[extropy-chat] Transhumanism: 2000 Years in the Making

[Max More]

Comparing transhumanism to gnosticism is nothing new. I've seen and heard 
it many times, most notably in Erik Davis' book, "Techgnosis".

The attempt to force transhumanism (in all its flavors) into the shape of 
gnosticism can only be damaging. This essay follows the usual line of 
saying that we "despise" the physical body. I'm sure *some* of us do, but 
for most of us, that attitude does not follow from a desire to improve on 
the amazing start made by nature. (When you edit your first draft of a 
piece of writing or coding, does that imply that you *despise* your initial 
attempt?) The body is not and cannot be "degenerate", since it hasn't 
degenerated from a imaginary state of initial perfection.

Transhumanism really has none of the fundamentalism dualism of gnosticism. 
There is no equivalent of "the Fall." Nor do we claim access to a special 
way of knowing (we just read and think more than most people!).

The author's suggestion that we enlightened transhumans-to-be (the "chosen 
few") will lead the rest into the future or leave them "to wallow", is an 
absurdly prejudicial characterization. The same might be said of *anyone* 
who tries to encourage others to adopt better ways of doing things, as they 
see it.

Onward!

Max



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Max More, Ph.D.
max at maxmore.com or max at extropy.org
http://www.maxmore.com
Strategic Philosopher
Chairman, Extropy Institute. http://www.extropy.org
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