[ExI] Transhuman

[Natasha Vita-More]

Thank you BK for your insightful response. (Bty, I am chairman of Humanity+
J.)

 

I agree that if one modifies the body for any reason other than to enhance,
extend or expand life, it is more about body modification than
transhumanism. I think that ExI had this delineated nicely and is would
probably be wise to defer back to those seminal ideas. All the other
innovations that have occurred over the years don't change the basics, but
nicely add to the science, technology and design in engineering more
seamlessness with biology. Outside the physical body, building subpersonas
(avatars, etc.) in multiple environments renews some of the issues of
personal identity and fluidity of self and I find more original,
far-reaching ideas in this domain than in the particular visuals of physical
body design.

 

I think that Primo Posthuman nicely covers the domain of the transhuman:
human enhancement, body design, and simulation. 

 

Best,

Natasha

 

 <http://www.natasha.cc/> Natasha Vita-More, PhD

 

 

From: extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org
[mailto:extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org] On Behalf Of B.K. DeLong
Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2012 1:44 PM
To: Kelly Anderson
Cc: ExI chat list
Subject: Re: [ExI] Transhuman

 

Natasha is presently Vice Chair of Humanity+ (formerly the WTA) so I defer
to her - but here is their FAQ, developed by Extropy Institute and Humanity+
as well as WTA:
http://humanityplus.org/philosophy/transhumanist-faq/#answer_19

Here is Humanity+'s Mission: http://humanityplus.org/about/mission/

If you modify your body purely for cosmetics with no practical benefit (yes,
evolutionary proofs aside - say to look like a lizard, cat or other reasons)
are you really MORE than human? Your abilities are still human - you have
not advanced your cognitive, psychological or physical abilities unless one
of the cosmetic body mods allow you to do something standard humans cannot.
Hence transcending human limitations. 

That's just my view but I definitely defer to the definitions of Humanity+
and the ExI. I am just a dreamer and thinker and writer always hoping to
inspire the scientists, doctors, and engineers of current and upcoming
generations to create such amazing technologies. ;)

Who's to say that such body mods won't inspire transhumanist technologies?
They may not be transhuman but they might give people ideas...

On Wed, Sep 5, 2012 at 4:25 PM, Kelly Anderson <kellycoinguy at gmail.com>
wrote:

On Tue, Sep 4, 2012 at 11:27 AM, B.K. DeLong <bkdelong1 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Because, in my mind, the purpose of body modification within the
definition
> of transhumanism is that you are doing so to transcend present limitations
> of the standard human body for the betterment of yourself beyond mere
> cosmetic beautification.
>
> I think to qualify as transhumanism, body mods need to pose a benefit,
such
> as a tattoo that gives a constant blood reading, removing a rib or two to
> allow for better flexibility and contortionism, or going so far as leg
> amputation for cybernetic limbs. Not just satisfy the subject's definition
> (and perhaps a segment of society's) of beautification.
>
> Thoughts?



I stand corrected. I guess I thought transhumanism was a slightly
bigger tent that also included purely cosmetic body modification.
After all, if I no longer look human, am I not transhuman in some
meaningful way?

-Kelly




-- 
B.K. DeLong (K3GRN)
bkdelong at pobox.com
+1.617.797.8471

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bkdelong    Work

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