Concept
Extropianism
Overview
Extropianism, also referred to as the philosophy of extropy, is an "evolving framework of values and standards for continuously improving the human condition". Extropians believe that advances in science and technology will some day let people live indefinitely. An extropian may wish to contribute to this goal, e.g. by doing research and development or by volunteering to test new technology.
Originated by a set of principles developed by the philosopher Max More in The Principles of Extropy, extropian thinking places strong emphasis on rational thinking and on practical optimism. According to More, these principles "do not specify particular beliefs, technologies, or policies". Extropians share an optimistic view of the future, expecting considerable advances in computational power, life extension, nanotechnology and the like. Many extropians foresee the eventual realization of indefinite lifespans or immortality, and the recovery, thanks to future advances in biomedical technology or mind uploading, of those whose bodies/brains have been preserved by means of cryonics.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
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It is suggestive that European philosophy originated (among the Athenians) under the direct pressure of educational questions. The earlier history of philosophy, developed by the Greeks in Asia Minor and Italy, so far as its range of topics is concerned, is mainly a chapter in the history of science rather than of philosophy as that word is understood to-day. It had nature for its subject, and speculated as to how…
John Dewey, Democracy and Education
States what Extropianism is.
But both in its practical pretensions and in its theoretical despair it seems to me to go too far. Most of what is greatest in man is called forth in response to the thwarting of his hopes by immutable natural obstacles; by the pretence of omnipotence, he becomes trivial and a little absurd. And on the theoretical side, ultimate metaphysical truth, though less all-embracing and harder of attainment than it appeared…
Bertrand Russell, Our Knowledge of the External World as a Field for Scientific Method in Philosophy
States what Extropianism is.
To suppose that values are ideal because they are so eternally given is the contradiction in which objective idealism has intrenched itself. Objective ontological teleology spells machinery. Reflective and volitional, experimental teleology alone spells ideality.[43] Objective, rationalistic idealism breaks upon the fact that it can have no intermediary between a brutally achieved embodiment of meaning (physical in…
John Dewey, The Influence of Darwin on Philosophy, and other essays in contemporary thought
States what Extropianism is.
Philosophers who discussed Extropianism
Related ideas
- Artificial intelligence
- Genetic engineering
- Future
- Human condition
- Immortality
- Life extension
- Marvin Minsky
- Nanotechnology
- Ray Kurzweil
- Transhumanism
- University of Oxford
- Nick Bostrom
- Optimism
- Cryonics
- Entropy
- K. Eric Drexler
- Alcor Life Extension Foundation
- Max More
Place in the tradition
Part of Transhumanism.