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Transhumanism
Gina
Miller
Interviewed
by John Snider and appeared on scifidimesions.com
Nov. 2000.
The
url of the interview
1. Tell us a little about yourself. (Where are you from, what sort of
background do you have, education,
current profession, hobbies/pastimes, etc.)
I spent most of my life in California and now reside in Seattle Wa.
with my husband, James B. Lewis
who is the webmaster for the Foresight Institute. I originally started
out in life with artistic aspirations,
and continued my education as such. In 1993 I viewed a movie on the local
PBS channel, that was about
nanotechnology. Although I am still an artistic person, (and art is not
eliminated by the conquest of the
transhuman) my focus opened up to science and technological aspects, when
I realized the potential that
this emerging science could have on society, and the world. I now have
a web presence, and news email
program running to keep those interested updated on the latest nanoscale
breakthrough's. I publish, the
Nanotechnology Industries Newsletter in which there are interviews and
articles of contribution. I am
also involved in a nanotechnology start up company with my husband and
a couple others, that is currently
being founded, devoted to developing an assembler thru a biotechnology
based pathway.
2. What exactly is transhumanism? And what is it NOT (i.e. what misconceptions
do you commonly encounter)?
Transhumanisim, embraces advancing technology, realizing that the potential
applications can
be beneficial for humanity. Emerging science is advocated by the transhumanist,
in essence
embracing the idea that technology and humanity will bond together to
create a more perfect
body and environment. The ability to incorporate, or morph technology
into ones body/mind and or
environment could mean a plentitude of solutions to problems that at the
moment inhibit today's
world. The results? Cures for the biologically imperfect body as we know
it, extending life span by
modifying the genes that control aging, the revival of previously extinct
species, extending the
capabilities of the mind (memory enhancement, increased intelligence),
the cleaning up of pollution,
including nuclear waste and ozone problems, artificial intelligence, synthetic
physical enhancements,
advanced computing, and nanotechnology. All of this quite possibly could
be attained through merging
technology and nature.
I'm not sure that I personally, have ever experienced any serious misconception,
usually any questions
can easily be answered. I would assume that any misconceptions, would
be due to misunderstanding.
I feel there is support among those who are involved with the Transhuman
and the Extropic movement.
3. How and when did you first hear about transhumanism?
My interest in nanotechnology on route to reading material and online
information, led to
discovering the transhuman meme. Since nanotechnology is an up and coming
science that could
lead to atomic precision manufacturing, inside the body and out, the movement
and this particular
subject, tend to intersect due to similar interest. I believe I first
discovered transhumanism
from Alexander Sasha Chislenko's website. I discovered more about the
subject via the Extropy Institute,
and specifically Natasha Vita More's online documentation, as well as
her book ,CREATE/RECREATE:
The 3rd Millennial Culture She provides the resource for Transhumanist
history, and strives to
blend art and science into the consciousness.
4. Does improvement of the human body extend to modifications that are
strictly aesthetic?
No, although I'm sure we all have fantasies of enhancing our outward
appearance, (think of
the movie Terminator) and this is something that could be attained, there
are even more
important internal improvements that could be made. As I mentioned above,
biological
improvements can be made as well, leaving nasty viruses and genetic errors
in the dust.
5. Are transhumanists, in your experience, fairly homogenous in their
political and social associations?
If so, what are they?
I have experienced a variation of personal political and social beliefs.
Just as in the typical social scope,
the transhumanist/extropic community spreads over a vast diversity of
people. I don't believe there is
a 'type' merely an open mind, and an appreciation/acceptance of wonderful
things to come.
6. What do you think of the possibility that some transhumanists could
try to use superior ability to
dominate the "mundanes" of humanity?
(Certainly, there's plenty of precedent for this sort of thing in science
fiction.)
Within the time line that this is a relative question, I'm not sure how
"mundane" society would be.
However, there may very well be those who do not wish to enhance their
bodies, or minds, but keep
to nature's rules. There is nothing wrong with that. Currently there are
people who pierce their bodies,
dye their hair, and then there are those who do not. The first step to
answering your question is that
we all have freedom of choice. The second step is, respect for that choice.
Taking it further, would
someone with superior ability dominate the rest of the world. I think
I would be speculating to answer
that, because one would have to know the exact particulars of what this
'superior ability' is in comparison
to everyone else. Is this a program that could be hacked into for instance,
is this enhancement design,
already given pre-set guidelines, so that one could not do harm to anyone
else. Who would govern these
rules? How would disobeying them be reacted too? It is difficult to answer
a question that would lead to
prediction. I would however find it comforting, to assume that we as a
people, who for the most part,
(although not all) hold a collective consciousness of right and wrong,
and basically want the best for
ourselves. If we could decide together, what is right for us, these things
could be mapped out ahead of time.
7. How should society prepare for the possibility that medical breakthroughs
could, say, dramatically
increase the human life span (an event which could lead to a worldwide
population explosion)?
How do we prepare for our future right now? As limited as it is, there
are things we do to ensure ourselves
a state of evolution. We make plans, we do the research, we become involved
in social arenas of interest.
The same is true for immorality, you will just have more time, to do the
things you want to do. For each
person, what that is, is an individual choice. You do have to consider
though, all your enemies, are your
enemies for a long time, your ex-lovers, ex-mother in laws, every mistake
you've ever made, will be dealt
with for an extended amount of time, but on the flip side, perhaps with
such a long time, it will fade away.
8. Do transhumanists, in your experience, encounter any social backlash?
I think that whenever you approach a new outlook, out of the natural
fear of change, that there can be
hesitance from those who feel comfortable with things the way they are.
For the most part, the media has
been waking up to the transhumanist meme, now that genetic, nanotechnology
and other high tech
breakthroughs are beginning to surface.
9. Are there currently any practical technologies or lifestyles that
transhumanists are embracing?
Change, self, art, science, technology, improvement, communication and
life.
10. When (if ever) do you think transhumanism will become a household
word?
When technology catches up and shows itself to the mainstream public.
In the future it will be
seen as a term granted by those who were ahead of their time, with their
hope, faith and vision,
for a better, more perfect life.
URL's
*Nanotechnology Industries
http://www.nanoindustries.com
*Gina "Nanogirl" Miller
http://www.nanogirl.com
*Transhuman World Culture InfoMark
http://www.transhuman.org/
*TransDot: Transhuman SlashSite
News
http://www.transhuman.memetree.com/
*Transhumanist Resources -Anders
Sandberg
http://www.aleph.se/Trans/
*Extropy Institute
http://www.extropy.org/
*Changesurger
Radio
http://www.changesurfer.com/eventhorizon/index.html
*Natasha Vita More
http://www.natasha.cc/
*The Foresight Institute
http://www.foresight.org
*Alexander Chislenko
http://www.lucifer.com/~sasha/home.html
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