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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Have any of you read “More Than Human” by Ramez
Naam? ISBN 0-7679-1843-6<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>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.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Brandon Reinhart<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>transcend@extropica.com<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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