Extropianism

Extropianism is a philosophical and cultural movement that advocates for the continuous enhancement and improvement of the human condition through science and technology. It emphasizes the potential for human evolution and technological advancement to overcome biological limitations, promote intellectual and physical development, and ultimately achieve a post-human future. Extropianism emerged in the late 20th century as a specific branch of transhumanist thought, with a focus on actively pursuing progress and optimization.
== Origins and Development ==
Extropianism was formally articulated in the 1980s by Max More, a philosopher and futurist, who defined it in contrast to other transhumanist approaches. The term "Extropian" is derived from "extropy," a concept introduced by More to represent the opposite of entropy—essentially the idea of increasing order, complexity, and intelligence. The Extropian movement gained traction through the publication of The Extropian Principles, a document outlining its core values and goals.
Core Principles
# Optimism About Technology: Extropianism holds a positive view of technological progress and its potential to enhance human life. It supports the development of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and nanotechnology, as means to overcome human limitations and improve existence.
# Active Pursuit of Improvement: Unlike some broader transhumanist perspectives, Extropianism emphasizes the proactive pursuit of personal and societal improvement. Extropians advocate for actively working towards goals such as increased intelligence, longevity, and physical enhancement.
# Intellectual and Physical Enhancement: Extropians believe in using technology to enhance both mental and physical capabilities. This includes advocating for cognitive augmentation, life extension, and other forms of human enhancement to achieve higher levels of functioning and well-being.
# Anti-Aging and Longevity: A significant focus of Extropianism is the extension of human lifespan and the defeat of aging. Extropians support research and development in areas such as regenerative medicine and genetic engineering to promote long and healthy lives.
# Evolution Beyond Humanity: Extropianism envisions a future where humanity evolves beyond its current biological form, potentially merging with machines or becoming post-human entities. This future is seen as a logical extension of human progress and technological advancement.
== Comparison with Transhumanism ==
While Extropianism is closely related to transhumanism, there are key distinctions between the two:
# Focus on Optimism and Improvement: Extropianism places a strong emphasis on optimism and the active pursuit of enhancement. It specifically champions the idea of "extropy" as a guiding principle for progress, whereas transhumanism as a broader movement may include a wider range of views, including more cautious or exploratory perspectives on technological advancement.
# Principles and Goals: Extropianism is defined by a set of specific principles, such as the pursuit of increased intelligence and longevity, and the active application of technology for improvement. Transhumanism encompasses a broader set of ideas about the potential for human enhancement and technological integration but may not always focus on the same specific goals or principles.
# Historical Development: Extropianism emerged as a distinct movement within the transhumanist community, with Max More and his colleagues establishing its unique framework and principles. While transhumanism has a wider range of thinkers and ideas, Extropianism represents a particular strand of thought within the larger transhumanist discourse.
== Criticism and Controversy ==
# Feasibility and Risks: Critics argue that some of the goals of Extropianism, such as radical life extension and significant cognitive enhancement, may be unrealistic or pose substantial risks. Concerns include the potential for unforeseen consequences and ethical issues related to enhancing human capabilities.
# Ethical Concerns: The pursuit of technological enhancement raises ethical questions about inequality, consent, and the potential societal impacts of advanced technologies. Critics may question the implications of prioritizing technological progress over other values.
# Overemphasis on Technology: Some critics argue that Extropianism may place too much emphasis on technology as a solution to human problems, potentially overlooking other important aspects of human well-being and social issues.
Category:Philosophical Concepts
Category:Movements & Ideologies