Extropianism

Last Updated: January 5, 1996 by jpbonsen@athena.mit.edu

EXTROPY -- A measure of intelligence, information, energy, vitality, experience, diversity, opportunity, and growth.

EXTROPIANISM -- The philosophy that seeks to increase extropy.


I am an extropian.

libndc@gsusgi2.gsu.edu's quick hitlist shamelessly copied here:


E X T R O P Y I N S T I T U T E & E X T R O P Y J O U R N A L I N F O R M A T I O N

By Max More; more@extropy.org; more@usc.edu

President Extropy Institute (ExI)


Do you want to make the future immeasurably better than the past?

Do you want to live beyond the normal human limit?

Are you attracted to innovative, market-oriented solutions to social problems?

Do you want to upgrade your intellectual power?

Do you want to dispel the clouded thinking of the eco-doomsayers and pessimists?

Do you want to throw off ingrained barriers to effective thinking and action?

Do you want to continuously improve yourself - physically, intellectually, morally?

Do you think that technology can and should help us overcome biological, genetic, and neurological limits to our abilities and goals?

THEN THE EXTROPY INSTITUTE IS FOR YOU!

Technological and social change continue to accelerate, thrusting us into a future of unprecedented possibility and choice. Increasingly, gerontologists agree that aging will be partly or wholly controlled in the next few decades. Drastic extension of the human lifespan will be accompanied by the ability to radically increase human intelligence using advanced nootropics (smart drugs) and neurological augmentation with implanted miniaturized computers. Advances in genetic engineering, biochemistry, and nanotechnology (molecular machines) will enable us to heighten our senses, boost our strength, bolster our immune systems, and increase our resistance to injury and death.

Computing power and communication bandwidth continue to grow explosively, enabling the development of virtual reality, making accessible oceans of information, allowing the creation of electronic markets and distributed virtual communities. We can expect to see the evolution of truly intelligent artificial persons, and to overcome biological and neurological limits through human-machine symbiosis. These and other technology-driven revolutions, such as space habitation and nanofabrication, offer the potential both for progress and peril. Extropy Institute endeavors to prepare our human culture for the dawning of the posthuman era, in which today's beliefs, technological achievements, and culture will seem as primitive as those of the Middle Ages seem today.

E X T R O P Y I N S T I T U T E:

Extropy Institute (ExI) seeks to guide humanity into an unbounded future, by encouraging the public, through education and example, to use technology to overcome historically unchallenged limits to full human flourishing. Extropy Institute focuses the most creative, forward-thinking intellects in working to overcome traditional, genetic, biological, and neurological limits to the pursuit of life, liberty, and boundless achievement.

Since 1988, when Extropy first appeared, the Extropian philosophy has attracted those wanting to be their best, those who are are bold enough to challenge entrenched dogmas concerning the inevitability of death, of centralized, coercive government, and of fixed limits to human achievement and ability.

Extropy Institute is building a culture favoring physical and intellectual augmentation, life extension, and a free and responsible society (here, in cyberspace, or off-Earth), by means of publications, meetings, and special projects including:

EXTROPY. Our unique and thriving major publication provides intelligent, thorough analysis and advocacy of advanced and future technologies and their use in creating a future worthy of human potential (see below).

EXPONENT. Our members' newsletter, published 8 times per year, carries timely reviews of books and software, current ExI and science news, and short articles.

ELECTRONIC FORA: Electronic activities include a highly active e- mail list (founded in 1991) frequented by the brightest, most iconoclastic minds, and an essay list for longer papers. The Extropians e-mail list (extropians-request@extropy.org) has branched out into local e-mail lists, carrying announcements of local meetings and celebrations.

ACTIVITIES: Our first conference, EXTRO 1, took place April 30-May 1 1994, with Guest of Honor Hans Moravec, plus speakers on a broad range of topics. (EXTRO 2 will be held in Southern California from June 16 to 18 1995. ExI hosts other special conferences and celebrations, and is forming local and university discussion groups around the country and abroad. We also offer books, tapes, and other items of interest to members.

THE EXTROPIAN PRINCIPLES 2.5

( Full v. 2.5 appears in Extropy #11, 2nd Half 1993)

BOUNDLESS EXPANSION: Seeking more intelligence, wisdom, and effectiveness, an unlimited lifespan, and the removal of political, cultural, biological, and psychological limits to self-actualization and self-realization. Perpetually overcoming constraints on our progress and possibilities. Expanding into the universe and advancing without end.

SELF-TRANSFORMATION: Affirming continual psychological, intellectual, and physical self-improvement, through reason and critical thinking, personal responsibility, and experimentation. Seeking biological and neurological augmentation.

DYNAMIC OPTIMISM: Positive expectations fueling dynamic action. Adopting a rational, action-based optimism, shunning both blind faith and stagnant pessimism.

INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY: Applying science and technology creatively to transcend "natural" limits imposed by our biological heritage, culture, and environment.

SPONTANEOUS ORDER: Supporting decentralized, voluntaristic social coordination processes. Fostering tolerance, diversity, foresight, personal responsibility and individual liberty.

Extropianism is a transhumanist philosophy: Like humanism, it values reason and humanity and sees no grounds for belief in unknowable, supernatural forces externally controlling our destiny, but transhumanism goes further in urging us to push beyond the merely human stage of evolution. As physicist Freeman Dyson has said: "Humanity looks to me like a magnificent beginning but not the final word."

E X T R O P Y:

THE JOURNAL OF TRANSHUMANIST THOUGHT

Since 1988, Extropy has provided a unique forum for intriguing and inspiring explorations of advanced and future technologies, focusing on their potential for overcoming present human limits, enabling us to create a posthuman future. If you're tired of shallow, trendy, or uncritical thinking on the technological frontier, Extropy will satisfy, startle, and stimulate you.

"I love it. Extropy excites the hell out of my mind." ZL, 1/93

"It's an absolutely great issue, and in general I would call it the best periodical I have ever seen in my life..." AC, 8/92

"#9 is excellent! Truly outstanding! The best yet! Keep up the good work." MS, 8/92

"After reading two issues of Extropy I'm convinced it's the best in its field, real brain fuel. The indepth and inspirational approach really impressed me, especially when compared with the 'cyberpunk' zines. I also couldn't bear the thought of missing bi-monthly newsletters, after all, two issues of Extropy per year isn't enough." SM, 9/92

Jerod Pore, Factsheet Five #47: "The zine of the ultimate reality hackers (and far beyond the pretentious incarnation of Mondo 2000).... An awesome glimpse of a better future."

TO SUBSCRIBE OR BECOME AN ExI MEMBER:

I would like to join the Extropy Institute in creating the future, receiving Extropy, Exponent, other publications, information on events, and discounts on books, tapes, conferences, and the e-mail list. Annual rates:

USA: $45 Sustaining Member: $100 Canada/Mexico: $50 Corporate Sustaining Overseas (sf/air): $55/$67 Member: $250

You may subtract $5 if you are a full-time student (with photocopy of enrollment evidence). Extropy subscribers deduct value ($4.50 each) of remaining issues in subscription.

I would like to make a tax-deductible donation to sustain and expand Extropy Institute's activities:

$10 $25 $50 $100 $500 $1000 Other: $

I don't want to join Extropy Institute at this time, but I do want to read Extropy: The Journal of Transhumanist Thought. Enclosed is $18.00 ($22 Canada/Mexico; $32/$24 overseas air/surface) for a four-issue (one year) subscription.

Back issues available: 1,2,4,5,6,7,9,10,11,12 - $5 each

Make checks payable to "Extropy Institute," and mail to:

Extropy Institute; 13428 Maxella Avenue, #273; Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

Tel: 310-398-0375

E-mail: info@extropy.org

Your name:

Address:


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