> From: Brian D Williams <talon57@well.com>
> "Is the Death Penalty Extropian?"
I think the death penalty is violently against extropianism. Too me, within extropianism, exists the possibility that some day, some way or another, all things will be possible for all people. As long as there is not some heaven that is perfect for all people, the extropic process is not completed and we will all simply have more work to do to get to that state. Central to this idea is the possibility of unconditional love for all and a desire for all to do all for all.
Of course, as long as we are severely constrained by limits, as long as we are mortal and so on, we can't yet give everyone everything they want. For example, if in the distant future, I have 10 copies of my physical body out and around all consciously sharing experiences, and a back up of a particular body and all it's memories..., If some freekko really wanted to "murder" one of them (I doubt this would really be the case unless he was broken or insane or whatever which is something that person doesn't really want...) I'd possibly be willing to let him murder one of me. (In other words, in the perfect universe, I'd be immortal through backups or whatever so murder would have no real meaning or would not be possible) But at the moment, with our restrictions and mortality I can't afford to let someone murder my one and only body. So, for the time being, we must physically constrain such to prevent them from doing harm to us that we cannot yet afford.
But I think we should or can at least hope for unconditional love for everyone and hope that some day we can give them everything they want no matter who they are. (In reality, anyone that thinks they want to murder someone is really insane or sick, or broken because there is no logically rational reason for wanting to kill someone, especially in a world without limits, or at least I hope that such is reality.) But until we can afford to do that (or until we know how to help them be cured of such insane desire as wanting to kill others...), we must simply constrain them or do whatever is required to limit them from taking from us, that which we are not yet able to provide while giving them as much as possible which would at least include letting them live in a prison cell, providing cryonic preservation and so on when possible, until more is possible.
Such may cost a lot, but hey, he aint heavy, he's my brother. Someday I hope to be able to afford to help him get what he really wants (or to help him discover that he doesn't really want to murder...) and that we can all live together perfectly without casting out, killing, or putting in hell..., anyone.
I certainly don't think hateful hellfire and damnation, death penalty... doctrines have anything to do with extropianism. As an extropian I look forward to, hope for, and most importantly strive for the day when we can find out how to eliminate all forced or violent segregation and deprivation... I think we really all want to give all to all and I hope that some day such will be possible some way or another. I don't think any real extropian will ever give up until we ALL get there. Killing someone, for whatever reson, is simply hatfully giving up and moving in the wrong (as in anti extropy) direction.
Brent Allsop