[extropy-chat] More Than Human

[Brandon Reinhart]

Have any of you read "More Than Human" by Ramez Naam? ISBN 0-7679-1843-6

 

I found the book to be interesting for the reason that it is decidedly
conservative in its tone (for transhumanist thinking). The author is very
careful about what technologies he mentions and what terminology he uses.
For example, Mr. Naam never once mentions nanotechnology. Several of his
discussions elude to it, but instead of saying "nanotechnology" he uses the
term "tiny tools." The book is written to a low reading level, so Mr. Naam
may be trying to introduce a concept without using the term. Later, when
talking about brain scanning he again fails to mention possible invasive
brain scanning methods using nanotechnology. This made me wonder if the
author is skeptical of nanotech.

 

The book is like a high school level primer on transhumanism with (what I
interpret as) a slight socialist bent. (Note that I just read Simon Young,
whose techno-libertarianism can skew the perception a bit, hehe). Ramez Naam
manages to cover a lot of subject ground, without much depth of analysis and
without any "dangerous" words. No "transhumanism," "posthuman," "artificial
intelligence," "singularity," etc. Any technology above shock level 1 is
"purely science fiction."

 

At the same time, he lays a compelling groundwork for understanding what
near-generation biotechnology and robotics really means, with an emphasis on
culture. I also think the book does a good job of demonstrating the
international scope of science, showing the spectrum of research taking
place in various parts of the world due to varying levels of regulation.

 

For any established transhumanist, this book is unnecessary. But it may
serve as a useful tool for promoting a SL0 thinker to SL1. To that end, I
recommend you check it out.

 

This concept of promoting a thinker from one shock level to another has been
on my mind as a result of reading Simon Young. I can't see handing my dad a
copy of Designer Evolution without first sowing the seeds with a lighter
book. I've got Alcor paperwork on my desk. I don't want to simply explain to
my family why I believe what I do, I want them to understand my perspective.
This means I have to find ways of waging the meme-war at home. "More Than
Human" might be a good first book in building that understanding.

 

Brandon Reinhart

transcend at extropica.com

 

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