TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1. GETTING STARTED

1.1 What do the terms extropy, transhuman, transhumanism, and singularity mean, as used in this FAQ?
1.2 Where can I find definitions words of terms frequently used and relevant to transhumanist thinking?
1.3  5 Most often asked questions about ExI

2.1 What is transhumanism?
2.2 What is the philosophy of Extropy?
2.3 What are the Principles of Extropy?
2.4 How is the philosophy of Extropy a New Enlightenment?
2.5 Is transhumanist thinking utopian?
2.6 How do I know if I a transhumanist?

3. EXTROPY INSTITUTE

3.1 What is Extropy Institute ("ExI")?
3.2 What is ExI’s history?
3.3 What is ExI’s Board of Directors?
3.4 What is ExI’s Council of Advisors?
3.5 What is ExI’s Executive Advisory/Action Team ("EAT")?
3.6 What are ExI’s email lists?
3.7 What are ExI’s Extro conferences?
3.8 What is ExI’s Extropy: The Journal of Transhumanist Thought?

5.1 Do transhumanists in general, and friends of Extropy Institute in particular, share economic and political views?
5.2 What views do extropes have on the dangers of biotechnology, nanotechnology, machine intelligence, and neurotechnology?
5.3 What views do transhumanists have about religion?
5.4 How does Extropy Institute respond to the neo-Luddites, including the President’s Council on Bioethics?
5.5 If we succeed in extending the human life span, is population growth a problem for the future?
5.6 Does Extropy Institute see serious limits to progress from limited resources?
5.7 Does Extropy Institute see serious limits to progress due to environmental concerns?
5.8 What positions do extropians take on environmentalism and wilderness conservation?
5.9 What position do extropians take on racism and eugenics?
5.10 Is Extropy Institute concerned about people around the world who struggle to acquire the basics of human existence?
5.11 How does Extropy Institute see the poor, the disabled, the physically or psychologically dysfunctional fitting into a transhumanist future?

6. TOOLS FOR TRANSHUMANISTS

6.1 What is the scientific method and why is it crucial to transhumanism?
6.2 In what ways does human reasoning typically fall into error?
6.3 What tools, methods, and techniques exist for improving critical thinking?
6.4 What tools, methods, and techniques exist for improving creative thinking?
6.5 What methods can be used on an organizational or social level to improve critical and creative thinking?
6.6 What is pancritical rationalism (PCR) also known as Comprehensively Critical Rationalism (CCR)?

6.6.1 What problem does PCR solve?
6.6.2 What is evolutionary epistemology?
6.6.3 What other types of criticisms help us develop knowledge?

7. CULTURAL MOVEMENT

7.1 What are the precursors to transhumanist thinking?
7.2 Who are the pioneering transhumanists?
7.3 Transhumanist Culture: How does transhumanism affect Arts & Culture?

7.3.1 Transhumanist Culture
7.3.2 Transhumanist Arts - From da Vinci to "Transhumanist Arts"

7.4 What other prominent organizations are there?
7.5 What activist groups can I join?
7.6 What email lists can I subscribe to?
7.7 I'm thinking of writing an article on transhumanism. Any tips?

1.  GETTING STARTED

1.1 What do the terms extropy, transhuman, transhumanism, extropic, posthuman, and singularity mean, as used in this FAQ? 

What is extropy?  Extropy is a metaphor referring to attitudes and values shared by those who want to overcome human limits through technology. These values and attitudes are explained in The Principles of Extropy. Extropy is defined as “the extent of a system's intelligence, information, energy, life, experience, diversity, opportunity, and growth. It is the collection of forces which oppose entropy”. However, as a metaphor, it not to be confused with the technical term "negentropy." The term was coined by T.0. Morrow in January 1988.

What is extropic? A way of thinking or an outlook that encompasses a balanced perspective, logic, and practical optimism.

What is a transhumanism and the transhuman? A transhuman is a human in transition. We are transhuman to the extent that we seek to become posthuman and take action to prepare for a posthuman future. This involves learning about and making use of new technologies that can increase our capacities and life expectancy, questioning common assumptions, and transforming ourselves ready for the future, rising above outmoded human beliefs and behaviors.  

The Italian verb "transumanare" or "transumanar" was used for the first time by Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) in the Divine Comedy. It means "go outside the human condition and perception" and in English could be "to Transhumanate" or "to Transhumanize".  T.S. Eliot wrote about the risks of the human journey in becoming illuminated as a "process by which the human is Transhumanised" in his play "The Cocktail Party" (The Complete Poems and Plays 1909 - 1950, published by Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc., New York).  The Reader’s Digest Great Encyclopedia Dictionary (1966) defines "transhuman" as meaning "surpassing; transcending; beyond". In the Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary (1983),  "transhuman" is defined as meaning "superhuman," and "transhumanize," meaning "to elevate or transform to something beyond what is human". Yet, these are not a complete and contemporary meanings. Today, we refer to transhuman as meaning an evolutionary transition from being biologically human toward our merger with technology as "a new kind of being crystallizing from the monumental breakthroughs of the late twentieth century. ... the earliest manifestations of a new evolutionary being." (FM-2030)

Ideas about humanity and evolution were explored by Julian Huxley in his writings on evolutionary humanism in the book Evolution: The Modern Synthesis (1942) and Teilhard de Chardin in The Future of Man (1959). In 1966, FM-2030 (f/k/a, F.M. Esfandiary) outlined an evolutionary transhuman future while teaching "New Concepts of the Human" at the New School for Social Research, New York City.  Abraham Maslow referred to transhumans in Toward a Psychology of Being, (1968).  The actual concept of transhuman as an evolutionary transition was expressed by FM-2030 in his contributing final chapter in Woman, Year 2000 (1972).  Robert Ettinger also referred to transhumans in Man into Superman (1972), Natasha Vita-More (f/k/a Nancie Clark) authored the Transhumanist Arts Statement (Transhuman Art) (1982) and outlined the emerging transhuman culture, and by Damien Broderick, well-known science fiction author, in The Judas Mandala (1982).

Transhumanism has a slightly different beginning. Julian Huxley’s book written in 1956, New Bottles For New Wine, contains the essay "TRANSHUMANISM" which sets out to explain how humans must establish a better environment for themselves. He also alludes to a new species that the human might eventually become.  Dr. Max More first published the term "transhumanism" as a philosophy in 1990 and authored its definition. The difference in Huxley’s transhumanism and More’s transhumanism is that Huxley states "man remaining man but transcending himself." Transhumanism as defined by More explains the overcoming of human limits and the transformation from being human to becoming posthuman. Although Huxley had a vision of a possible future for humanity, he single-tracked the future when he saw man remaining man.

We need to consider the environment of the time in which Dante lived, just as we do with today and Huxley's time. Huxley believed in a "New Divinity" while Dante believed in “philosophical wisdom.” What this meant to them may not be what it means to us by today’s standards and language. The bottom line is that both wanted something more than an ordinary human condition.

Dante: "He was one of the most learned Italian laymen of his day, intimately familiar with Aristotelian logic and natural philosophy, theology (he had a special affinity for the thought of Albert the Great and Thomas Aquinas), and classical literature. His writings reflect this in its mingling of philosophical and theological language, invoking Aristotle and the neo-Platonists side by side with the poet of the psalms. Like Aquinas, Dante wished to summon his audience to the practice of philosophical wisdom, though by means of truths embedded in his own poetry, rather than mysteriously embodied in scripture." (Stanford University)

Let us not dismiss of the world and society of Dante and his ideas about the transhuman. Today we can harshly criticize those who have spiritual beliefs, but we leaned that it is not completely appropriate since spirituality also includes those who simply want peace of mind. Since the transhumanist community has grown to include several religious sectors, we cannot defame Dante or Huxley or any of us for our personal unconventional views.  An afterlife in the far past could possibly equal an afterlife today, as we know it as technological immortality. In Dante's time, there were no such things as molecular engineering, cryonics, and the medical and scientific innovations that we are aware of today that could make our dreams of a longer life feasible. There are many steps in the direction of enlightenment, and some of the footprints belong to Dante."  (Vita-More, 2004)

What is an extrope or extropian?  A transhumanist whose focus and approach to life embodies the values and attitudes that seek to improve the human condition through careful consideration of scientific, technological and ethical means.  The dynamic optimism that comes with transhumanism's insight into the accelerating self-transforming power of technology is best expressed in the philosophy Extropy, and expressed by extropes/extropians. To date, mankind is the ultimate extropic system. Extropy points to new horizons in this process, ultimately horizons far beyond the reach of humans in their present form. 

What is a posthuman?   "Posthuman" is a term used by transhumanists to refer to what humans could become if we succeed in using technology to remove the limitations of the human condition. No one can be certain exactly what posthumans would be like (there may be many differing types, and they may continuing changing) but we can understand the term by contrasting it with "human": Posthumans would be those who have overcome the biological, neurological, and psychological constraints built into humans by the evolutionary process. Posthumans would have a far greater ability to reconfigure and sculpt their physical form and function; they would have an expanded range of refined emotional responses, and would possess intellectual and perceptual abilities enhanced beyond the purely human range. Posthumans would not be subject to biological aging or degeneration. It would be unrealistic to expect posthumans to be "perfect" by our standards. What we can reasonably say is that posthumans would have greater potential for good or bad, just as humans have greater potential than other primate species.

Transhumanists believe that the best strategy for attaining posthumanity to be a combination of technology, personal responsibility, and determination, rather than looking for it through psychic contacts, or extraterrestrial or divine gift.

Since "posthuman" is characterized primarily by contrasting with the limitations of "human" we can only speculate about the particular forms that posthumans might take. Posthumans may be partly or mostly biological in form although, by definition, they would have overcome most of the constraints of the genetic structure of homo sapiens. Many transhumanists find it highly plausible that posthumans would be partly or wholly postbiological – the personalities of biological humans having been transferred "into" (or gradually replaced by) more durable, modifiable, faster, and more powerful bodies and thinking hardware. Some of the disciplines that transhumanists currently expect to play a role in allowing us to become posthuman include genetic engineering, neural-computer integration, biomedicine and nanobiotechnology, regenerative medicine, and the cognitive sciences.  

What is transhumanism?  Transhumanism was given its first definition and characterization by Dr. Max More (in Extropy The Journal of Transhumanist Thought #6, 1990) "Transhumanism is a class of philosophies that seek to guide us towards a posthuman condition. Transhumanism shares many elements of humanism, including a respect for reason and science, a commitment to progress, and a valuing of human (or transhuman) existence in this life [..]. Transhumanism differs from humanism in recognizing and anticipating the radical alterations in the nature and possibilities of our lives resulting from various sciences and technologies[…]"

Other definitions of "transhumanism" have been written over the years, such as "Transhumanism is the philosophy that we can and should develop to higher levels, physically, mentally and socially using rational methods." (Dr. Anders Sandberg),  and "Transhumanism is the idea that new technologies are likely to change the world so much in the next century or two that our descendants will in many ways no longer be 'human'" (Dr. Robin Hanson). 

What is the Singularity?  As defined by Vernor Vinge, 1986: The postulated point or short period in our future when our self-guided evolutionary development accelerates enormously (powered by nanotech, neuroscience, AI, and perhaps uploading) so that nothing beyond that time can reliably be conceived. Vinge also wrote: “The acceleration of technological progress has been the central feature of this century. I argue in this paper that we are on the edge of change comparable to the rise of human life on Earth. The precise cause of this change is the imminent creation by technology of entities with greater than human intelligence.” Transhumanists vary considerably in their view of the exact nature and definition of a Singularity, and not all transhumanists accept it as a useful notion. For good information on the Singularity from two advocates of the idea, we suggest you visit Raymond Kurzweil's KurzweilAI.net site and The Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence and the work of its fellow, Eliezer Yudkowsky.

2.1 What is the philosophy of transhumanism?  Transhumanism as the modern philosophy was created the philosopher Max More, Ph.D.   Dr. More originally defined transhumanism as "Philosophies of life, such as extropy, that seek the continuation and acceleration of the evolution of intelligent life beyond its currently human form and human limitations by means of science and technology, guided by life-promoting principles and values."  Other definitions of "transhumanism" have been written over the years, such as "Transhumanism is the philosophy that we can and should develop to higher levels, both physically, mentally and socially using rational methods."  (Dr. Anders Sandberg) and  "Transhumanism is the idea that new technologies are likely to change the world so much in the next century or two that our descendants will in many ways no longer be 'human'" (Dr. Robin Hanson).

Transhumanism is a set of ideas which represents a world view to improve the human condition. We support critical thinking in the development of sciences and technologies to extend the human lifespan, eradicate aging, solve problems of disease, and encourage and enhance intellectual, creative, physical and mental well-being. In this regard, it is essential to be aware of the possible dangers that lie ahead. The examination of potential dangers affect not only transhumanist, but the entire world. The use of technologies and biotechnologies must be looked at with a critical and ethical observation.

Transhumanism can be said to stem, in part, from humanism. "Humanism is a "philosophical system of thought that focuses on human value, thought, and actions. Humans are considered basically good and rationale creatures who can improve themselves and others through natural human abilities of reason and action. Secular Humanism is a late development emphasizing objectivity, human reason, and human standards that govern art, economics, ethics, and belief. As such, no deity is acknowledged." (web definition)

However transhumanism reaches beyond the sphere of humanism in its goal to improve the human condition. Not only do we encourage freedom, rational thinking, tolerance, and compassion for humanity, we seek to improve our selves and the species of "human." Back to top 

2.2 What is the philosophy of Extropy?  Extropy is the transhumanist philosophy specifically defined in terms of The Principles of Extropy.  "Extropian" transhumanists (or transhumanist who are extropic thinkers) want to direct themselves in pursuing perpetual progress and self-transformation with an attitude of practical optimism implemented using rational thinking and intelligent technology in an open society.

The philosophy of extropy is a clearly defined perspective on transhumanism. Other forms of transhumanism exist which share many goals and values with extropic transhumanism. Sometimes other types of transhumanism emphasize some aspects more heavily. David Pearce, for example, emphasizes the abolition of pain and maximization of pleasure. This is compatible with, but not essential to, the Principles of Extropy. The only true incompatibilities between the philosophy of extropy and another form of transhumanism when the latter clearly rejects one or more of the Principles. For example, a ruling elite who compelled people to adopt a technological augmentation would contravene the principles of self-direction and open society. (Max More)

"Aren’t all "isms" dangerous, even transhumanism?"  Good question! Many isms are dangerous. Others just help organize related ideas while avoiding or minimizing the dangers of closed and dogmatic isms. I would suggest that Darwinism is preferable to Marxism, and Rationalism or Humanism preferable to religious fundamentalism. However, any system of thought or way of looking at the world can be abused by those intent on doing so. Some intellectual and value systems or perspectives invite abuse more easily than others. To the extent that an "ism" refers to a system of thought that declares itself closed to further improvement, that claims to be a complete and final truth, then it’s a dangerous thing. So far in its history, practically all forms of transhumanism have avoided this problem (though some individual transhumanists may well be dogmatic).

The potentially dangerous nature of "isms" is one reason we stopped using the term "Extropianism" in favor of "the philosophy of extropy". Extropy is really a collection of values and attitudes that fit together well. Extropy makes explicit the relationships between certain values and attitudes. This helps those who already share those values to understand and act more consistently. It also stimulates others who share some of these values to consider adopting the other values that extropians argue are related. This is not merely a verbal maneuver: the Principles themselves are revised periodically (since they do not claim to be final, unquestionable truths), and they include the values of Rational Thinking and Self-Transformation which are incompatible with dogmatism.  (Max More)

"Is Extropy a complete worldview?"  Most definitely not! Extropes agree in favoring things like perpetual improvement, and in using reason and technology to overcome human limits. Outside of those things, extropians will differ in many ways, both in personality and philosophy. Extropy does not offer a complete moral system, nor a required theory of knowledge (though some of us find pancritical rationalism especially compatible), nor a metaphysics.

"Does Extropianism refer to a set of required beliefs?" Since all "extropy" refers to is a collection of mutually supporting values and attitudes, it says extremely little about particular beliefs. One of the Principles is Rational Thinking, and another is Self-Direction. Individuals who share these values are not going to want to have their beliefs dictated to them! We may all favor extending the maximum life span, but we may have quite different beliefs about what causes aging, how to stop it, and whether cryonics is a worthwhile backup option in the meantime. We share the values expressed in The Principles of Extropy, but we will often differ as to the most effective means towards those ends.

"Are you sure that extropy is not a thing I can measure?"  Since it’s a metaphor, a name for a moderately integrated group of values and attitudes, and it’s *not* a force or a thing or a single value or principle, it cannot be measured. Older definitions of the term may have been misleading on this point, so I’m glad you raised the question again so I had the opportunity to stress this point. In case you still feel like "extropy" is really just the opposite of "entropy" let me point out that entropy can sometimes *help* with extropic aims. More information is often helpful, but too much information that is irrelevant to your task can be a bad thing. So extropy does not always require decreased entropy in an information-theoretic sense. The entropic process of the our sun’s burning up of its nuclear fuel is actually very good for us. It allowed life to evolve on our planet. So entropy is sometimes the friend of extropian aims. We just want to keep it in its place. Back to top

2.3 What are the Principles of Extropy? [See Principles directly note and prologue below]

A Note on the Use of "Extropy":  For the sake of brevity, Dr. More often writes something like “extropy seeks…” or “extropy questions…” You can take this to mean “in so far as we act in accordance with these principles, we seek/question/study…”  “Extropy” is not meant as a real entity or force, but only as a metaphor representing all that contributes to our flourishing. Similarly, when Dr. More uses “we” you should take this to refer not to any group but to anyone who agrees with what they are reading. Rather than assuming any reader to be in full agreement with every one of these principles, this usage instead imagines a hypothetical person who has integrated the principles into their life and actions. Each reader is, of course, at liberty to reject, modify, or affirm each principle separately. What this tentative, conjectural approach to the Principles of Extropy loses in terms of compelling emotive power, it gains in terms of reasonableness and openness to innovation and improvement.

Prologue: What is the Purpose of the Principles of Extropy?  Philosophies of life rooted in centuries-old traditions contain much wisdom concerning personal, organizational, and social living. Many of us also find shortcomings in those traditions. How could they not reach some mistaken conclusions when they arose in pre-scientific times? At the same time, ancient philosophies of life have little or nothing to say about fundamental issues confronting us as advanced technologies begin to enable us to change our identity as individuals and as humans and as economic, cultural, and political forces change global relationships.

The Principles of Extropy first took shape in the late 1980s to outline an alternative lens through which to view the emerging and unprecedented opportunities, challenges, and dangers. The goal was – and is – to use current scientific understanding along with critical and creative thinking to define a small set of principles or values that could help make sense of the confusing but potentially liberating and existentially enriching capabilities opening up to humanity.

The Principles of Extropy do not specify particular beliefs, technologies, or policies. The Principles do not pretend to be a complete philosophy of life. The world does not need another totalistic dogma. The Principles of Extropy do consist of a handful of principles (or values or perspectives) that codify proactive, life-affirming and life-promoting ideals. Individuals who cannot comfortably adopt traditional value systems often find the Principles of Extropy useful as postulates to guide, inspire, and generate innovative thinking about existing and emerging fundamental personal, organizational, and social issues.

The Principles are intended to be enduring, underlying ideals and standards. At the same time, both in content and by being revised, the Principles do not claim to be eternal truths or certain truths. I invite other independent thinkers who share the agenda of acting as change agents for fostering better futures to consider the Principles of Extropy as an evolving framework of attitudes, values, and standards – and as a shared vocabulary – to make sense of our unconventional, secular, and life-promoting responses to the changing human condition. I also invite feedback to further refine these Principles.

The Principles of Extropy in Brief

1. Perpetual Progress: Extropy means seeking more intelligence, wisdom, and effectiveness, an open-ended lifespan, and the removal of political, cultural, biological, and psychological limits to continuing development. Perpetually overcoming constraints on our progress and possibilities as individuals, as organizations, and as a species. Growing in healthy directions without bound.

2. Self-Transformation: Extropy means affirming continual ethical, intellectual, and physical self-improvement, through critical and creative thinking, perpetual learning, personal responsibility, proactivity, and experimentation. Using technology — in the widest sense to seek physiological and neurological augmentation along with emotional and psychological refinement.

3. Practical Optimism: Extropy means fueling action with positive expectations – individuals and organizations being tirelessly proactive. Adopting a rational, action-based optimism or "proaction", in place of both blind faith and stagnant pessimism.

4. Intelligent Technology: Extropy means designing and managing technologies not as ends in themselves but as effective means for improving life. Applying science and technology creatively and courageously to transcend "natural" but harmful, confining qualities derived from our biological heritage, culture, and environment.

5. Open Society: Extropy means supporting social orders that foster freedom of communication, freedom of action, experimentation, innovation, questioning, and learning. Opposing authoritarian social control and unnecessary hierarchy and favoring the rule of law and decentralization of power and responsibility. Preferring bargaining over battling, exchange over extortion, and communication over compulsion. Openness to improvement rather than a static utopia. Extropia ("ever-receding stretch goals for society") over utopia ("no place").

6. Self-Direction: Extropy means valuing independent thinking, individual freedom, personal responsibility, self-direction, self-respect, and a parallel respect for others.

7. Rational Thinking: Extropy means favoring reason over blind faith and questioning over dogma. It means understanding, experimenting, learning, challenging, and innovating rather than clinging to beliefs.

                   To learn more about the Principles of Extropy.  Back to top

2.4 How is the philosophy of extropy a New Enlightenment?  

2.5 Is transhumanist thinking utopian?  

2.6 How do I know if I a transhumanist?  

 

Resources:
Philosophy of Extropy (Dr. Max More)
Extropy Institute Web site

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3. EXTROPY INSTITUTE

3.1 What is Extropy Institute ("ExI")? Extropy Institute ("ExI") is 501(c)3 not-for-profit educational organization. It is the original international transhumanist organization founded in 1988 to incubate positive futures. Extropy Institute acts as a networking and information center for those seeking to foster our continuing evolutionary advance by using technology to extend healthy life, augment intelligence, optimize psychology, and improve social systems. Through its networking function, the Institute brings together the finest critical and creative minds to challenge conventional thinking about human limits and to develop, critique, and implement new ideas about the use of technologies of all kinds to improve the future. As an information center, the Institute acts as a repository and portal for detailed information on advanced technologies, their positive potentials, their challenges, and their possible dangers. Join Extropy Institute!  More information about Extropy Institute by e-mailing our offices, by phoning 512.263.2749, or by writing Extropy Institute at 10709 Pointe View Drive, Austin, Texas 78738. You can support Extropy Institute by becoming a member.

3.2 What is ExI’s history?  Extropy Institute is the original transhumanist organization. With a history full of meetings, conferences, debates, writings, articles, and media attention, the answer to this FAQ is best provided by a link to ExI's history page.  We hope you will enjoy reading about ExI's history and work with us to create a positive future for the world.
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3.3 What is ExI’s board of directors? The Board of Directors is a group of leaders that have been specifically voted into their positions to lead Extropy Institute. They govern the affairs of the organization and make management decisions concerning its operation. The Board of Directors currently includes Natasha Vita-More, Greg Burch, Max More, Robert Bradbury, Mark Miller, and David McFadzean. View Directors.

3.4 What is ExI’s Council of Advisors? The Council of Advisors is a group of experts that have been specifically selected to provide guidance in specific areas of interest to Extropy Institute. The Council of Advisors currently includes Ray Kurzweil, Dr. Marvin Minsky, Dr. Roy Walford, Dr. Bart Kosko, and Steve Davies, Dr. Fiorella Terenzi, Pamela Lifton-Zoline and Dr. Gregory Stock. View Advisors.

3.5 What is ExI’s Executive Advisory/Action Team ("EAT")?  The Executive Advisory/Action Team is a group of achievers that have been specifically chosen because of his or her accomplishments in the transhumanist culture. EAT members help to implement the networking, resources, and operations of Extropy Institute. Currently, ExI’s EAT members are Amara D. Angelica, Ziana Astralos, Sabine Atkins, Leigh Christian, Dr. Amara Graps, Gina Miller, Jeannie Novak, Brett Paatsch, Hatuna Pokrovskaia, E. Shaun Russell, Simon Smith, John Spencer, Mike Treder, and Elaine Walker. View EAT members.

3.6 What are ExI’s email lists? Extropy Institute’s email list is the longest running transhumanist email list in the world. Now entering its second decade, the newly formed list, "Extropians" is renamed "Extropy-Chat" Email List and open to ExI members and non-members alike. It is a general-purpose discussion forum. The List covers all manner of topics over time, and you can search back several years through the archives on the Web to find previous posts on topics that interest you. We also provide a daily digest version for those who prefer receiving fewer emails. The website allows you to subscribe online, or review the archives online. The list is maintained by the six List Moderators "LATTE".  There is a general Extropy list (Extropy-Chat), as well as regional lists for Arizona, Bay Area, Canada, East Coast U.S., Europe, Los Angeles, Midwest U.S., Russia, and Texas.  Subscribe to the lists here.

3.7 What are ExI’s Extro conferences? The EXTRO conferences contribute to the networking of those wanting to apply technology to bettering the human condition while challenging old assumptions about what is possible. The EXTRO conferences bring together people from many disciplines in the technologies, sciences, arts, and humanities. By facilitating the networking of leading edge technologists and thinkers we aim to accelerate research, development, critical evaluation, and communication of ideas.

The Extro 1 Conference was the first transhumanist conference. The Extro 2 Conference covered all different aspects of transhumanism and the future. The Extro 3 Conference focused on "The Future of the Body and Brain" and "Future Infrastructure". The Extro 4 Conference focused on "Challenges of Life Extension and Genetic Engineering". The Extro 5 Conference focused on "Shaping Things to Come". The Extro 6 conference is currently being planned. Learn more about the EXTRO conferences.

3.8 What is ExI’s Extropy: The Journal of Transhumanist Thought? 

 

References:

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4. KEY TECHNOLOGIES AND SCIENCES

4.1 Do transhumanists favor particular technologies? 

Technology is technology, however transhumanists advocate different types of technologies that are ecologically viable and the best possible alternatives to problems relating to the environment, health, communication and transportation. Nanotechnology is a wildly discussed technology, (i.e., Molecular nanotechnology is the name given to a specific sort of manufacturing technology. As its name implies, molecular nanotechnology will be achieved when we are able to build things from the atom up, and we will be able to rearrange matter with atomic precision. This technology does not yet exist; but once it does, we should have a thorough and inexpensive system for controlling of the structure of matter. (Eric Drexler).

4.2 Which technologies seem especially significant right now? 

4.2.1 What is nanotechnology?  The lower limit on the precision of manufacturing technology appears to be at the atomic level. As Richard Feynman pointed out in his 1959 address, "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom," there appears to be no physical reason why we can't eventually design and build machines that are atomically precise. We already have the capability to manipulate individual atoms under certain special conditions; in 1992, an atomic-force micrograph of the letters "IBM", spelled out in individual xenon atoms on a nickel crystal, made headlines. The capability of building useful machines at that resolution begins to seem realistic.

In his book Nanosystems, K. Eric Drexler examines the possible modes of failure for such machinery (thermal noise, quantum uncertainties, etc.) and shows that none of them present a meaningful barrier to developing a working molecular nanotechnology. We already have an existence proof: biology itself runs on molecular machines. We can see that molecular machinery can store light energy in the form of sugar, build immense structures like redwood trees and blue whales, reproduce itself (in as little as fifteen minutes, in the case of some bacteria), and conduct complex and subtle chemical transformations (as, for example, in the human liver).

What would the ability to build atomically precise machines mean? Drexler's books Engines of Creation and Unbounding the Future (the latter co-authored by Christine Peterson and Gayle Pergamit) explore these possibilities in depth. Among them:

• Computers millions of times more dense and fast than today -- so small that millions of them would fit in the same space as one of today's desktop machines, and run at mega-MIPS speeds

• Robots with the computing power of today's mainframes, yet small enough to enter individual cells and repair proteins and DNA -- leading to an end to aging and disease, and the revival of persons in cryonic suspension

• Desktop factories that can build anything it is physically possible to build -- including copies of themselves, in hours -- leading to unprecedented wealth and resources

• Perfect recycling, thanks to the capability to disassemble anything to its component atoms for re-assembly into useful forms

When will such capabilities become reality? If current trends continue -- if there are no world wars or enormous economic upheavals -- these new technologies could become available in as little as ten years (though my personal guess is more like 20 or 25 years). Tim May has pointed out that the major barrier to the development of a working nanotechnology is finding profitable uses for the intermediate enabling technologies, generating revenues to fund the next step along the development path. When such "oases of profitability" are identified, then it will make sense for investors to fund the research to develop full molecular nanotechnology.

In the meantime, government funding of nanotech-oriented research continues. The Japanese technological bureau MITI is funding nanotech development efforts today to the tune of millions of dollars per year. The United States government is lagging, though policy-makers are beginning to get the message. University research projects exist at Rice, CalTech, and UC Davis, among other institutions.

For more information on nanotechnology, see the books cited above, proceedings of nanotechnology conferences (available from MIT Press), the journal Nanotechnology, the USENET newsgroup sci.nanotech, and the sci.nanotech Web page.  Back to top

4.3 Why are sciences and technologies relevant to life extension critical to transhumanists?

4.3.1 What is cryonics?  Being frozen is the second-worst thing that can happen to you. The correct term for being frozen is "vitrification."  Many extropic transhumanists have made arrangements for cryonic suspension. Both light and electron microscopy of tissue frozen with current techniques (cryoprotectant infusion and gradual cooling to liquid nitrogen temperatures) indicates that the damage done by the freezing process itself primarily takes the form of relatively large intercellular fissures or cracks which visually fit back together jigsaw-puzzle fashion, rather than small intracellular disruptions. This means the chances are good that a molecularly-precise machine technology should enable us to correct the freezing damage (along with whatever killed the patient in the first place).

This possibility of repair is far from a certainty. However, this small but finite chance is incomparably greater than the chances of revival after a cremation or burial (which are zero). To cryonicists, the chance of resuscitation is worth the money required to fund cryonic suspension arrangements. If resuscitation proves impossible, they reason, you are no "deader" than you would have been without suspension, so what have you lost? Ralph Merkle has popularized the following "payoff matrix":

	You sign up for cryonics	You don't
Cryonics works	You live	You're dead
It doesn't	You're dead	You're dead

Ralph Merkle has also pointed out that the proper experimental design to test for the clinical effectiveness of cryonics is to freeze a sample of n patients, wait 150 years, and see how many of them can be revived with the technology available at that time (using their unfrozen contemporaries as the control group). The question each of us must answer is: Do you want to be in the experimental group, or the control group? (Dave Krieger)  Back to top

4.4 Why do some journalists refer to technology as "the new religion?

References:

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