From: Kathryn Aegis (k_aegis@mindspring.com)
Date: Tue Aug 31 1999 - 19:33:08 MDT
At 01:14 PM 8/31/99 -0700, you wrote:
>It is my general impression, that the transhumanists are perhaps
>saying there are many "right" ways and exploring, while Extropians
>such as my self, Greg or Max, may be focused what are the "best"
>ways (in technology, law/ethics, politics, philosophy). I'm sure they
>and others will correct me if I'm putting words in their mouths.
>Where transhumanism seems more about diversity, Extropic thoughts
>seem more about optimality. As such there may always be tension
>between the poles -- diversity is seldom optimally efficient
>but may efficiently be optimally diverse.
Robert, Whether or not you meant to do so, your entire posting comes off as
saying that Extropianism is somehow better than general transhumanism,
because extropianism is focused on finding ways to actually become
transhuman. Leaving aside the question of how any one of us can know what
the 'best' way to achieve this is, that ignores a wide range of activity
within wider transhumanism including:
(i) Drexler recently went to Europe and met with many general
transhumanists such as Sarah Marr in London with the intent of setting up a
chapter there
(ii) life extension societies are located all over Europe,
(iii) the Swedish transhumanist society is very technically focused, as is
the Danish group
(iv) the general transhumanist group in DC is full of people working in the
fields of cryonics, computer programming, and aeronautics, not to mention
the rapid-response cryonics team that is trained in preserving a body until
it can be transported to the West Coast.
(v) general transhumanists participate in many of the technical forums
sponsored by ExI, Foresight, and other organizations.
I hope that you will take some time to acquaint yourself with the
activities going on around the globe among general transhumanists before
making such statements.
Sincerely,
Kathryn Aegis
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