Re: Transhuman List Blatant Commentary

Eliezer S. Yudkowsky (sentience@pobox.com)
Wed, 01 Sep 1999 07:37:18 -0500

Lee Daniel Crocker wrote:
>
> > Robert, Whether or not you meant to do so, your entire posting
> > comes off as saying that Extropianism is somehow better than
> > general transhumanism,...
>
> ...and your point is? Seriously, why have a philosophy at all if
> you aren't convinced it's the best one? I believe my own ideas are
> the best, others believe theirs are. So what? If they are upset
> by my saying so honestly, that's their problem. We can still act
> like civilized humans and work together toward common goals and
> learn from each other's arguments; but if we both avoid conflict
> and walk on eggshells we won't learn a damned thing. Conflict and
> competition are as necessary to progress as cooperation, and should
> be valued just as highly.

Hear, hear! I think that Singularitarianism is better than transhumanism, and I think that Externalist Singularitarianism (there's a mouthful) is better than ordinary Singularitarianism. If I didn't believe that, I wouldn't be one. Yes, I think my philosophy is better than your philosophy. I think it has greater logical rigor and promotes stronger minds. That's what it's all about: There *Is* A Better Way. den Otter thinks selfishness is superior to Externalism, and does this threaten me? It neither breaks my leg nor picks my pocket.

It's time to admit that some philosophies are better than others. "My philosophy is better than your philosophy" is not a statement of inherent moral superiority, or an insult to the other, but an attempt to create and transmit a Better Way - no different from "My design for active shields is better than your design for active shields."

Is Extropianism better than general transhumanism? I haven't particularly noticed. But if anyone feels it is, then come out and say why!

-- 
           sentience@pobox.com          Eliezer S. Yudkowsky
        http://pobox.com/~sentience/tmol-faq/meaningoflife.html
Running on BeOS           Typing in Dvorak          Programming with Patterns
Voting for Libertarians   Heading for Singularity   There Is A Better Way