Re: Regarding David Bowman

Robert Owen (rowen@technologist.com)
Sun, 14 Nov 1999 02:09:09 -0500

J R Molloy wrote:

> >It looks like a trend may be developing to create odd
> >websites about transhumanism. What do the rest of you think?
> >John Grigg
>
> I looks to me like the term "transhumanism" may get away from us, because no one
> has copyrighted, trademarked, or patented it. Like the word "natural" on food
> products and building materials, anyone can use it, and anyone can define it
> (except Daniel Webster).
>
> Rave on,
>
> --J. R.

Nothing unusual here; c.f. "Christianity", "Platonism", "Empiricism", "Situational Ethics" or "Existentialism" generally, "Transcendentalism" and so on. The issue that is raised is whether "Transhumanism" is a Secret Society requiring control over the rites of initiation and confirmation, or whether it is merely the type of label needed only by those who require others to authenticate their identity.

If one thinks of "Transhumanism" as a doing rather than a being, then the outcomes of different practices will determine who "really" deserved the name, and by then it won't matter.



Robert M. Owen
Director
The Orion Institute
57 W. Morgan Street
Brevard, NC 28712-3659 USA