[extropy-chat] Extropy and libertarianism

Natasha Vita-More natasha at natasha.cc
Sat Sep 10 13:31:25 UTC 2005


Dirk,

I think it would be best if you respected the communications already sent 
to this list and published elsewhere regarding Extropy Institute.

Thank you.

Natasha Vita-More


At 06:53 AM 9/10/2005, you wrote:


>On 9/8/05, Max More <<mailto:max at maxmore.com>max at maxmore.com> wrote:
>  Clearly
>the Principles of Extropy are highly *compatible* with a libertarian
>view of politics -- more so than with any other identifiable
>viewpoint that I know of. It doesn't follow that they are
>*restricted* to only that one, exact political philosophy. A dogmatic
>view of political and economic systems would be incompatible with the
>principles of rational thinking and perpetual progress.
>
>As I've said many times, the Principles are *not* compatible with
>socialism, but do not rule out *possible* exceptions to strict
>libertarian answers. The ultimate goal is not adherence to
>libertarian doctrine, but to advancing our lives in *all* the ways
>described in the Principles. As far as I'm concerned, that *might*
>mean, for example, some government funding of basic research. And it
>might not -- I'm not at all sure on this issue at the moment. It
>*might* mean some laws limiting private property rights -- such as
>might be needed to conduct inspections of research labs working with
>extremely dangerous materials (nanostuff, AI, whatever).
>
>
>IMO ExI Principles are a matter of *interpretation*, only one such being 
>Uber Libertarianism.
>If this is not so then you can kiss much future membership goodbye.
>
>As Transhumanism moves from the perceived lunatic fringe populated by 
>fanatical True Believers into the cultural mainstream populated by people 
>a lot less committed to any single political POV this is going to be even 
>more apparent. Trying to maintain ideological purity is a recipe for 
>internicene squabbling, witch hunts and heretic bashing reminiescent of 
>the history of 'pure' Socialism with its petty factions and interminable 
>cry of 'splitter!'.
>
>ExI, and its membership, must decide soon if it is going to be a bastion 
>of purity or whether it is going to set itself up to attract mainstream 
>support. We certainly know what the WTA has decided.
>
>Dirk
>
>
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<http://www.natasha.cc/>Natasha <http://www.natasha.cc/>Vita-More
Cultural Strategist, Designer
Studies of the Future, University of Houston
President, <http://www.extropy.org/>Extropy Institute
Founder, <http://www.transhumanist.biz/>Transhumanist Arts & Culture

Knowledge is the most democratic source of power.  Alvin Toffler
Random acts of kindness... Anne Herbet

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