Humanity+

Humanity+
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Humanity+ (formerly the World Transhumanist Association) is an international non-governmental organization which advocates the ethical use of emerging technologies to enhance human capacities.

Contents

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 toward the recognition of transhumanism as a legitimate subject of scientific inquiry and public policy.

In contrast to the techno-utopianism of Extropy Institute,[2] WTA officials considered that social forces 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 of Slate reported a political struggle within the transhumanist movement between the libertarian right and the liberal left resulting in a more centre-leftward positioning of Humanity+ under its former 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 .

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 was 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 modify national laws and international human rights conventions to establish (a) that bodily autonomy, reproductive rights, and cognitive liberty should be explicitly recognized 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 encourage 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

Cover of the first issue of h+ Magazine, a web-based quarterly publication that focuses on transhumanism, covering the scientific, technological, and cultural developments that are challenging and overcoming human limitations.

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 judged to have sufficiently probable positive benefit.

Programs and activities

In 2008, Humanity+ started publishing h+ Magazine, a periodical edited by R. U. Sirius which disseminates transhumanist news and ideas.[13][14] h+ Magazine is now a website featuring news and articles about transhumanist issues and technologies.

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, Europe, South America and Asia have also formally affiliated with Humanity+.

Humanity+ also 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 base of RepRap by the end of 2012.

Notable members

References

  1. ^ Sutherland, John (2006-05-09). "The ideas interview: Nick Bostrom". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/ideas/story/0,,1770736,00.html. 
  2. ^ Extropy Institute (2006). Next Steps. http://www.extropy.org/future.htm. Retrieved 2006-05-05. 
  3. ^ 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. ^ a b Ford, Alyssa (May / June 2005). "Humanity: The Remix". Utne Magazine. http://www.twliterary.com/jhughes_utne.html. Retrieved 2007-03-03. 
  5. ^ Saletan, William (2006-06-04). "Among the Transhumanists". Slate.com. http://www.slate.com/id/2142987/fr/rss/. Retrieved 2007-03-03. 
  6. ^ Bailey, Ronald (2004-08-11). "The Transhumans Are Coming!". Reason Online. http://www.reason.com/news/show/34859.html. Retrieved 2007-03-02. 
  7. ^ Daly, Bernard (2004-10-25). "Transhumanism". America: The National Catholic Weekly 191 (12). http://www.americamagazine.org/gettext.cfm?articleTypeID=1&textID=3826&issueID=501. 
  8. ^ TransVision 2006 - Emerging Technologies of Human Enhancement
  9. ^ www.transvision2007.com
  10. ^ "Programs of the World Transhumanist Association". http://transhumanism.org/index.php/WTA/programs/. 
  11. ^ Blackford, Russell (2008). WTA changes its image. http://metamagician3000.blogspot.com/2008/07/wta-changes-its-image.html. Retrieved 2008-11-18. 
  12. ^ "WTA Constitution and By-Laws". http://humanityplus.org/about/constitution/. 
  13. ^ "h+ Magazine". http://www.hplusmagazine.com/. 
  14. ^ Newitz, Annalee (2008). Can Futurism Escape the 1990s?. http://io9.com/5067829/can-futurism-escape-the-1990s. Retrieved 2008-11-18. 

External links

Humanity+ and affiliated organizations

Media coverage


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  • Humanity — Hu*man i*ty, n.; pl. {Humanities}. [L. humanitas: cf. F. humanit[ e]. See {Human}.] 1. The quality of being human; the peculiar nature of man, by which he is distinguished from other beings. [1913 Webster] 2. Mankind collectively; the human race …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • humanity — late 14c., kindness, graciousness, from O.Fr. humanité, umanité human nature; humankind, life on earth; pity, from L. humanitatem (nom. humanitas) human nature; philanthropy, kindness; good breeding, refinement; the human race, mankind, from… …   Etymology dictionary

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