Category Archives: transhumanism

Transhumanism has been defined as the use of science and technology to improve the human condition, and the aspiration to go beyond what is traditionally defined as human, but it can be something broader: rational self-improvement while ignoring the boundaries set as typical. There’s a lot of “self-improvement” out there, and a fair deal of promoting rationalism in debate and analysis, but these don’t always come together. For instance, a highly rational individual might spend their entire day in front of a computer, neglecting exercise, and failing to take opportunity of a huge category of potential self-improvement. Conversely, someone preoccupied with “self-improvement” might believe in trendy nonsensical ideas about self-improvement that don’t actually work.

People usually start off in life with a certain set of aptitudes, such as brains, social skills, strength, or looks. A fun way of embracing life is to try to maximize these qualities no matter where you start out on them. Even though I tend to fall on the “nature” side of the nature-nurture debate, I still think there is a tremendous amount that …

R.U. Sirius writes:

Today, I think there are many more self-defined transhumanists. There is more willingness, particularly perhaps with post-Gen X young people, to define themselves… to stand up and say, without reflexive irony, “I’m a transhumanist!” or “I’m an atheist!” or “T’m a socialist” or “I’m a libertarian!” whereas it would have seemed almost gauche in the 90s.

Yes! More socially aware and technologically connected than people of the “Me Decade” and the decade right after it, the leaders of the 10s recognize the importance of groups and movements beyond the individual. This is the age of Facebook and Causes. People realize that intellectual movements, like atheism and transhumanism, need their support and identification to exist. Someone who is too self-centered to join any club that will have them is someone who will sit on the sidelines of history.

When I say “I’m an atheist”, it makes it slightly more acceptable to be an atheist, because I’m another person “putting my name on the line”. The point is that it shouldn’t be questioned or considered at all …

I’m running for the Humanity+ board, it will be announced early next week on their website. To vote in the elections, you have to be a registered member of the organization by Monday, which is only $5/month.

One of the most popular memes I generated in 2010 was the “transhumanism has already won” meme. Surprisingly, the phrase returns 1,570 results on Google.

A new article by David Pearce is up at H+ magazine. As a transhumanist staunchly in favor of the Hedonistic Imperative, I welcome this. Here are the reasons:



1) We Shall Soon Be Able To Choose Our Own Level Of Pain-Sensitivity 2) We Can Soon Choose How Rewarding We Want Our Daily Life To Be 3) Steak Lovers and Vegans Alike Can Soon Eat Cruelty-Free Diets 4) Carnivorous Nonhuman Predators Can Be Phased Out Too 5) We May Be On The Eve Of An “Intelligence Explosion”

1-2 are “old” transhumanist ideas, 3 is in vitro meat (new-ish), 4 is David’s good recent idea, and 5 is an idea more than a century old, but only given real attention since the founding of SIAI in 2000.

What good is transhumanism if it can’t eliminate suffering for people and animals?