Comments on: Transhumanism: A Grimoire of Alchemical Agendas http://www.kurzweilai.net/transhumanism-a-grimoire-of-alchemical-agendas Accelerating Intelligence Sun, 19 May 2013 00:39:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Iamblichus http://www.kurzweilai.net/transhumanism-a-grimoire-of-alchemical-agendas/comment-page-1#comment-84481 Iamblichus Sun, 06 Jan 2013 21:29:13 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=174264#comment-84481 I'm confused by your comments. I know one of the authors very well and the other by correspondence. Neither are anti-science and both are transhumanists. Both think that transhumanism is both inevitable and is a much older idea. The question is more of what it's going to amount to philosophically. It doesn't sound like you have read the book and have misunderstood the book's aim and import. I’m confused by your comments. I know one of the authors very well and the other by correspondence. Neither are anti-science and both are transhumanists. Both think that transhumanism is both inevitable and is a much older idea. The question is more of what it’s going to amount to philosophically. It doesn’t sound like you have read the book and have misunderstood the book’s aim and import.

]]> By: carmel M Toussaint http://www.kurzweilai.net/transhumanism-a-grimoire-of-alchemical-agendas/comment-page-1#comment-69451 carmel M Toussaint Fri, 14 Dec 2012 00:08:54 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=174264#comment-69451 The First Amendment covers the freedom of speech, press etc and I can see why this book has found his way in this website.I have not read this book and I wonder if I will. I have never seen such a negativity.A dissenting opinion about the future of our species can certainly be expressed in a way without invoking a conspiracy including the participation of our R&D elite,government..I must stop here. The First Amendment covers the freedom of speech, press etc and I can see why this book has found his way in this website.I have not read this book and I wonder if I will. I have never seen such a negativity.A dissenting opinion about the future of our species can certainly be expressed in a way without invoking a conspiracy including the participation of our R&D elite,government..I must stop here.

]]> By: Gabriel http://www.kurzweilai.net/transhumanism-a-grimoire-of-alchemical-agendas/comment-page-1#comment-68324 Gabriel Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:34:07 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=174264#comment-68324 No no, it's not that I feel threatened by them - that's silly. The curious thing is, even when augmentations and the like start becoming mainstream and tensions boil....I have a feeling that things are not going to be as crazy as many dystoptian scenarios say they will. Oh sure, many will argue that such things are anti-human, unnatural etc....but only the truly truly radical would resort to real violence; whether because they are willfully blind to the benefits, or they still think the only solution is murder. Either way, I feel the majority who disagree will still respectfully allow other people to do what they want with their bodies (and they should be given the same), no matter how passionate they get. The only people I fear are people like Ted Kaczynski who would actually resort to real violence to prove their point -- he had his critiques, that were intelligent and made sense to a certain degree...but they were ultimately overshadowed by his intolerable methods; it makes me feel he was, in some sense, a tragic figure. I'm happy and feel it's rational to say that, among the many dissenters who would disagree with these related technologies, that only an extreme minority would stoop to his level. We should be willing to let everyone an ear and respect their choice; it's only people like Ted that I'm really afraid of, since if someone is willing to physically threaten, then it's unlikely to convince them of anything anyway. No no, it’s not that I feel threatened by them – that’s silly. The curious thing is, even when augmentations and the like start becoming mainstream and tensions boil….I have a feeling that things are not going to be as crazy as many dystoptian scenarios say they will. Oh sure, many will argue that such things are anti-human, unnatural etc….but only the truly truly radical would resort to real violence; whether because they are willfully blind to the benefits, or they still think the only solution is murder. Either way, I feel the majority who disagree will still respectfully allow other people to do what they want with their bodies (and they should be given the same), no matter how passionate they get.

The only people I fear are people like Ted Kaczynski who would actually resort to real violence to prove their point — he had his critiques, that were intelligent and made sense to a certain degree…but they were ultimately overshadowed by his intolerable methods; it makes me feel he was, in some sense, a tragic figure. I’m happy and feel it’s rational to say that, among the many dissenters who would disagree with these related technologies, that only an extreme minority would stoop to his level.

We should be willing to let everyone an ear and respect their choice; it’s only people like Ted that I’m really afraid of, since if someone is willing to physically threaten, then it’s unlikely to convince them of anything anyway.

]]> By: Editor http://www.kurzweilai.net/transhumanism-a-grimoire-of-alchemical-agendas/comment-page-1#comment-67750 Editor Wed, 12 Dec 2012 01:14:58 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=174264#comment-67750 The same reason we posted The Unabomber’s Manifesto, http://www.kurzweilai.net/the-unabomber-s-manifesto. One can't deal with irrational luddites unless one understands them. But I understand that some may feel threatened by them and prefer to keep it hidden. The same reason we posted The Unabomber’s Manifesto, http://www.kurzweilai.net/the-unabomber-s-manifesto. One can’t deal with irrational luddites unless one understands them. But I understand that some may feel threatened by them and prefer to keep it hidden.

]]> By: Gabriel http://www.kurzweilai.net/transhumanism-a-grimoire-of-alchemical-agendas/comment-page-1#comment-67691 Gabriel Tue, 11 Dec 2012 23:07:58 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=174264#comment-67691 I have to admit - the synopsis does sound weird....like someone who has an very anti-transhumanist, or possibly even anti-science....it's hard to describe, but it sounds like you basically summed it up -- it's a fearful conservative mishmash. At least, that's what it sounds like since I haven't read it...maybe it does have understandable critiques like the sort Bill Mckibbin had during his interviews with Ray Kurzweil...or maybe it's just a fear-driven piece of work from someone who didn't do their research. I guess readers will see for themselves. I have to admit – the synopsis does sound weird….like someone who has an very anti-transhumanist, or possibly even anti-science….it’s hard to describe, but it sounds like you basically summed it up — it’s a fearful conservative mishmash.

At least, that’s what it sounds like since I haven’t read it…maybe it does have understandable critiques like the sort Bill Mckibbin had during his interviews with Ray Kurzweil…or maybe it’s just a fear-driven piece of work from someone who didn’t do their research. I guess readers will see for themselves.

]]> By: Mr.X http://www.kurzweilai.net/transhumanism-a-grimoire-of-alchemical-agendas/comment-page-1#comment-67636 Mr.X Tue, 11 Dec 2012 20:53:29 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=174264#comment-67636 *Priest: I know everything *Priest: I know everything

]]> By: Mr.X http://www.kurzweilai.net/transhumanism-a-grimoire-of-alchemical-agendas/comment-page-1#comment-67635 Mr.X Tue, 11 Dec 2012 20:53:00 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=174264#comment-67635 "The ultimate question is no longer “who am I” or “why am I here.” These questions were answered in the earliest civilizations by philosophers and priests." If one is content with ANY answer, this is right. Priest: A:Guess my name!? P:bla bla bla. A:Seriously.. P: Kill him, he's a heretic! I hope my word choice may be forgiven, but I sometimes wonder how it must feel to be dumb enough to actually believe stuff like this. It is the paper-back equivalent of trash-tv, I guess. “The ultimate question is no longer “who am I” or “why am I here.” These questions were answered in the earliest civilizations by philosophers and priests.”

If one is content with ANY answer, this is right.

Priest:
A:Guess my name!?
P:bla bla bla.
A:Seriously..
P: Kill him, he’s a heretic!

I hope my word choice may be forgiven, but I sometimes wonder how it must feel to be dumb enough to actually believe stuff like this.

It is the paper-back equivalent of trash-tv, I guess.

]]> By: B.J. Murphy http://www.kurzweilai.net/transhumanism-a-grimoire-of-alchemical-agendas/comment-page-1#comment-67598 B.J. Murphy Tue, 11 Dec 2012 19:18:24 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=174264#comment-67598 What an awful mishmash of anti-science religiosity and conspiracy theorism! Why on Earth would KurzweilAI even remotely hint this book's existence? What an awful mishmash of anti-science religiosity and conspiracy theorism! Why on Earth would KurzweilAI even remotely hint this book’s existence?

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