From: John B (discwuzit@yahoo.com)
Date: Mon Mar 18 2002 - 21:53:28 MST
Hello.
I hope I'm not going to step on anyone's toes, but
I've a few questions on transhumanism. I first ran
into the concept in Orion's Arm, a sci-fi setting at
www.orionsarm.com . In the course of that, I was
directed to the Extropian web site, and came across
their Extropian philosophy. It's sparked quite a few
questions, and I hope someone or -ones here can help
me with them.
The aforementioned philosophy is summarised in several
points, which I have taken the liberty of quoting
below.
"1. Perpetual Progress - Seeking more intelligence,
wisdom, and effectiveness, an indefinite lifespan, and
the removal of political, cultural, biological, and
psychological limits to self-actualization and
self-realization. Perpetually overcoming constraints
on our progress and possibilities. Expanding into the
universe and advancing without end."
At what cost? Every path you take means you're not
going down a different path. What paths have
been/are/will be passed over instead of going down the
path of perpetual progress?
That sounds negative, which is NOT my intent - merely,
there's a purpose for stability, for progress, even
(perhaps especially) for backsliding/entropy/etc. When
you choose one, the other(s) suffer. Not saying that
this is a bad thing, but I do wonder what other goals
have been sidelined in place of perpetual growth.
"2. Self-Transformation - Affirming continual moral,
intellectual, and physical self- improvement, through
critical and creative thinking, personal
responsibility, and experimentation. Seeking
biological and neurological augmentation along with
emotional and psychological refinement."
Is the order of self-improvements intentional?
Least-important to most-important, or vice versa, or
all important? What if they conflict - which takes
precedence?
"3. Practical Optimism - Fueling action with positive
expectations. Adopting a rational, action- based
optimism, in place of both blind faith and stagnant
pessimism."
What about faith in the general goodness of humanity -
which everything I've yet seen in transhumanism seems
to implicitly include.
What about cautious pessimism, that keeps you from
destroying a top-rate mind with a poorly understood
experiment?
My point is, is that this is a shades-of-grey
spectrum, not black & white. Practical optimism's a
great concept, IMHO, even if I may be seen as
pessimistic.
"4. Intelligent Technology - Applying science and
technology creatively to transcend "natural" limits
imposed by our biological heritage, culture, and
environment. Seeing technology not as an end in itself
but as an effective means towards the improvement of
life."
*nod* & *applause*. Tool USE, not becoming tools. This
is a wonderful statement, IMHO.
"5. Open Society - Supporting social orders that
foster freedom of speech, freedom of action, and
experimentation. Opposing authoritarian social control
and favoring the rule of law and decentralization of
power. Preferring bargaining over battling, and
exchange over compulsion. Openness to improvement
rather than a static utopia."
The previous comment about the faith in the goodness
inherent in the human beast applies here, IMHO.
Also - a general question when I start seeing the word
'freedom' tossed around - what about your
RESPONSIBILITIES? Are you responsible for your
neighbor's action? No? Then who helps you when your
other neighbor's "freedom of action" starts to be
applied to your nose, or dog, or daughter?
As for experimentation, that goes literally without
saying. The trick is experimentation without
inappropriate repercussion. Example - a woman walking
around without a veil/purdah in a fundamentalist
Islamic state: Should she be beaten? Is that an
appropriate response to her experimentation? I'm
pretty sure that one dose of the cane prevents most
further experimentation along those lines! However,
you can stop experimentation by the human creature by
either 1) complete and utter control, or 2) death. We
question, and in questioning experiment, and in
experimenting, learn. The trick is, as mentioned
above, to teach the cat not to sit on a hot stove.
(Story told by Mark Twain which may be paraphrased,
"If the cat sits on a hot stove lid, that cat's
learned a lesson - not to sit on any stove lids!")
"6. Self-Direction - Seeking independent thinking,
individual freedom, personal responsibility,
self-direction, self-esteem, and respect for others."
OK, throw out the old mores that brought us this far
and start fresh. *wry grin* I know, not quite what is
meant - more like, throw out the parts we don't like
and keep going. Question - WHO DECIDES? And again,
what happens when your neighbor's choice(s) threaten
you, either directly or through your loved ones?
"7. Rational Thinking - Favoring reason over blind
faith and questioning over dogma. Remaining open to
challenges to our beliefs and practices in pursuit of
perpetual improvement. Welcoming criticism of our
existing beliefs while being open to new ideas."
In general I strongly agree with this point.
I hope that the members of this list will not take
this as an attack on their beliefs - such is not the
intent. Rather, these are concerns I have regarding
the aforementioned document, and I'd like some help
resolving them.
Thanks in advance,
John Benner
discwuzit@yahoo.com
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