Humanity +

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Humanity Plus (also Humanity +, Inc. formally the World Transhumanist Association ) is an international organization that advocates the ethical use of emerging technologies to enhance human capabilities .

History

In 1998, the World Transhumanist Association (WTA) was founded as a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization by Nick Bostrom and David Pearce . [1] It began working towards the recognition of transhumanism as a scientific and public policy .

In contrast to the techno-utopianism of Extropy Institute , [2] WTA Officials regarded That social force Could Undermine Their futurist visions and needed to be Addressed. [3] A particular concern is the equal access to human enhancement technologies across classes and borders. [4]

In 2006, William Saletan reported a political struggle within the transhumanist movement between the libertarian right and the left -wing majority in a more central-leftward positioning of Humanity + under its executive director James Hughes . [4] [5]

In 1998, the WTA established the Journal of Transhumanism . In 2004, it renamed its journal The Journal of Evolution and Technology and transferred it to the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies and launched a webzine / blog called Transhumanity (webzine) | Transhumanity .

The WTA also held an annual conference called TransVision. Past conferences include:

  • TransVision98, June 5-7: Weesp , The Netherlands, Europe
  • TransVision99, June 4-6: Stockholm , Sweden, Europe
  • TransVisionMM, July 15-16: London , England, Europe
  • TransVision01, June 22-24: Berlin , Germany, Europe
  • TransVision03, June 27-29: Yale University , USA, North America
  • TransVision04, August 6-8: University of Toronto , Canada, North America, with nearly 125 participants including Steve Mann , Robert K. Logan and Robin Hanson . [6] [7]
  • TransVision05, July 22-24: Caracas , Venezuela, South America
  • TransVision06, August 17-19: University of Helsinki , Finland, Europe, with a simultaneous virtual online conference. The theme of the conference was Emerging Technologies of Human Enhancement. [8]
  • TransVision07, July 24-26: Chicago , USA, North America. The theme of the conference Transforming Humanity: Innerspace to Outerspace. [9]

In 2006, the WTA adopted the following programs of activity: [10]

  1. Campaign for the Rights of the Person : A campaign to national modify laws and international human rights conventions to suit les (a) That bodily autonomy , reproductive rights , and cognitive liberty shoulds be Explicitly reconnu and protected, (b) That universal access to Enabling Technologies ( Including Such things as education and medicine ) is a right in Itself, and a precondition for all other rights, (c) personhood , sentience , and capacity for HAVING Morally relevant interests are the bases of rights-bearing, not humanness or the human genome.
  2. Campaign for Longer Better Lives : A campaign for a multinational research program to develop therapies to slow aging .
  3. Campaign for Future Friendly Culture : A campaign to promote balanced and constructive portrayals of longevity , human enhancement and emerging technologies in popular culture.

In 2008, as part of a rebranding effort, the WTA changed its name to “Humanity +” in order to project a more humane image. [11]

Objectives

The objectives of Humanity + are: [12]

  1. to support discussion and public awareness of emerging technologies ;
  2. to defend the right of individuals in free and democratic societies to adopt technologies that expand human capacities ;
  3. to anticipate and propose solutions for the potential consequences of emerging technologies;
  4. to actively encourage and support the development of emerging technologies.

Programs and activities

Humanity + have organized a series of conferences. Reviews The most recent Humanity + Was Conference on December 1-2, 2012 at the Seven Hills Conference Center at San Francisco State University , San Francisco , CA .

Humanity + has spawned a host of chapters around the world. In total, there are dozens of formed or forming local groups-one on virtually every continent. A dozen transhumanist groups in the United States , London Futurists in the United Kingdom , Europe , South America , Australia and Asia have also formally affiliated with Humanity +.

Humanity + administers the $ 20,000 Gada Prize, which will be awarded to the team which can design, build and demonstrate a more advanced 3D printer on the basis of RepRap by the end of 2012.

H + Magazine 

Shortly after the WTA changed its name to “Humanity +” in 2008, [11] it launched H + Magazine , a quarterly magazine on transhumanist news and ideas [13] that it has changed its organization, leadership, and format several times. The magazine produced five issues from 2008 through 2009, [14] each released as PDF-based digital editions, [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] and one published in retail stores. [20] The publisher changed from Humanity + to Betterhumans LLC beginning with the second issue, [16] with RU Siriusthe editor of all five issues. In 2010, with RU Sirius continuing as editor, the magazine has been transitioned into a web-only publication based on complete issues, and its publisher was switched back to Humanity +. [21] The website is currently managed by Peter Rothman. [22] Notable contributors include Michael Moorcock , Rudy Rucker , Woody Evans , John Shirley , James Hughes , and Douglas Rushkoff .

Notable members

  • Nick Bostrom
  • David Pearce
  • Natasha Vita-More
  • George Dvorsky
  • Giulio Prisco
  • James Hughes
  • Mark Alan Walker
  • Aubrey from Gray
  • Max More
  • Ben Goertzel
  • Patri Friedman
  • RU Sirius
  • Martine Rothblatt
  • Linda MacDonald Glenn
  • Giuseppe Vatinno

References

  1. Jump up^ Sutherland, John (2006-05-09). “The ideas interview: Nick Bostrom” . The Guardian .
  2. Jump up^ Extropy Institute (2006). “Next Steps” . Retrieved 2006-05-05 .
  3. Jump up^ Hughes, James (2004). Citizen Cyborg : Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future . Westview Press. ISBN  0-8133-4198-1 .
  4. ^ Jump up to:a b Ford, Alyssa (May-June 2005). “Humanity: The Remix” . Utne Magazine . Archived from the original on 13 March 2006 . Retrieved 2007-03-03 .
  5. Jump up^ Saletan, William (2006-06-04). “Among the Transhumanists” . Slate.com. Archived from the original on 2006-12-31 . Retrieved 2007-03-03 .
  6. Jump up^ Bailey, Ronald (2004-08-11). “The Transhumans Are Coming!” . Reason Online . Retrieved 2007-03-02 .
  7. Jump up^ Daly, Bernard (2004-10-25). “Transhumanism” . America : The National Catholic Weekly . 191 (12). Archived from the original on May 10, 2006.
  8. Jump up^ TransVision 2006 – Emerging Technologies of Human EnhancementArchived2007-12-13 at theWayback Machine.
  9. Jump up^ www.transvision2007.com
  10. Jump up^ “Programs of the World Transhumanist Association” . Archived from the original on 2007-02-07.
  11. ^ Jump up to:a b Blackford, Russell (2008). “WTA changes its image” . Retrieved 2008-11-18 .
  12. Jump up^ “WTA Constitution and By-Laws” .
  13. Jump up^ Newitz, Annalee (2008). “Can Futurism Escape the 1990s?” . Retrieved 2008-11-18 .
  14. Jump up^ “Issues Magazine” . H + Magazine.
  15. Jump up^ “H + Magazine” (PDF) . Fall 2008.
  16. ^ Jump up to:a b “H + Magazine” . Spring 2009.
  17. Jump up^ “H + Magazine” . Summer 2009.
  18. Jump up^ “H + Magazine” . Fall 2009.
  19. Jump up^ “H + Magazine” . Winter 2009.
  20. Jump up^ “Print Issue on Sale Now!” . H + Magazine. September 24, 2009 . Retrieved 2012-11-29 .
  21. Jump up^ “A new publisher for H + Magazine” . H + Magazine. July 18, 2010 . Retrieved 2012-11-29 .
  22. Jump up^ “About Us” . H + Magazine . Retrieved 2012-11-29 .

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