[extropy-chat] POLL: Principles of Extropy

[Mike Lorrey]

I would argue that, in keeping with Moore's Law, that it is time for
some consideration for crafting version 4 of the Principles. I've been
thinking a bit about it recently, and here are my own ideas...

1. Unbound Progress - Regulation and restraint upon the development,
expansion, and survival of humanity is tantamount to murder or
genocide.

2. Self-Production (combines 3 & 4) - That the individual has ultimate
control over their own standards and practices of direction,
transformation, reproduction, and state of existence. No outside entity
may override these save to prevent them from infringing on the
standards and practices of other individuals.

3. Consilient Intelligence - The merging of intelligent technologies
and intelligent biologies, within open and free markets.

4. Open Privacy - Every individual sentient has ultimate command over
what degree to which they are exposed to and influential upon, the rest
of society. The more influence an individual has upon, or seeks to have
upon, society, the more incumbent it is for them to operate with an
'open hands' policy.

5. Diligent Optimism - An attitude of optimism which allows no
oxymoronic cynicist restraints of "pragmatism" or "practicality" but is
guided by an eye to that which is most diligently effective toward the
acheivement of the other Principles.

6- Reasoned Intelligence - Reasoned thought outweighs rationalizations,
excuses, and faulty or circular logic. Proper reasoning does not self
contradict itself or objective reality.

--- Sahyinepu <sahynepu at concentric.net> wrote:

> 1.  Perpetual Progress
> 2.  Rational Thinking
> 3.  Self-Direction
> 4.  Self-Transformation
> 5.  Intelligent Technology
> 6.  Open Society
> 7.  Practical Optimism
> 
> On Monday, October 11, 2004, at 01:37 PM, Hal Finney wrote:
> 
> > We have a lot of political posts here, which in my opinion are
> useless
> > and off topic. There are any number of places on the net to debate
> > traditional politics: liberal vs conservative, left wing vs right,
> > moderate vs extreme. If we have to debate politics, we should try
> to
> > tie the issues back to something specific to this mailing list.
> >
> > Along these lines I thought it might be useful to have a little 
> > refresher
> > on what we are about. Extropianism has gone through considerable
> > change in the past few years. The very words have changed:
> extropianism
> > and extropians are out; extropy and transhumanism are in. We used
> to
> > communicate via the extropians list; it is now extropy-chat. What
> used
> > to be called the Extropian Principles are now the Principles of 
> > Extropy.
> > I'm not sure what word to use any more to address subscribers to
> this
> > list.
> >
> > However much has stayed the same, and the new Principles of Extropy
> 
> > look
> > pretty familiar, from <http://www.extropy.org/principles.htm>
> (where 
> > longer
> > discussions of each one are available too):
> >
> > : The Principles of Extropy in Brief
> > :
> > : Perpetual Progress
> > :
> > : Extropy means seeking more intelligence, wisdom, and
> effectiveness,
> > : an open-ended lifespan, and the removal of political, cultural,
> > : biological, and psychological limits to continuing development.
> > : Perpetually overcoming constraints on our progress and
> possibilities
> > : as individuals, as organizations, and as a species. Growing in 
> > healthy
> > : directions without bound.
> > :
> > : Self-Transformation
> > :
> > : Extropy means affirming continual ethical, intellectual, and
> > : physical self-improvement, through critical and creative
> thinking,
> > : perpetual learning, personal responsibility, proactivity, and
> > : experimentation. Using technology - in the widest sense to seek
> > : physiological and neurological augmentation along with emotional
> and
> > : psychological refinement.
> > :
> > : Practical Optimism
> > :
> > : Extropy means fueling action with positive expectations -
> individuals
> > : and organizations being tirelessly proactive. Adopting a
> rational,
> > : action-based optimism or "proaction", in place of both blind
> faith 
> > and
> > : stagnant pessimism.
> > :
> > : Intelligent Technology
> > :
> > : Extropy means designing and managing technologies not as ends in
> > : themselves but as effective means for improving life. Applying 
> > science
> > : and technology creatively and courageously to transcend "natural"
> > : but harmful, confining qualities derived from our biological 
> > heritage,
> > : culture, and environment.
> > :
> > : Open Society
> > :
> > : Extropy means supporting social orders that foster freedom of
> > : communication, freedom of action, experimentation, innovation,
> > : questioning, and learning. Opposing authoritarian social control
> and
> > : unnecessary hierarchy and favoring the rule of law and 
> > decentralization
> > : of power and responsibility. Preferring bargaining over battling,
> > : exchange over extortion, and communication over compulsion.
> Openness
> > : to improvement rather than a static utopia. Extropia
> ("ever-receding
> > : stretch goals for society") over utopia ("no place").
> > :
> > : Self-Direction
> > :
> > : Extropy means valuing independent thinking, individual freedom, 
> > personal
> > : responsibility, self-direction, self-respect, and a parallel
> respect
> > : for others.
> > :
> > : Rational Thinking
> > :
> > : Extropy means favoring reason over blind faith and questioning
> over
> > : dogma. It means understanding, experimenting, learning,
> challenging,
> > : and innovating rather than clinging to beliefs.
> >
> >
> > In order to get people to think about these principles a bit, I
> > thought it might be fun to take a poll.  Try to rank the 7
> Principles
> > of Extropy in order of how much you agree with them and how
> important
> > you think they are.  Those that are, or could be, an important part
> of
> > your personal philosophy you would rank high.  Others that you
> agree
> > with but seem like rather obvious platitudes could be ranked lower.
> > Any that you think are questionable or harmful would come last.
> >
> > To get the ball rolling I will put them in order for me:
> >
> > 1. Rational Thinking
> > 2. Self-Direction
> > 3. Open Society
> > 4. Intelligent Technology
> > 5. Self Transformation
> > 6. Perpetual Progress
> > 7. Practical Optimism
> >
> > For a brief discussion, rational thinking is very important to me
> as a
> > basic method for dealing with life.  Self direction and open
> society
> > are consistent with my individualistic political philosophy.  I am
> > always interested in new technologies and their possible future
> uses.
> > Self transformation and perpetual progress are more long term goals
> as
> > we develop new technologies.  Likewise practical optimism is a
> useful
> > guideline but doesn't come into play much on a day to day basis.
> >
> > If enough people are interested we could try combining our results
> into
> > an overall ranking of the Principles.
> >
> > Hal
> > _______________________________________________
> > extropy-chat mailing list
> > extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org
> > http://lists.extropy.org/mailman/listinfo/extropy-chat
> >
> 
> _______________________________________________
> extropy-chat mailing list
> extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org
> http://lists.extropy.org/mailman/listinfo/extropy-chat
> 



=====
Mike Lorrey
Vice-Chair, 2nd District, Libertarian Party of NH
"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom.
It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."
                                      -William Pitt (1759-1806) 
Blog: http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=Sadomikeyism


		
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