Re: Are Extropians promoters of an ascetic ideal and alienation?

From: Natasha Vita-More (natasha@natasha.cc)
Date: Sun Aug 03 2003 - 13:59:53 MDT

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    At 11:15 PM 8/1/03 -0400, p_chikara@hotmail.com wrote:

    >I used the word "extropians" in a serious discussion recently and once again
    >was reminded that extropians sound like goofy cultists.
    >Not being able to find out why they were thinking that, or have them forward
    >me a link where one serious extropian sound like they say, I had to imagine
    >the problem they might have that makes their opinion. So here it is,
    >formulated as a question accordingly to the 7th extropian principle wich
    >invites constructive criticism :
    >
    >What would be the best answer to someone who would say that the primo body
    >and mind uploading are allegoric figures that transhumanists and extropians
    >are offering that permits to fantasm a body removed from it's attaches with
    >the present, the here and now, impossible bodies, wich makes them promoter
    >of an ascetic ideal, who hates the body and the flesh (and are possibly even
    >worse than christians at it, with their angels without nose or phallus)
    >and consequently alienation (alienation is to be understood here as "being
    >estranged to oneself").
    >
    >I have a working answer but I would like to hear what others think about
    >this.

    I'm sorry that I missed your email. I read some of the replies and thought
    I should reply myself. I hope that some of my thoughts below are
    useful. Right off, I see that the above basic premise is mistaken and if
    we simply clarify this, the rest will be very easy to answer.

    First, you (or those who you are talking to) have mistaken Primo with some
    otherly-type-of-concept. Primo is a prototype future body design. It is
    not exclusively machine. It is a combination of biology and technology.

    [RANT: Second, transhumanists are extropians (why do many people separate
    extropians and transhumanists! Extropy is a transhumanist philosophy and
    the term "transhumanist" comes out of Extropy Institute. "Transhuman" was
    co-created by Damien Broderick and a few others who used the term in
    different ways and for different purposes.) ]

    Third, (Now, back to Primo), Primo is not an "impossible" body. It is
    certainly a concept that has high potentiality for being produced in design
    shops. Industrial design and product design communities are currently
    working at designing aspects of Primo-type body parts. As I write this, I
    am looking at 4 posters in my studio produced by FH Joanneum,
    Fachochshulstudiengange der Technikum Joanneum GMBH, Industrial Design, de
    - sign - mail design products in Graz. Primo was featured at a conference
    this group attended. They produce highly imaginative and beautifully
    designed products to enhance human disabilities and others for
    communications and transportation.

    Fourth, Primo's philosophy is to accommodate and unite our human need for
    survival with our current biological abilities. These abilities: mobility,
    intellection, imagination, communication, etc. are what keeps us striving
    ahead toward the future. Primo's prototype is designed to accommodate our
    need to survive by introducing better means for survival by enhancing our
    mobility, intellection, imagination, communication, etc.

    Inasmuch, your use of the word "ascetic" is the very opposite of
    Primo. The correct modifier would be sensual, abundant, and
    comfortable. The same for "alienated". Primo is the opposite of being
    estranged from oneself. If you study its communication grid, you will see
    that it was designed for the brain to know what the body is doing
    24/7. It unites the brain to the body's functions. Further, the metabrain
    is a far better communicator than the human brain in that it has advanced
    sensing abilities and fast-track communications with the others in it's
    ability to share memory and experience.

    I hope this was helpful Sébastien.

    Natasha

    Natasha Vita-More
    http://www.natasha.cc
    ----------
    President, Extropy Institute
    http://www.extropy.org
    Founder, Transhumanist Arts & Culture
    http://www.transhuman.org
    http://www.extropic-art.com
    http://www.transhumanist.biz



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