Re: Definitions for Transhumanism
Max More (maxmore@primenet.com)
Mon, 13 Apr 1998 09:09:02 -0700
At 12:00 AM 4/12/98 EDT, Jay (entropyfoe) wrote:
>
>
>>> "TRANSHUMANISM: Any philosophy of life (such as extropian philosophy) that
>seeks the continuation and acceleration of the evolution of intelligent
>life beyond its currently human form and limitations by means of
>science and technology, guided by life-promoting principles and values.
>[Max More, 1990]"
>
>Certainly this is the nut of the term, " a philosophy of life (such as
>extropian philosophy) that seeks the acceleration of the evolution of
>intelligent
>life beyond its currently human form and limitations by means of
>science and technology" edited with humble intentions, for the
continuation of
>evolution will occur without our efforts, it is a natural process, occurring
>spontaneously, as has been observed historicaly. But we transhumans are
>impatient, and we want to accelerate evolution of intelligence.
Jay, thanks for the suggested edits. I agree that "continuation and" can be
dropped. The definition becomes more concise without really losing anything.
I'm not so sure about dropping the last clause about "guided by
life-promoting principles and values", though I could go along with that,
since it may invite confusion about what exactly that implies and what
those values are. Obviously any form of transhumanism does involve certain
values and attitudes, but perhaps that belongs in a separate, careful
explanation, rather than in a definition.
Onward!
Max
Max More, Ph.D.
more@extropy.org
Updated website (Jan 98): http://www.primenet.com/~maxmore
President, Extropy Institute: exi-info@extropy.org, http://www.extropy.org