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Transhumanist FAQ
1. General Questions
1.1 What is transhumanism?
Transhumanism is a way of thinking about the future that is based on the premise that the human species in its current form does not represent the end of our development but rather a comparatively early phase. We formally define it as follows:
(1) The intellectual and cultural movement that affirms the possibility and desirability of fundamentally improving the human condition through applied reason, especially by developing and making widely available technologies to eliminate aging and to greatly enhance human intellectual, physical, and psychological capacities.
(2) The study of the ramifications, promises, and potential dangers of technologies that will enable us to overcome fundamental human limitations, and the related study of the ethical matters involved in developing and using such technologies.
Based on the two items of definition, would you accept the premise given? Bear with me a bit - I know it's a "cart before the horse" proposition, but I think it is rightful to understand some of where this philosophy goes before saying "a comparatively early phase" is a desired goal.
The contents page of the Transhumanism FAQ. Each section is linked on the page
1. General Questions
1.1 What is transhumanism?
Transhumanism is a way of thinking about the future that is based on the premise that the human species in its current form does not represent the end of our development but rather a comparatively early phase. We formally define it as follows:
(1) The intellectual and cultural movement that affirms the possibility and desirability of fundamentally improving the human condition through applied reason, especially by developing and making widely available technologies to eliminate aging and to greatly enhance human intellectual, physical, and psychological capacities.
(2) The study of the ramifications, promises, and potential dangers of technologies that will enable us to overcome fundamental human limitations, and the related study of the ethical matters involved in developing and using such technologies.
Based on the two items of definition, would you accept the premise given? Bear with me a bit - I know it's a "cart before the horse" proposition, but I think it is rightful to understand some of where this philosophy goes before saying "a comparatively early phase" is a desired goal.
The contents page of the Transhumanism FAQ. Each section is linked on the page
1. General Questions
* 1.1 What is transhumanism?
* 1.2 What is a posthuman?
* 1.3 What is a transhuman?
2. Technologies and Projections
* 2.1 Biotechnology, genetic engineering, stem cells, and cloning
* 2.2 What is molecular nanotechnology?
* 2.3 What is superintelligence?
* 2.4 What is virtual reality?
* 2.5 What is cryonics? Isnt the probability of success too small?
* 2.6 What is uploading?
* 2.7 What is the singularity?
3. Society and Politics
* 3.1 Will new technologies only benefit the rich and powerful?
* 3.2 Do transhumanists advocate eugenics?
* 3.3 Arent these future technologies very risky? Could they even cause our extinction?
* 3.4 If these technologies are so dangerous, should they be banned?
* 3.5 Shouldnt we concentrate on current problems ...
* 3.6 Will extended life worsen overpopulation problems?
* 3.7 Is there any ethical standard ...
* 3.8 What kind of society would posthumans live in?
* 3.9 Will posthumans or superintelligent machines pose a threat to humans who arent augmented?
4. Transhumanism and Nature
* 4.1 Why do transhumanists want to live longer?
* 4.2 Isnt this tampering with nature?
* 4.3 Will transhuman technologies make us inhuman?
* 4.4 Isnt death part of the natural order of things?
* 4.5 Are transhumanist technologies environmentally sound?
5. Transhumanism as a Philosophical and Cultural Viewpoint
* 5.1 What are the philosophical and cultural antecedents of transhumanism?
* 5.2 What currents are there within transhumanism?
* 5.3 How does transhumanism relate to religion?
* 5.4 Wont things like uploading, cryonics, and AI fail...
* 5.5 What kind of transhumanist art is there?
6. Practicalities
* 6.1 What are the reasons to expect all these changes?
* 6.2 Wont these developments take thousands or millions of years?
* 6.3 What if it doesnt work?
* 6.4 How can I use transhumanism in my own life?
* 6.5 How could I become a posthuman?
* 6.6 Wont it be boring to live forever in a perfect world?
* 6.7 How can I get involved and contribute?