Libertarian transhumanism: Difference between revisions
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Anarcho-transhumanism is not the same thing libertarian transhumanism. The former is a form of anarchism and anti-capitalist whereas the latter is either "an'cap or right wing minarchist. |
So anarcho-transhumanism is not the same thing as Libertarian Transhumanism. And given that anarcho-transhumanism is redirected to libertarian transhumanism, I felt the need to make massive edits. |
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{{Merge to|Transhumanist politics|date=February 2016}} |
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| ⚫ | '''Anarcho-transhumanism''' is a form of [[Anarchism]] combining anarchism and transhumanism. This is distinct from [[Libertarian Transhumanism]] which is combines right wing libertarianism and transhumanism.<ref name="Hughes 2001">{{cite journal| author = [[James Hughes (sociologist)|Hughes, James]]| title = The Politics of Transhumanism| year = 2001 | url = http://www.changesurfer.com/Acad/TranshumPolitics.htm|accessdate=2007-01-26}}</ref><ref name = "Zoltan">{{cite web |
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{{Transhumanism}} |
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| first = Kris |
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| title = An Anarchist-Transhumanism Manifesto |
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| date = 17th May 2016 |
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| url = https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wJrXYBXAmNH9zwyfgg1-yAYN_Cda-26pFCk0u_QhyBc/edit |
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| title = Transhumanists and Libertarians Have Much in Common |
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}}</ref> 1st May 2016 |
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| publisher = [[Huffington Post]] |
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| date = 5 May 2014 |
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| url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zoltan-istvan/transhumanism-and-libertarianism_b_5248966.html |
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| accessdate = 13 January 2015 |
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}}</ref> |
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Self-identified libertarian transhumanists, such as [[Ronald Bailey]] of [[Reason (magazine)|''Reason'' magazine]] and [[Glenn Reynolds]] of [[Instapundit]], are advocates of the asserted "right to [[human enhancement]]" who argue that the [[free market]] is the best guarantor of this right, claiming that it produces greater prosperity and personal freedom than other economic systems.<ref name="Bailey 2005 LB">{{cite book|author=Bailey, Ronald|title=Liberation Biology: The Scientific and Moral Case For the Biotech Revolution|publisher=Prometheus Books|year=2005|isbn=1-59102-227-4}}</ref><ref name="Reynolds 2006">{{cite book|author=Reynolds, Glenn |title=[[An Army of Davids]]: How Markets and Technology Empower Ordinary People to Beat Big Media, Big Government, and Other Goliaths|publisher=Thomas Nelson|year=2006|isbn=1-59555-054-2}}</ref> |
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== |
== Overview == |
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Being a form of [[Anarchism]] Anarcho-transhumanism rejects all hierarchies. These include the state, capitalism, eugenics, ableism, racism, colonialism misogyny and more. A common misconception is that anarcho-transhumanism is synonymous with [[Libertarian Transhumanism]]. The former is a form of anarchism compatible with all forms of anarchism. But has especially strong connections to [[Social anarchism]]. The latter is a synthesis of right wing libertarianism and transhumanism. By contrast anarcho-transhumanism is either left libertarian, post-leftist, or post-post-leftist. Anarcho-transhumanism is explicitly anti-reactionary and [[anti-fascist]]. |
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{{Expand section|date=July 2010}} |
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Libertarian transhumanists believe that the principle of [[self-ownership]] is the most fundamental idea from which both libertarianism and transhumanism stem. They are [[Rational egoism|rational egoists]] and [[Ethical egoism|ethical egoists]] who embrace the prospect of using [[emerging technologies]] to enhance human capacities, which they believe stems from the self-interested application of [[reason]] and [[will (philosophy)|will]] in the context of the individual [[Freedom (philosophy)|freedom]] to achieve a [[posthuman]] state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. They extend this rational and ethical egoism to advocate a form of "[[biolibertarianism]]".<ref name="Bailey 2005 LB"/> |
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Anarcho-transhumanism has roots in the writings of [[William Godwin]] who could be described as the first transhumanist and has often been described as the first anarchist (though the [[Taoist]] philospher [[Laozi]] was historically the first anarchist). The Russian Cosmists and [[Afrofuturism]] also played a role in the development of Anarcho-transhumanism. But first and foremost Anarcho-transhumanism could be described as a logical extension of Anarchism. The Anarchist [[Peter Kropotkin]] spoke positively of science and technology at the time. Anarcho-transhumanism expands upon classical anarchist ideas and has strong connections to [[Anarcho-communism]]. However many Anarcho-transhumanists reject classical anarchism in favor of currents such as [[Post-left anarchy]] and Left Market Anarchism. |
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As strong [[Civil libertarianism|civil libertarians]], libertarian transhumanists hold that any attempt to limit or suppress the asserted right to human enhancement is a violation of [[civil rights]] and [[civil liberties]]. However, as strong [[Economic liberalism|economic libertarian]]s, they also reject proposed [[public policy|public policies]] of [[regulation of science|government-regulated]] and -[[universal health care|insured]] [[human enhancement technologies]], which are advocated by [[Democratic transhumanism|democratic transhumanists]], because they fear that any [[Interventionism (politics)|state intervention]] will steer or limit their choices.<ref name="Bailey 2005 THE">{{cite journal| author = Bailey, Ronald | title = Trans-Human Expressway: Why libertarians will win the future | year = 2005 | url = http://www.reason.com/news/show/34971.html | accessdate=2006-02-05}}</ref><ref name="Carrico 2005">{{cite journal| author = [[Dale Carrico|Carrico, Dale]] | title = Bailey on the CybDemite Menace | year = 2005 | url = http://amormundi.blogspot.com/2005/05/bailey-on-cybdemite-menace.html | accessdate = 2006-02-05}}</ref><ref name="Bailey 2009">{{cite journal| author = Bailey, Ronald | title = Transhumanism and the Limits of Democracy | year = 2009 | url = http://reason.com/news/show/133074.html | accessdate = 2009-05-01}}</ref> |
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People associated with this tendency include [[Summerspeaker]] and [[Kris Notaro]]. |
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[[Extropianism]], the earliest [[Transhumanism#Currents|current of transhumanist thought]] defined in 1988 by philosopher [[Max More]], initially included an [[Anarcho-capitalism|anarcho-capitalist]] interpretation of the concept of "[[spontaneous order]]" in its principles, which states that a free market economy achieves a more efficient allocation of societal resources than any [[Planned economy|planned]] or [[mixed economy]] could achieve. In 2000, while revising the principles of Extropy, More seemed to be abandoning libertarianism in favor of [[Social liberalism|modern liberalism]] and [[anticipatory democracy]]. However, many Extropians remained libertarian transhumanists.<ref name="Hughes 2001"/> |
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Many Anarcho-primnitivists are highly critical of the theoretical focus on technology. They see this as a threat to their goals. |
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{{Catagory Anarchism}} |
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Critiques of the [[techno-utopianism]] of libertarian transhumanists from progressive [[cultural critic]]s include [[Richard Barbrook]] and Andy Cameron's 1995 essay ''The Californian Ideology''; [[Mark Dery]]'s 1996 book ''Escape Velocity: Cyberculture at the End of the Century''; and [[Paulina Borsook]]'s 2000 book ''Cyberselfish: A Critical Romp Through the Terribly Libertarian Culture of High-Tech''. |
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Links: https://queersingularity.wordpress.com/ |
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Barbrook argues that libertarian transhumanists are proponents of the [[Californian Ideology]] who embrace the goal of [[reactionary modernism]]: [[economic growth]] without [[social mobility]].<ref name="Barbrook and Cameron 1995">{{cite journal| author = Barbrook, Richard; Cameron, Andy | title = The Californian Ideology | year = 2000 | url = http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/theory-californianideology.html | accessdate = 2007-02-06}}</ref> According to Barbrook, libertarian transhumanists are unwittingly appropriating the theoretical legacy of [[Stalinism|Stalinist communism]] by substituting, among other concepts, the “[[vanguard party]]” with the “[[digerati]]”, and the “[[new Soviet man]]” with the “[[posthuman]]”.<ref name="Barbrook ">{{cite journal| author = Barbrook, Richard | title = Cyber-Communism: How the Americans Are Superseding Capitalism in Cyberspace | year = 2007 | url = http://www.imaginaryfutures.net/2007/04/17/cyber-communism-how-the-americans-are-superseding-capitalism-in-cyberspace/ | accessdate = 2009-05-21}}</ref> |
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Dery coined the dismissive phrase “body-loathing” to describe the attitude of libertarian transhumanists and those in the [[cyberculture]] who want to escape from their “[[Human body|meat puppet]]” through [[mind uploading]] into [[cyberspace]].<ref name="Dery 1996">{{cite book| author = [[Mark Dery|Dery, Mark]] | title = Escape Velocity: Cyberculture at the End of the Century | publisher = Grove Press | year = 1996 | isbn = 0-8021-3520-X}}</ref> Borsook asserts that libertarian transhumanists indulge in a [[subculture]] of [[selfishness]], [[elitism]] and [[escapism]].<ref name="Borsook 2000">{{cite book| author = Borsook, Paulina | title = Cyberselfish: A Critical Romp Through the Terribly Libertarian Culture of High-Tech | publisher = PublicAffairs | year = 2000 | url = http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2000/11/cyberselfish-redux | isbn = 1-891620-78-9}}</ref> |
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Sociologist [[James Hughes (sociologist)|James Hughes]] is the most militant critic of libertarian transhumanism. While articulating “democratic transhumanism” as a sociopolitical program in his 2004 book ''[[Citizen Cyborg]]'',<ref name="Hughes 2004">{{cite book| author = Hughes, James| title = Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future| publisher = Westview Press| year = 2004| isbn = 0-8133-4198-1}}</ref> Hughes sought to convince libertarian transhumanists to embrace [[social democracy]] by arguing that: |
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# [[State (polity)|State]] action is required to address [[existential risk|catastrophic threats]] from transhumanist technologies; |
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# Only believable and effective [[public policy|public policies]] to prevent adverse consequences from new technologies will reassure skittish publics that they do not have to be [[ban (law)|banned]]; |
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# [[Social policy|Social policies]] must explicitly address public concerns that transhumanist biotechnologies will exacerbate [[social inequality]]; |
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# [[Monopoly|Monopolistic]] practices and overly restrictive [[intellectual property]] law can seriously delay the development of transhumanist technologies, and restrict their access; |
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# Only a strong [[liberal democratic]] state can ensure that posthumans are not [[persecution|persecuted]]; and |
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# Libertarian transhumanists (who are [[antinaturalism (politics)|anti-naturalists]]) are inconsistent in arguing for the free market [[appeal to nature|on the grounds that it is a natural phenomenon]]. |
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Klaus-Gerd Giesen, a German political scientist specializing in the [[philosophy of technology]], wrote a critique of the libertarianism he imputes to all transhumanists. While pointing out that the works of [[Austrian School]] economist [[Friedrich Hayek]] figure in practically all of the recommended reading lists of [[Extropians]], he argues that transhumanists, convinced of the sole virtues of the free market, advocate an unabashed [[social Darwinism|inegalitarianism]] and merciless [[meritocracy]] which can be reduced in reality to a biological [[fetishism|fetish]]. He is especially critical of their promotion of a science-fictional [[liberal eugenics]], virulently opposed to any political regulation of [[human genetics]], where the [[consumerism|consumerist]] model presides over their ideology. Giesen concludes that the despair of finding social and political solutions to today's sociopolitical problems incites transhumanists to [[genetic determinism|reduce everything to the hereditary gene]], as a fantasy of [[omnipotence]] to be found within the individual, even if it means transforming the subject ([[human]]) to a new draft (posthuman).<ref name="Giesen 2004">{{cite journal| author = Giesen, Klaus-Gerd | title = Transhumanisme et génétique humaine | year = 2004 | url = http://www.ircm.qc.ca/bioethique/obsgenetique/cadrages/cadr2004/c_no16_04/c_no16_04_01.html | accessdate = 2006-04-26}}</ref> |
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== See also == |
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{{colbegin}} |
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* [[Outline of libertarianism]] |
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* [[Technological utopianism]] |
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* [[Technogaianism]] |
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* [[Self-ownership]] |
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* [[Individualism]] |
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* ''[[Laissez-faire]]'' |
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* [[Transhumanism#Genetic divide]] |
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* [[Non-Aggression Principle]] |
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{{colend}} |
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== References == |
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{{Reflist|2}} |
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== External links == |
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{{Libertarianism}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Libertarian Transhumanism}} |
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[[Category:Libertarianism by form|Transhumanism]] |
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[[Category:Transhumanism]] |
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[[Category:Right-wing politics]] |
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Revision as of 02:20, 18 May 2016
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| Anarchism |
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Anarcho-transhumanism is a form of Anarchism combining anarchism and transhumanism. This is distinct from Libertarian Transhumanism which is combines right wing libertarianism and transhumanism.[1][2] 1st May 2016
Overview
Being a form of Anarchism Anarcho-transhumanism rejects all hierarchies. These include the state, capitalism, eugenics, ableism, racism, colonialism misogyny and more. A common misconception is that anarcho-transhumanism is synonymous with Libertarian Transhumanism. The former is a form of anarchism compatible with all forms of anarchism. But has especially strong connections to Social anarchism. The latter is a synthesis of right wing libertarianism and transhumanism. By contrast anarcho-transhumanism is either left libertarian, post-leftist, or post-post-leftist. Anarcho-transhumanism is explicitly anti-reactionary and anti-fascist.
Anarcho-transhumanism has roots in the writings of William Godwin who could be described as the first transhumanist and has often been described as the first anarchist (though the Taoist philospher Laozi was historically the first anarchist). The Russian Cosmists and Afrofuturism also played a role in the development of Anarcho-transhumanism. But first and foremost Anarcho-transhumanism could be described as a logical extension of Anarchism. The Anarchist Peter Kropotkin spoke positively of science and technology at the time. Anarcho-transhumanism expands upon classical anarchist ideas and has strong connections to Anarcho-communism. However many Anarcho-transhumanists reject classical anarchism in favor of currents such as Post-left anarchy and Left Market Anarchism.
People associated with this tendency include Summerspeaker and Kris Notaro.
= Criticisms
Many Anarcho-primnitivists are highly critical of the theoretical focus on technology. They see this as a threat to their goals.
Links: https://queersingularity.wordpress.com/
- ^ Hughes, James (2001). "The Politics of Transhumanism". Retrieved 2007-01-26.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Notaro, Kris (17th May 2016). "An Anarchist-Transhumanism Manifesto".
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)