Re: Rebuilding the Extropy FAQ

From: Nick Bostrom (nick@nickbostrom.com)
Date: Tue Dec 05 2000 - 18:40:15 MST


Dan Fabulich wrote:

>These are good questions, too... Some of these questions, I think,
>have already been adequately covered by the Transhumanist FAQ at
>www.transhumanism.org. Maybe we could/should quote from it liberally,
>as it's a rather well written document, IMO.

Thanks. Yes, feel free to! There is obviously a big overlap.

For example, regarding the relation between extropianism and transhumanism,
the Transhumanist FAQ has the following entry:

Is extropianism the same as transhumanism?
Extropianism represents one distinctive subset of transhumanist thought (so
all extropians are transhumanists but not vice versa). Extropians take
their name from the concept of "extropy", developed by Max More and Tom
Morrow, that refers to a system's growth and vitality.

Extropianism is defined by the Extropian Principles, a document authored by
the founders and members of the Extropy Institute. Version 3.0 of the
Principles lists seven principles that are important for extropians in the
development of their thinking: Perpetual Progress, Self-Transformation,
Practical Optimism, Intelligent Technology, Open Society, Self-Direction,
and Rational Thinking.

Politically, the extropians oppose authoritarian social control and favor
the rule of law and decentralization of power. Transhumanism as such does
not advocate any particular political viewpoint, although it does have
political consequences. Transhumanists themselves hold a wide range of
political opinions (there are liberals, social democrats, libertarians,
green party members etc.), and some transhumanists have elected to remain
apolitical.

References:
More, M. 1998. The Extropian Principles, v. 3.0.
http://www.maxmore.com/extprn3.htm

Dr. Nick Bostrom
Department of Philosophy
Yale University
Homepage: http://www.nickbostrom.com



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