Category Archives: Transhumanist

The Mormon Transhumanist Association is pleased to announce that it has appointed Dorothy Deasy to serve as Chief Humanitarian Officer. Dorothy will continue to serve in her positions as board member and secretary of the board. Humanitarian managers, Hank Pellissier and Roger Hansen, will also continue to serve in their positions.

The Association engages in humanitarian efforts for a variety of reasons. Partly it is because the projects reflect the motivations and passions of their respective project leaders, such Hank Pellissier's desire to help people in Uganda to reach their potential, Kathy Wilson's hope to ease the hardship of dalits in India, or Roger Hansen's work to bring joy to children growing up in poverty in Africa. The over-arching reason is that we are inspired by the idea of transfiguration and aspire to follow the example of Christ by reaching out with love.

Dorothy believes that transfiguration calls us both to traditional expressions of charity and to more. Her hope is that the Association will influence many to imagine the promise of transhuman advances and technology as an opportunity to provide greater access to those on the margins, and to position anticipation of the Technological Singularity as an urgent reason for work to ensure that all human potential matters.

The Mormon Transhumanist Association is eager to work with others on projects that enable people to participate in their own transformation and that of their communities for the better. We need your help, resources, passions, and projects. Join us to ensure emerging technologies are applied where and how they are most needed in our society, culture, and world.

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News | Mormon Transhumanist Association

Humanity+ is dedicated to elevating the human condition. We aim to deeply influence a new generation of thinkers who dare to envision humanitys next steps. Our programs combine unique insights into the developments of emerging and speculative technologies that focus on the well-being of our species and the changes that we are and will be facing. Our programs are designed to produce outcomes that can be helpful to individuals and institutions.

Humanity+ is an international nonprofit membership organization which advocates the ethical use of technology to expand human capacities. In other words, we want people to be better than well.

Mission Statement: Humanity+ is an international nonprofit membership organization which advocates the ethical use of technology to expand human capacities. In other words, we want people to be better than well. Where does Humanity+ advocate the ethical use of technology? What are the human capacities to be expanded? How does Humanity+ foster people being better than well?

Humanity+adopted theTranshumanist Declaration.The Transhumanist Declaration was a a joint effort between members of Extropy Institute, World Transhumanist Association, and other transhumanist groups worldwide. TheTranshumanist Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ) is located at Humanity+s website and is a collection of contributions by numerous authors, later edited by Nick Bostrom, and is updated as necessary by others. There are other FAQs on transhumanism, such asThe Transhumanist FAQwas developed by ExI and members of Humanity+ and earlier WTA.

Approximately 6000 people follow Humanity+ (including members and newsletter subscribers). Humanity+ followers come from more than 100 countries, from Afghanistan to Brazil to Egypt to the Philippines.Supporting and sustaining memberselect the Board, and participate in Humanity+ leadership and decision-making. Humanity+ members also participate in more than four dozenchaptersaround the world.

First, join Humanity+, and subscribe to the Humanity+ newsletter.

You may also enroll in one of our discussion lists and join one of our local H+ chapters, which can be found in countries and languages all over the world.

______________________________________________________________________ Humanity+ Contact information:If you have any questions about Humanity+, pleaseemail us at info@humanityplus.org.

Mailing Address: Humanity+, Inc. 5042 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 14334 Los Angeles, California 90036

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Humanity+ Mission

Humanity+ is an international nonprofit membership organization that advocates the ethical use of technology to expand human capacities. In other words, we want people to be better than well.

Our Humanity+ conferences explore innovations of science and technology and their relationship to humanity. Recent conferences have been held at San Francisco State University, Polytechnic University in Hong Kong, Parsons The New School for Design in New York City, California Technology Institute, and Harvard University.

H+ Magazine covers technological, scientific, and cultural trends that are changing humans in fundamental ways. H+ Magazine aims to reflect the newest edge culture by featuring creative expressions of humanity on a razors edge where daily life and science fiction seem to be merging.

H+ Connect is a dynamic social network for Humanity+ members and other transhumanists throughout the world. We hope H+ Connect will offer a unique environment for people to share what they are working on, meetup with others.

Join a Chapter or start one! There are many possible activities for local groups, from purely social gatherings to study groups and speaker series. All local chapters are autonomous, except insofar as we recognize and cooperate with you.

The Humanity+ Student Network is an international coalition of student organizations dedicated to discussing transhumanist ideas. The H+SN and its member groups seek to provide opportunities for university-level work and research in exploring the promises and perils of technology and the future of humanity.

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Humanity Plus

Transhumanist politics constitute a political ideology that expresses the belief in technology's potential to perfect the individual.[1] Transhumanist Zoltan Istvan claims that the transhumanism movement aims to improve humanity with technology and science, and he gives life extension and human enhancement as examples of transhumanists' ideas.[2]

According to James Hughes, transhumanist politics is part of a three-hundred-year-long history that began in the Age of Enlightenment, when people began to advocate for democracy and individual rights and use science and technology instead of magic and superstition.[3][4] In 2012, when active transhumanist Giuseppe Vatinno was elected into Italian Parliament, New Scientist dubbed him "the world's first transhumanist politician".[5][6] Also in 2012, the Longevity Party, a movement described as "100% transhumanist" by cofounder Maria Konovalenko, began to organize in Russia for building a balloted political party.[7][8] In 2013, io9 editor Annalee Newitz suggested building a Space Party devoted to developing space settlements and defending humanity against existential threats.[9] In 2014, h+ Magazine called Gabriel Rothblatt "very possibly the first openly transhumanist political candidate in the United States" when he ran as a candidate for the United States Congress.[10] However, futurist Peter Rothman reports that "Humanity+ board chair Natasha Vita-More was elected as a Councilperson for the 28th Senatorial District of Los Angeles in 1992 on an openly futurist and transhumanist platform."[11]

Transhumanists believe in transforming the human condition by developing and making available technologies to greatly enhance human intellectual, physical, and psychological capacities.[not in citation given][original research?][12] According to a 2006 study by the European Parliament, transhumanism is the political expression of the ideology that technology should be used to enhance human abilities.[1]

According to Amon Twyman of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET), political philosophies which support transhumanism include social futurism, techno-progressivism, techno-libertarianism, and anarcho-transhumanism.[13] Twyman considers such philosophies to collectively constitute political transhumanism.[13]

Democratic transhumanists, also known as technoprogressives,[14][15] support equal access to human enhancement technologies in order to promote social equality and prevent technologies from furthering the divide among socioeconomic classes.[16] However, libertarian transhumanist Ronald Bailey is critical of the democratic transhumanism described by James Hughes.[17][18][19]

Riccardo Campa wrote that transhumanism can be coupled with many different political, philosophical, and religious views, and that this diversity can be an asset so long as transhumanists do not give priority to existing affiliations over membership with organized transhumanism.[20]

The Transhumanist Party is a proposed political party in the United States,[21] advocated by Zoltan Istvan, who has stated he will be running in the United States presidential election, 2016 under the party's banner.[22][23][24] Istvan was to hold a fundraiser on Kickstarter in January 2015 and to conduct a campaign bus tour throughout California in summer 2015.[25] Istvan filed a statement of intent for his organization to qualify as a political party for the June 2015 California primary elections.[21] As of March 2015 Istvan reported that he himself funded nearly all of his campaign's expenses but that could not continue.[24] In June 2015, Istvan filed an FEC form designating "Transhumanist Party" to be the principal campaign committee for his election candidacy.[26]

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Transhumanist politics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Humanity stands to be profoundly affected by science and technology in the future. We envision the possibility of broadening human potential by overcoming aging, cognitive shortcomings, involuntary suffering, and our confinement to planet Earth. We believe that humanitys potential is still mostly unrealized. There are possible scenarios that lead to wonderful and exceedingly worthwhile enhanced human conditions. We recognize that humanity faces serious risks, especially from the misuse of new technologies. There are possible realistic scenarios that lead to the loss of most, or even all, of what we hold valuable. Some of these scenarios are drastic, others are subtle. Although all progress is change, not all change is progress. Research effort needs to be invested into understanding these prospects. We need to carefully deliberate how best to reduce risks and expedite beneficial applications. We also need forums where people can constructively discuss what should be done, and a social order where responsible decisions can be implemented. Reduction of existential risks, and development of means for the preservation of life and health, the alleviation of grave suffering, and the improvement of human foresight and wisdom should be pursued as urgent priorities, and heavily funded. Policymaking ought to be guided by responsible and inclusive moral vision, taking seriously both opportunities and risks, respecting autonomy and individual rights, and showing solidarity with and concern for the interests and dignity of all people around the globe. We must also consider our moral responsibilities towards generations that will exist in the future. We advocate the well-being of all sentience, including humans, non-human animals, and any future artificial intellects, modified life forms, or other intelligences to which technological and scientific advance may give rise. We favour allowing individuals wide personal choice over how they enable their lives. This includes use of techniques that may be developed to assist memory, concentration, and mental energy; life extension therapies; reproductive choice technologies; cryonics procedures; and many other possible human modification and enhancement technologies.

(From Humanity+)

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Transhumanist Declaration | Mormon Transhumanist Association

Welcome to the website of Transhumanist Party (Global); A place where you can get news and information about the Transhumanist Party movement worldwide. If you are looking for links and information about the various national-level Transhumanist Party groups, please see the links on your left.

The Transhumanist Party (Global) or TPG is an organisation founded by Amon Twyman and Zoltan Istvan, dedicated to supporting Transhumanist Parties around the world and encouraging effective cooperation between them. TPG does not hold any dominion over the national-level Transhumanist Parties, which manage their own affairs, but only exists to help them do so in a spirit of effective cooperation with the rest of the movement.

MISSION: To facilitate cooperation between national-level Transhumanist Parties and continental TP organisations, and to enable party members worldwide to interact directly regardless of which national parties they support.

TP (Global) does not support individual membership. Instead, it is composed of continental and national-level organisations. Six continental "umbrella" organisations encompass Europe (TP-EUR), Middle East & Africa (TP-MEA), North America (TP-NAM), South America (TP-SAM), North Asia-Pacific (TP-NAP), and South Asia-Pacific (TP-SAP).

The primary, initial function of TPG is to help with the development of new national-level Transhumanist Parties. New parties start as precursor groups, dedicated to laying the groundwork for the establishment of a party, and all that is really needed for that is a single person with commitment, time, and energy. Please find some advice for would-be group creators below, and if you would like direct help in setting up or developing a new group then please contact TPG: info@transhumanistpartyglobal.org.

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Transhumanist Party - Google Sites

What is the UK Transhumanist Association? It is the proper business of human beings to seek to improve themselves. To deny this is to embrace stagnation and decay. It's probably safe to say that most people want to see a future where we can live healthy, happy, useful and long lives. To achieve any such improvement in the human condition, progress must be made. Today, there are so many anti-progress groups, especially in the area of science and scientific research. Neo-Luddites and bio-conservatives seek to limit the application of scientific research often as a knee-jerk reaction to the new, without considering the substantial benefits such technologies may bring. Just think for a moment about your life; have you ever been to hospital, had an operation, taken life saving drugs? If you have then you wouldn't be reading this without being a direct beneficiary of Progress. Even if you had been perfectly healthy since birth, the chances are you wouldn't be reading this, as without Progress there would be no personal computers, and no internet. The UK Transhumanist Association is here to restore the balance and promote the benefits of Progress and advanced scientific research. We are a voluntary organisation, whose aim is to raise awareness of issues relating to the creation of a better future for everyone. Certainly we must be careful with our research and its application in the new technologies, but to deny significant benefits of these technologies just because of ill thought out `doomsday scenarios' may have the reverse effect, and accelerate the problems besetting mankind at this moment in history. We want to promote sensible, balanced discussion and policy-making in issues that will affect people's lives in the near future, issues that up to now have been dominated by hysteria and scare-mongering, issues that we cannot afford to have decided by ignorance and fear. The word "Transhumanist" embodies our belief that the human condition can be improved, through our own efforts, by a rational and compassionate application of advanced technology. This technology is being developed right now, all over the world. Our use or misuse of it will determine what kind of world we, and our children, will live in. We believe that everyone can and should understand this new technology, so that they can have a say in how it will be used. You don't need to have a PhD to understand what genetically modified food actually is, and what its potential is, both good and bad. You don't have to simply accept what the newspapers say about stem-cell therapy, because it's 'too technical' for the average person to understand. These things are no more difficult to understand, from a practical point of view, than the decisions that ordinary people make throughout their lives: Use public transport or buy a car? Eat chips or salad? Send your child to a state school or a private school? Trying to ban new technologies because we don't understand them or are afraid of them is just as bad as uncritically embracing them. We teach our children to treat fire with respect, but we don't teach them that it is inherently bad and must never be used. Fire, while being one of the most destructive and frightening technologies we have ever harnessed, is also one of the most useful, when it is used carefully and appropriately. Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Cloning, Stem-Cell Therapy - these technologies are the fire of the future, and we must learn how to handle them safely and effectively. We aim to reach all levels of British society through a mix of lobbying, outreach and education, and networking. Lobbying Decisions in areas such as stem-cell research, biotechnology and nanotechnology are too important to be left to the (unaided) politicians. There is no shortage of pressure groups that have both a technophobic agenda and the ear of politicians sitting on crucial parliamentary committees. We aim to provide an alternative and positive approach with targeted position statements delivered where they are likely to have the most impact, i.e. the government and civil society institutions where those matters are discussed and decisions are taken. Outreach and Education Increasingly, the prospect of a "posthuman future" is debated in the media. However, there is an abundance of misconceptions regarding the use of technology for the enhancement of the human condition, as seen in the confusion generated by the ongoing cloning debate. We aim to provide expert-speakers to interested parties, professional organisations, etc, able to clarify the issues, highlight the potential benefits and dangers, and generally outline a roadmap to the future. Furthermore, we aim to organise events that provide the general public with an opportunity to find out more about cutting- edge technologies and their impact on individuals and society. Networking We aim to create networking opportunities for UK-based professionals in the relevant enabling technologies with the aim of fostering employment opportunities and cross-fertilisation of ideas. While not directly linked to any other transhumanist organisation, we have friendly and cooperative relations with the World Transhumanist Association and the Extropy Institute (see Links) and we are working towards building further constructive relationships with other, similar, groups. Please consider joining the UK Transhumanist Association to keep up to date with developments, enable you to reach a balanced and considered position towards Progress and the new technologies, and help to contribute towards a better future for us all. What is a Transhumanist? Transhumanist thought has one very simple underlying concept: That the Human Condition, as it exists now (circa 2008), can be improved upon, with the intelligent and compassionate application of technology. This concept is expanded upon in the Transhumanist Declaration which the UK Transhumanist Association has adopted as its guiding principles. These principles leave plenty of room for variation to suit different cultures, nations, sub-cultures and individuals. There is no political agenda inherent in them. They are a formalisation of a trend toward greater capabilities, a deeper understanding of the world around us, and an enhanced capacity for survival, both as a species and as individuals, that the human race has experienced since its deepest pre-history. The means to achieving these aims is also one of the oldest of human activities - technology. It is technology that sets us apart from all the other creatures on this planet. It is the activity that defines us, sustains us, and will one day enable us to reach the stars. Within these principles, Transhumanists span a wide range of ideas. Some simply want to see an end to the tyranny of nature over humankind. They want to abolish disease, suffering and involuntary death. They uphold individual rights to live longer, more productive, and happier lives for anyone who wishes to. Others want more, and think more deeply about the future of the human race, and of intelligence itself. They want to encourage the development of thinking, living machines that can help us survive a hostile universe, they look forward to the development of technologies that will enable us to transform our bodies and brains so that they are more powerful, more flexible, and longer-lasting than our current ones, which are the product of blind evolution and can be immensely improved upon with the right knowledge and some good design. Some of these ideas may sound far-fetched, even fantastical, but they are all based upon sound philosophical and scientific principles. Of course, you don't have to subscribe to, or even believe, these more far-reaching ideas in order to be in favour of a better, safer future. All you need is co
mmon-sense, some optimism, and a determination to help make the world a better place. No matter how small your part, every little helps. If you find yourself in agreement with these ideas, then you can call yourself a Transhumanist. Join whichever of our membership options you think is most suitable, and we will keep you up-to-date with the latest developments, and offer you chances to get involved with our various projects. You will also be a part of a growing world-wide community of forward-looking, optimistic and enthusiastic people who, rather than fearing a bad future, know that they are helping to build a good one.

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UK Transhumanist Association

The Transhumanist FAQ was developed in 1998 and authored into a formal FAQ in 1999 through the inspirational work of transhumanists, including Alexander Chislenko, Max More, Anders Sandberg, Natasha Vita-More, James Hughes, and Nick Bostrom. Several people contributed to the definition of transhumanism, which was originated by Max More. Greg Burch, David Pearce, Kathryn Aegis, and Anders Sandberg kindly offered extensive editorial comments. The presentation in the cryonics section was, and still is, directly inspired by an article by Ralph Merkle. Ideas, criticisms, questions, phrases, and sentences to the original version were contributed by (in alphabetical order): Kathryn Aegis, Alex (intech@intsar.com), Brent Allsop, Brian Atkins, Scott Badger, Doug Bailey, Harmony Baldwin, Damien Broderick, Greg Burch, David Cary, John K Clark, Dan Clemensen, Damon Davis, Jeff Dee, Jean-Michel Delhotel, Dylan Evans, EvMick@aol.com, Daniel Fabulich, Frank Forman, Robin Hanson, Andrew Hennessey, Tony Hollick, Joe Jenkins, William John, Michelle Jones, Arjen Kamphius, Henri Kluytmans, Eugene Leitl, Michael Lorrey, mark@unicorn.com, Peter C. McCluskey, Erik Moeller, J. R. Molloy, Max More, Bryan Moss, Harvey Newstrom, Michael Nielsen, John S. Novak III, Dalibor van den Otter, David Pearce, pilgrim@cyberdude.com, Thom Quinn, Anders Sandberg, Wesley R. Schwein, Shakehip@aol.com, Allen Smith, Geoff Smith, Randy Smith, Dennis Stevens, Derek Strong, Remi Sussan, Natasha Vita-More, Michael Wiik, Eliezer Yudkowsky, and zebo@pro-ns.net

Over the years, this FAQ has been updated to provide a substantial account of transhumanism. Extropy Institute (ExI) was a source of information for the first version of the Transhumanist FAQ, version 1.0 in the 1990s. WTA adopted the FAQ in 2001 and Nick Bostrom and James Hughes continued to work on it, with the contributions of close to hundred people from ExI and WTA, including Aleph and Transcedo and the UK Transhumanist Association. New material has been added and many old sections have been substantially reworked. In the preparation of version 2.0, the following people have been especially helpful: Eliezer Yudkowsky, who provided editorial assistance with comments on particular issues of substance; Dale Carrico who proofread the first half of the text; and Michael LaTorra who did the same for the second half; and Reason who then went over the whole document again, as did Frank Forman, and Sarah Banks Forman. Useful comments of either substance or form have also been contributed by (in alphabetical order): Michael Anissimov, Samantha Atkins, Milan Cirkovic, Jos Luis Cordeiro, George Dvorsky, James Hughes, G.E. Jordan, Vasso Kambourelli, Michael LaTorra, Eugen Leitl, Juan Meridalva, Harvey Newstrom, Emlyn OReagan, Christine Peterson, Giulio Prisco, Reason, Rafal Smigrodzki, Simon Smith, Mike Treder, and Mark Walker. Many others have over the years offered questions or reflections that have in some way helped shape this document, and even though it is not possible to name you all, your contributions are warmly appreciated.

The Transhumanist FAQ 3.0, as revised by the continued efforts of many transhumanists, will continue to be updated and modified as we develop new knowledge and better ways of accounting for old knowledge which directly and indirectly relate to transhumanism. Our goal is to provide a reliable source of information about transhumanism.

Thank you to all who have contributed in the past and to those who offer new insights to this FAQ!

3.0

General What is transhumanism?What is a posthuman?What is a transhuman?

Practicalities What are the reasons to expect all these changes?Wont these developments take thousands or millions of years?How can I use transhumanism in my own life? What if it doesnt work?How could I become a posthuman?Wont it be boring to live forever in a perfect world?How can I get involved and contribute?

Society and Politics Will new technologies only benefit the rich and powerful?Do transhumanists advocate eugenics?Arent these future technologies very risky? Could they even cause our extinctionIf these technologies are so dangerous, should they be banned?Shouldnt we concentrate on current problems Will extended life worsen overpopulation problems?Is there any ethical standard What kind of society would posthumans live in?Will posthumans or superintelligent machines pose a threat to humans who arent augmented?

Technologies and Projections Biotechnology, genetic engineering, stem cells, and cloningWhat is molecular nanotechnology?What is superintelligence?What is virtual reality?What is cryonics? Isnt the probability of success too small?What is uploading?What is the singularity?

Transhumanism and Nature Why do transhumanists want to live longer?Isnt this tampering with nature?Will transhuman technologies make us inhuman?Isnt death part of the natural order of things?Are transhumanist technologies environmentally sound?

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h+ Magazine |