<font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">Welcome to the list Sarah.<br
/><br />Thank you for asking this question.  <br /><br />Here are my
suggestions:<br /><br />1.  The Wikipedia article </font><a
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transhumanism" target="_blank"><font
face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"
size="2">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transhumanism</font></a><font
face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"> is a fairly good summary; however,
it does have some flaws. The two flaws that stand out are that it skims over,
very quickly, the philosophical beginnings of transhumanism and that its
historical summation is not completely accurate.<br /><br />2.
"Transhumanism - Towards a Futurist Philosophy" </font><a
href="http://www.maxmore.com/transhum.htm" target="_blank"><font
face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"
size="2">http://www.maxmore.com/transhum.htm</font></a><font
face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"> is the essential reading.<br /><br
/>3.  "The Global Spiral" special issue on transhumanism
- "Transhumanism Answers Its Critics" is, in my opinion,
quintessential reading for anyone wanting to know about transhumanism!  It
explains transhumanism by responding to specific criticisms of several
high-profile academics.  Here is the introduction: </font><a
href="http://www.metanexus.net/magazine/tabid/68/id/10693/Default.aspx"
target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"
size="2">http://www.metanexus.net/magazine/tabid/68/id/10693/Default.aspx</font></a><font
face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">   I especially like "True
Transhumanism" </font><a
href="http://www.metanexus.net/Magazine/tabid/68/id/10685/Default.aspx"
target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"
size="2">http://www.metanexus.net/Magazine/tabid/68/id/10685/Default.aspx</font></a><font
face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"> and "Trite Truths About
Technology: A Reply to Ted Peters" </font><a
href="http://www.metanexus.net/magazine/tabid/68/id/10681/Default.aspx"
target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"
size="2">http://www.metanexus.net/magazine/tabid/68/id/10681/Default.aspx</font></a><font
face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">  (You can easily search on this site
for the each transhumanist's responsive paper, which is listed in
the introduction.)<br /><br />4.  Two Transhumanist FAQs:  </font><a
href="http://www.extropy.org/faq.htm" target="_blank"><font
face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"
size="2">http://www.extropy.org/faq.htm</font></a><font
face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">  and </font><a
href="http://humanityplus.org/learn/philosophy/faq" target="_blank"><font
face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"
size="2">http://humanityplus.org/learn/philosophy/faq</font></a><font
face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"> <br /><br />5.  And last but not
least!  Transhumanism is about people and culture.  This is a worn-out site in
dire need to upgrading, but it has legs:  </font><a
href="http://www.transhuman.org/" target="_blank"><font
face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"
size="2">http://www.transhuman.org/</font></a><font
face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">  and the arts, of course:  </font><a
href="http://www.transhumanist.biz/" target="_blank"><font
face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"
size="2">http://www.transhumanist.biz/</font></a><font
face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"> <br /><br />I suggest all of these
because they provide a diverse set of ideas within transhumanism.  I especially
suggest the Metanexus collection published in January of 2009 because they
include criticisms and responses to criticisms in a thought-provoking way,
rather than just reading a Declaration or Manifesto. <br /><br />Best,<br /><br
/>Natasha<br /></font><a href="http://www.natasha.cc"><font
face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">Natasha Vita-More</font></a><br /><br
/>Quoting Sarah Wood <wood.sarah.m@gmail.com>:<br /><br />> Hello all
-<br />> Having barely dipped my toes in the murky waters of transhumanism,
I<br />> have a request. I would like to know what are, in your opinion,
the<br />> (three? five?) most important foundational texts that one should
read<br />> to become versed in the basic principles and vocabulary of the
subject.<br />><br />> Please forgive (and redirect) me if this is not the
appropriate forum.<br />><br />> Sarah<br />><br />><br />><br
/>><br />><br />> _______________________________________________<br
/>> extropy-chat mailing list<br />> extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org<br
/>> <a href="http://lists.extropy.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/extropy-chat"
target="_blank">http://lists.extropy.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/extropy-chat</a><br
/><br />