps its time to
subdivide transhumanism into various schools of thought?
Your opinions are encouraged. Please feel free to submit your own ideas,
questions, and philosophical divides you see. Here are some of the bigger
variances I'm aware of. I'll be the first to admit that these variances are not
either/or but may be on a scale of 1-10, with some people falling into the middle.
1) Advocating the *replacement* of humans by SI's vs. humans merging
symbiotically and/or becoming the SI's. With people like Hans Moravec falling
into the former and Anders Sandberg in the latter.
2) Striving for increasing individuation in ones personal development vs. merging
with the great beyond (Borgism and/or Singularity). (These may not necessarily
be at odds with each other).
3) Singularity or Bust vs. intentional plateuing at various stages of future
development to 'enjoy the roses' along the way. With people like Eliezer of
the former and Iain Banks Culture fans in the latter.
4) The pursuit of pure hyper-rationality and elimination of all emotion vs.
the inclusion/imperative of hedonism, fun and other positive emotions as values in their own right.
With someone like David Pearce and his 'Hedonistic Imperative' of the latter.
5) Rugged Individualism vs. Communitarianism and/or Altruism (Extrosatva?).
Any others?
Paul Hughes
paul@i2.to
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