[extropy-chat] POLL: Principles of Extropy

Sahyinepu sahynepu at concentric.net
Wed Oct 13 02:35:01 UTC 2004


1.  Perpetual Progress
2.  Rational Thinking
3.  Self-Direction
4.  Self-Transformation
5.  Intelligent Technology
6.  Open Society
7.  Practical Optimism

On Monday, October 11, 2004, at 01:37 PM, Hal Finney wrote:

> We have a lot of political posts here, which in my opinion are useless
> and off topic. There are any number of places on the net to debate
> traditional politics: liberal vs conservative, left wing vs right,
> moderate vs extreme. If we have to debate politics, we should try to
> tie the issues back to something specific to this mailing list.
>
> Along these lines I thought it might be useful to have a little 
> refresher
> on what we are about. Extropianism has gone through considerable
> change in the past few years. The very words have changed: extropianism
> and extropians are out; extropy and transhumanism are in. We used to
> communicate via the extropians list; it is now extropy-chat. What used
> to be called the Extropian Principles are now the Principles of 
> Extropy.
> I'm not sure what word to use any more to address subscribers to this
> list.
>
> However much has stayed the same, and the new Principles of Extropy 
> look
> pretty familiar, from <http://www.extropy.org/principles.htm> (where 
> longer
> discussions of each one are available too):
>
> : The Principles of Extropy in Brief
> :
> : Perpetual Progress
> :
> : Extropy means seeking more intelligence, wisdom, and effectiveness,
> : an open-ended lifespan, and the removal of political, cultural,
> : biological, and psychological limits to continuing development.
> : Perpetually overcoming constraints on our progress and possibilities
> : as individuals, as organizations, and as a species. Growing in 
> healthy
> : directions without bound.
> :
> : Self-Transformation
> :
> : Extropy means affirming continual ethical, intellectual, and
> : physical self-improvement, through critical and creative thinking,
> : perpetual learning, personal responsibility, proactivity, and
> : experimentation. Using technology - in the widest sense to seek
> : physiological and neurological augmentation along with emotional and
> : psychological refinement.
> :
> : Practical Optimism
> :
> : Extropy means fueling action with positive expectations - individuals
> : and organizations being tirelessly proactive. Adopting a rational,
> : action-based optimism or "proaction", in place of both blind faith 
> and
> : stagnant pessimism.
> :
> : Intelligent Technology
> :
> : Extropy means designing and managing technologies not as ends in
> : themselves but as effective means for improving life. Applying 
> science
> : and technology creatively and courageously to transcend "natural"
> : but harmful, confining qualities derived from our biological 
> heritage,
> : culture, and environment.
> :
> : Open Society
> :
> : Extropy means supporting social orders that foster freedom of
> : communication, freedom of action, experimentation, innovation,
> : questioning, and learning. Opposing authoritarian social control and
> : unnecessary hierarchy and favoring the rule of law and 
> decentralization
> : of power and responsibility. Preferring bargaining over battling,
> : exchange over extortion, and communication over compulsion. Openness
> : to improvement rather than a static utopia. Extropia ("ever-receding
> : stretch goals for society") over utopia ("no place").
> :
> : Self-Direction
> :
> : Extropy means valuing independent thinking, individual freedom, 
> personal
> : responsibility, self-direction, self-respect, and a parallel respect
> : for others.
> :
> : Rational Thinking
> :
> : Extropy means favoring reason over blind faith and questioning over
> : dogma. It means understanding, experimenting, learning, challenging,
> : and innovating rather than clinging to beliefs.
>
>
> In order to get people to think about these principles a bit, I
> thought it might be fun to take a poll.  Try to rank the 7 Principles
> of Extropy in order of how much you agree with them and how important
> you think they are.  Those that are, or could be, an important part of
> your personal philosophy you would rank high.  Others that you agree
> with but seem like rather obvious platitudes could be ranked lower.
> Any that you think are questionable or harmful would come last.
>
> To get the ball rolling I will put them in order for me:
>
> 1. Rational Thinking
> 2. Self-Direction
> 3. Open Society
> 4. Intelligent Technology
> 5. Self Transformation
> 6. Perpetual Progress
> 7. Practical Optimism
>
> For a brief discussion, rational thinking is very important to me as a
> basic method for dealing with life.  Self direction and open society
> are consistent with my individualistic political philosophy.  I am
> always interested in new technologies and their possible future uses.
> Self transformation and perpetual progress are more long term goals as
> we develop new technologies.  Likewise practical optimism is a useful
> guideline but doesn't come into play much on a day to day basis.
>
> If enough people are interested we could try combining our results into
> an overall ranking of the Principles.
>
> Hal
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>




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