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It would help to have a more specific definition. What is transhumanism, exactly? Humans already augmented their intelligence, their bodies, and their abilities

It would help to have a more specific definition. What is transhumanism, exactly? Humans already augmented their intelligence, their bodies, and their abilities with technology, and have done so for thousands of years.

Immortalin 12y ago
Edit: To be specific, I meant those who believe in life extension and immortality, such as mind uploading, nanotechnology-based telomerase solution etc.
- polybius 12y ago
  > believe in life extension and immortality What does this "believe" mean, though? That one trusts that these advances will happen? Think they should happen? Wish fervently that they would happen? All of the above? I do not think people would say they "believe in personal hovercrafts", just that they would like personal hovercrafts to exist, or expect they will (or won't) someday exist, or think they ought to already exist, etc. Diction choices such as the "believe" above are why transhumanism has always struck me as quasi-religious (specifically millenarian) in character. But then again, maybe when you're talking about (potentially indefinite) life extension, there's no way to avoid the millenarian flavor. Literal immortality! Not in some heavenly sphere, but here in our own galaxy! How could you not get all millenarian about such a heady thing?
  - Immortalin 12y ago
    To clarify, I meant people who willing to pursue and embrace immortality (e.g. investing in nanotechnological research, regenerative medecine) and would not simply reject the idea as a pie-in-the-sky theory or argue that we should not be playing god. I am just interested to know how many people on HN would support life extension etc. and would be willing to consider it if it were to happen in this century. ;)
polybius 12y ago
> Humans already augmented their intelligence, their bodies, and their abilities with technology, and have done so for thousands of years. Yes; it has often struck me that transhumanism is the unremarkable belief that new technologies will someday give our civilization new capabilities, mashed up with a kind of throbbing millenarian dubstep (these changes are imminent; they will transform everything; they will be our salvation; they will give eternal life or close enough; remarkable prophet-scientists will lead us to this promised future-land; etc. etc.) Wry G. K. Chesterton quote goes here... (Forgive me, transhumanists, I know this is deliberately tweaking your nose; but so far this thread is light on actual transhumanists, and I thought gently provoking you might get you to appear! My research into your ways has been cursory at best, and I am perfectly amenable to being persuaded that transhumanism is a good thing to get behind... I settle back into my internet-armchair, and hope to be convinced.)

Immortalin 12y ago

Edit: To be specific, I meant those who believe in life extension and immortality, such as mind uploading, nanotechnology-based telomerase solution etc.

polybius 12y ago
> believe in life extension and immortality What does this "believe" mean, though? That one trusts that these advances will happen? Think they should happen? Wish fervently that they would happen? All of the above? I do not think people would say they "believe in personal hovercrafts", just that they would like personal hovercrafts to exist, or expect they will (or won't) someday exist, or think they ought to already exist, etc. Diction choices such as the "believe" above are why transhumanism has always struck me as quasi-religious (specifically millenarian) in character. But then again, maybe when you're talking about (potentially indefinite) life extension, there's no way to avoid the millenarian flavor. Literal immortality! Not in some heavenly sphere, but here in our own galaxy! How could you not get all millenarian about such a heady thing?
- Immortalin 12y ago
  To clarify, I meant people who willing to pursue and embrace immortality (e.g. investing in nanotechnological research, regenerative medecine) and would not simply reject the idea as a pie-in-the-sky theory or argue that we should not be playing god. I am just interested to know how many people on HN would support life extension etc. and would be willing to consider it if it were to happen in this century. ;)

polybius 12y ago

> Humans already augmented their intelligence, their bodies, and their abilities with technology, and have done so for thousands of years. Yes; it has often struck me that transhumanism is the unremarkable belief that new technologies will someday give our civilization new capabilities, mashed up with a kind of throbbing millenarian dubstep (these changes are imminent; they will transform everything; they will be our salvation; they will give eternal life or close enough; remarkable prophet-scientists will lead us to this promised future-land; etc. etc.) Wry G. K. Chesterton quote goes here... (Forgive me, transhumanists, I know this is deliberately tweaking your nose; but so far this thread is light on actual transhumanists, and I thought gently provoking you might get you to appear! My research into your ways has been cursory at best, and I am perfectly amenable to being persuaded that transhumanism is a good thing to get behind... I settle back into my internet-armchair, and hope to be convinced.)