Extropic Thoughts

Extropic Thoughts focuses on enhancing the human future through transhumanism, technology, and rationality. It explores life extension, AI development, the debunking of societal and technological stagnation myths, and philosophical perspectives against fearmongering. The content encourages embracing technological advancements for improving the human condition and addresses ethical, philosophical, and practical aspects of such advancements.

Transhumanism and Human Enhancement Artificial Intelligence Life Extension and Cryonics Philosophy and Rationality Technological Progress and Regulation Ethics and Society Science Fiction and Future Visions Criticism of Technological Pessimism Personal Development and Critical Thinking Space Exploration and Environmental Considerations

The hottest Substack posts of Extropic Thoughts

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Transhumanism: Toward a Futurist Philosophy

117 implied HN points • 23 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Transhumanism Meaning Religion Nihilism
  1. Transhumanism is a philosophy focusing on improving humanity through technology and science.
  2. This essay discusses the origins and persistence of religion, contrasting it with the dynamic optimism of transhumanism.
  3. Dynamic optimism of extropian transhumanism promotes continuous growth and progress, contrasting with the stagnation and resignation often encouraged by religion.

True Transhumanism, Part 1

176 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Transhumanism Technology Critiques Life philosophy Worldview
  1. Transhumanism is a philosophy that embraces transformative technologies for improving the human condition.
  2. Critics of transhumanism have shifted from questioning its feasibility to pondering how to control its impact.
  3. Transhumanism values continual improvement and critical rationalism, and seeks to shape better futures through science and technology.
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Against AI Doomerism, For AI Progress

432 implied HN points • 02 Apr 23
🕹 Technology AI Regulation Ethics
  1. There is a debate between advancing AI to solve human problems and fearing AI apocalypse.
  2. Calls for pausing AI developments may not be effective and could lead to negative consequences.
  3. Fears of AI causing global disasters may be exaggerated, and caution should be taken in implementing regulations.

The Myth of Stagnation

137 implied HN points • 14 Aug 23
🔬 Science Longevity Evolution Consciousness Physics
  1. The claim that longer life leads to boredom and stagnation is a narrow-minded view.
  2. Distinguishing between seeking immortal life and seeking indefinitely long life is crucial.
  3. Humans have the potential to continuously evolve, innovate, and avoid stagnation in the face of limitless possibilities.

Hello online universe!

157 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Transhumanism AI Philosophy
  1. The author brings a unique perspective as a transhumanist with a background in cryonics and philosophy.
  2. Expect diverse topics like life extension, technology acceleration, and future commentary.
  3. The blog will feature regular updates, with a mix of longer and shorter posts.

Overcoming Population Arguments to Living Longer

117 implied HN points • 02 Jun 23
🔬 Science Population Growth Life Extension Fertility Economic Impact
  1. Having more people is not inherently bad; each new person brings potential for creativity and productivity.
  2. Limiting lifespan extension to control population growth is ethically irresponsible and ineffective; focusing on reducing birth rates is a better approach.
  3. Global population growth is projected to slow and eventually decline due to various factors, including declining fertility rates and aging populations.

True Transhumanism Part 2

39 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Transhumanism Perfection Criticism Technology Progress
  1. In transhumanism, the focus is on continual improvement, not on reaching perfection or paradise.
  2. The concept of perfection as a static state goes against the principles of transhumanism, which emphasizes perpetual progress.
  3. Critics often misinterpret transhumanism as seeking a utopia or ideal state, but in reality, transhumanists aim for continuous advancement towards 'extropia'.

Letter to Mother Nature: Amendments to the Human Constitution

78 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
🔬 Science Transhumanism Biotechnology Evolution Genetics
  1. The essay discusses amending the human constitution to overcome limitations like aging and death.
  2. It proposes expanding human perceptual abilities and enhancing intelligence through biotechnology and neural improvements.
  3. The amendments aim to move humanity towards a posthuman condition, integrating technology into individuals for unprecedented innovation.

The Proactionary Principle

78 implied HN points • 16 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Decision-making Values Risk Assessment
  1. The Proactionary Principle encourages making decisions with foresight and embracing technological progress.
  2. Be objective and comprehensive when making decisions to ensure a structured and thorough approach.
  3. Prioritize risks effectively and make responses proportionate based on the severity and likelihood of potential consequences.

The Unbearable Contingency of Online Being

78 implied HN points • 31 May 23
🕹 Technology Online Content Internet History
  1. Memories are important, especially for advocates of radical life extension.
  2. Online content is not as permanent as we might think, with examples of lost information even in the pre-internet era.
  3. Efforts can be made to preserve personal and historical information, but concerns about losing online content might be overstated.

How to Communicate Life Extension Effectively

58 implied HN points • 03 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Longevity Persuasion Communication Meaning
  1. Communicating life extension effectively requires using ethos, pathos, and logos to support each other.
  2. When discussing life extension, emphasize the desire for life and all it can offer, rather than a fear of death.
  3. Be prepared to address common objections such as boredom, societal impact, entropy, and the idea that life extension is only for the rich.

Introduction to Rationality and Risk

58 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
📖 Philosophy Rationality Epistemology Logic Beliefs Faith
  1. Rationality is about challenging beliefs and rooting out those that fail to withstand challenge.
  2. Rationalism means basing life on reason, evidence, and logic, rather than emotions or religious beliefs.
  3. Explicitly committing to reason and continually striving to be rational is crucial for both humanism and transhumanism.

Beyond the Machine: Technology and Posthuman Freedom

58 implied HN points • 07 May 23
🕹 Technology Philosophy Science Health & Wellness Art & Illustration Culture
  1. Humans are composed of mechanical parts, but that doesn't mean we are only machines.
  2. Technology can help us increase human freedom through advanced tools like genetic engineering and brain implants.
  3. Understanding our mechanistic origins can lead to self-improvement and increased self-definition, moving us towards a posthuman condition of self-creation.

Why Catholics Should Support the Transhumanist Goal of Extended Life

58 implied HN points • 22 Mar 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Catholicism Transhumanism Moral Philosophy Life Extension
  1. Catholics should have a generally favorable attitude towards transhumanism and the pursuit of greatly extended maximum life spans.
  2. The Catholic Church has no objection to supporting efforts to combat aging and extend human life spans.
  3. Extending human life spans can provide more time to develop virtue, do good works, serve God, and save souls.

Transhumanists vs. Mysterians on The Posthuman Condition

39 implied HN points • 17 May 23
🔬 Science Technology Biology Philosophy Psychology Neuroscience
  1. The piece discusses the contrast between Transhumanists and Mysterians in their views on the Posthuman Condition.
  2. It highlights the error in labeling Extropians as 'posthumans' when they actually describe themselves as transhumanists.
  3. The essay stresses the importance of considering cultural and psychological consequences of changing human nature when discussing transhumanist ideas.

Beyond Caution: The Party of Life

39 implied HN points • 19 Apr 23
🔬 Science Technology Bioethics Transhumanism Metaphysical Evolutionary Psychology
  1. Transhumanists faced prominent intellectual threats in 2004 from individuals like Bill Joy, Leon Kass, and Francis Fukuyama.
  2. The Precautionary Principle and philosophical opposition reflected fears of going beyond human nature and the potential risks of advancing technologies.
  3. Advocates for technological progress emphasized the importance of embracing change, exploring positive futures, and respecting differing viewpoints while pursuing an ever-improving future.

Join me on Notes

39 implied HN points • 05 May 23
🕹 Technology Social media Publishing Networking
  1. Substack Notes is a new platform for sharing ideas, links, and short posts.
  2. Subscribers automatically have access to author's notes on Substack.
  3. Authors and readers are finding Substack Notes a positive and creative space.

In Praise of the Devil

39 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Essays
  1. The post discusses 'In Praise of the Devil' essay from 1989.
  2. Max More, the author, shares his thoughts.
  3. There is an option for a 7-day free trial to access the full post and archives.

Compilation Post #3

39 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
🔬 Science Health Space Environment Genetics Research
  1. Child mortality rates have drastically decreased over centuries, signifying significant progress in global healthcare.
  2. America's GDP and economic dominance have continued to grow, especially when compared to its developed peers like in 1990.
  3. AI advancements like ChatGPT's 'iPhone moment' and BloombergGPT are reshaping industries with their capabilities.

Primal Extropic World Beliefs

39 implied HN points • 19 Mar 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Belief systems Philosophers Personality Traits
  1. Beliefs shape our worldview and personality, influencing how we perceive life and the future.
  2. Historical figures like Galen and modern psychologists like Eysenck have contributed to our understanding of personality traits.
  3. Primal World Beliefs can be categorized into three main beliefs: Safe vs. Dangerous, Enticing vs. Dull, and Alive vs. Mechanistic.

Compilation Post 2

39 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
🔬 Science AI Climate Population Medicine Energy
  1. The AI industry is rapidly evolving and impacting various sectors, with a rise in incidents of misuse and growing demand for AI-related skills.
  2. Different perspectives on regulating AI and the importance of considering equilibrium and feedback mechanisms in AI development.
  3. Climate and energy topics like the declining cost of cultivated meat and the impact of global warming on temperature-related deaths are being discussed.

The Don’t Panic About AI Collection

19 implied HN points • 23 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Risk Analysis Comparison Critique
  1. The blogosphere is full of posts urging panic over AI, but the author believes we shouldn't panic about AI and shouldn't slow down research.
  2. Some recommended essays explore historical warnings about AI and the risks of slowing down AI progress.
  3. Despite concerns about AI existential risks, the author advocates for not freaking out and discusses different perspectives on AI risk.

Coming soon

0 implied HN points • 25 Nov 22
  1. Max More is launching a newsletter called Extropic Thoughts.
  2. The newsletter will focus on improving the human future.
  3. The launch date is November 25, 2022.