TRANSTOPIA: The Science of Immortality and Godhood

[Rationalist]

The Transtopian Principles

General goal: infinite existence under the best possible conditions
Primary means: reason, science, and technology
Motivation: enlightened self-interest

Intro
Transtopianism is a memetic complex, a collection of mutually supporting (and partially overlapping) concepts, lifestyles, worldviews, and philosophies. Though none of its separate components, grouped together in 12 Principles, are particularly new or unique, the combination is. Transtopianism is a typical example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts; its rational enlightenment "spontaneously" emerges from a collection of useful but individually limited memes, just like human consciousness "spontaneously" emerges from a collection of sophisticated yet individually limited brain cells.

Central to Transtopianism is the view that we should seek to void all limits on our freedom, including those imposed by the "laws" of nature -- a concept known as "arch-anarchy" [T.O. Morrow, 1990]. This state of absolute personal freedom is to be achieved by rational means like science and technology, not by wishful thinking or superstition. Transtopianism may include some "speculative", or even what one might call "religious" or "spiritual" elements, but these are all placed within a solid framework of common sense, where they belong. Transtopianism is designed to be the ultimate rational "rebellion" against anything and everything that stands in the way of personal growth and empowerment. Unlike most supposedly similarly-oriented philosophies (LaVeyan Satanism, Objectivism, and Nihilism, for example), it recognizes that in order to realize this ideal we must leave the flesh and most of its evolved habits behind. We must evolve beyond them by literally becoming one with our technologies, guided by our rational desire to become like our finest imaginary gods: eternal, omniscient, omnipotent. That is the true significance of gods; they are the embodiment of man's deepest aspirations and desires, which, until recently, were doomed to remain just that. Fortunately, the times they are a-changing...

Complete text at http://www.transtopia.org/principles.html

[Rationalist]

Introduction to Transtopianism

"Biology is not destiny. It was never more than tendency. It was just nature's first quick and dirty way to compute with meat. Chips are destiny."

-- Bart Kosko, Ph.D., Heaven in a Chip

"...we imagine we can regulate and canalize the next great lusty phase of evolution upon the Earth for our utility and profit. But what comes for us in the next few centuries is a vast and devouring typhoon. I feel its bright abrasive winds and steel thunder approach and rustle the fragile lineaments of our civilization."

-- St.Boniface, Cyberia

(Future) Shock & Awe: The Singularity is Coming
We're at a crossroads. For thousands of years mankind has been the dominant species on Earth, the pinnacle of evolution. Now, as we enter the 21st century, this is about to change. A new and radically different chapter of evolution is about to begin, for, as Vernor Vinge put it at the 1993 NASA VISION-21 Symposium:

"Within thirty years, we will have the technological means to create superhuman intelligence. Shortly after, the human era will be ended."


This event, the relatively sudden emergence of superintelligence (SI), is often referred to as the (technological) Singularity

"SINGULARITY: the postulated point or short period in our future when our self-guided evolutionary development accelerates enormously (powered by nanotech, neuroscience, AI, and perhaps uploading) so that nothing beyond that time can reliably be conceived." [Vernor Vinge, 1986]

-- Lextropicon


Whether these new, Posthuman beings (aka SIs, Powers or PSEs -- Post-Singularity Entities) will be augmented humans, artificial intelligences (AIs) or some hybrid form, they will no doubt change life as we know it rapidly and profoundly. For better or for worse; what happens to those who are left behind in this burst of self-directed hyperevolution is by definition unknown, "unknowable" even, but extinction is definitely one of the more realistic options.

Complete text at http://www.transtopia.org/intro.html

[Agammamon]

Gee, thanks for the info but it's not exactly news to us here.

And there's not much point in posting it if you aren't going to add some sort of personal commentary. If you want to start a discussion then I would consider it polite if you at least stated your position.

[Rationalist]

Originally posted by Agammamon
Gee, thanks for the info but it's not exactly news to us here.

And there's not much point in posting it if you aren't going to add some sort of personal commentary. If you want to start a discussion then I would consider it polite if you at least stated your position.

Thank you for sharing your perspective with me. I would like to learn more about your world views and philosophical standpoints. I will then see if they have any practical benefits for me.

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

Central to Transtopianism is the view that we should seek to void all limits on our freedom, including those imposed by the "laws" of nature ... This state of absolute personal freedom is to be achieved by rational means like science and technology, ...
All righty then.

~~ Paul

[hammegk]

Has this guy 'fessed up in any of his threads whether he's selling books, tapes, or cds, or just looking for cult members?

[!Xx+-Rational-+xX!]

Materialism correctly describes the only ultimate f**king truth in existence! – Science

[Yahweh]

I'll admit, I do get a laugh out of !Xx+-Rational-+xX!'s posts and little Geocities website... :)

[geni]

Originally posted by hammegk
Has this guy 'fessed up in any of his threads whether he's selling books, tapes, or cds, or just looking for cult members?

Smeg knows you don't think anyone has read all his posts do you?

[hammegk]

I'm 100% certain I haven't.

[!Xx+-Rational-+xX!]

Originally posted by Yahweh
I'll admit, I do get a laugh out of !Xx+-Rational-+xX!'s posts and little Geocities website... :)

That is very rational of you!

[c4ts]

Bah. The Erisians are so much better at it.

[BroodingSkill]

From the Link:
"Transtopians don't breed because, assuming that one wants to be a good parent, children are a serious drain in terms of time and resources, are likely to increase stress, ruin relationships, and will severely limit one's freedom. It is a very empowering decision not to have children, especially for women, who, due to tradition and biology, must sacrifice (much) more. It means that one doesn't bow to nature's and society's pressures to conform; by saying "no" to procreation, you reject being just another link in life's mindless chain of births and deaths, just another runner in an endless relay race. In the spirit of Egoism, you confirm that you are an end in itself, not just a walking incubator or sperm donor. Other elements of the procreational complex such as phenylethylamine (etc.)-induced highs (love), ritualized bonding (marriage), and copulation (sex) also tend to cause (a lot) more trouble than they're worth, and should consequently be avoided as well -- or at least approached with due caution and skepticism."

I take exception to this. You can choose to have children or not as one pleases, but to say that some of the things that go along with children and pair bonding for that matter are somehow an inconvience or unnecesary is wrong. Biology in this context can not be denied. The human pair bond and the raising of children is the fundamental core of the species. To deny it and all that goes with it is a road to extinction.

As far as this supposed great leap in human evolution is concerned I'll believe it when I see it. Biology is a hard thing to overcome, humans have been trying to circumvent elements of it for centuries with very limited success and more often then not great failure. To try to take it out of the human equation is to deny who and what you really are.

Just my opinion.