London Futurists

Make no mistake: the transhumanist impetus is here to stay. Humans dream their science long before doing it. Our species has a pretty formidable track record for putting things we can imagine, however unlikely they may seem at first, into action. Transhumanist narratives of hope and apprehension have become part of the collective imagination through which we envision, rehearse, and enact or prevent possible futures of the human condition. It comprises an untidy, eclectic mix of science, fact and fiction, philosophical speculation and religious yearning, cultural tropes and ideological posturing. Lest we confuse ethics with feasibility, an ethical assessment of transhumanist aspirations must always be reflective of this self-propelling force of technological imaginaries.

That's a paragraph from the Preface from the recently published volume "Technologies of the Future Self: An Ethics for Transhumanist Flourishing". The Preface continues:

A few years ago, when we first conceived this book project, we were struck by a mismatch between the exuberant technological idiom on the one hand, and the rather anodyne (mostly utilitarian and/or libertarian) moral idiom in which transhumanists talk about their collective imaginaries on the other.

Commonly, transhumanists cast their agenda as a quest for “overcoming human limits”, “transcending biological limitations”, and “unlocking human potential”. Even though they clearly advocate the use of advanced science and technology for the betterment of humankind, we find their goals and aspirations seldom if ever expressed in the language of “human flourishing”. In the eyes of transhumanists and their critics alike, central tenets of transhumanism are seen as clashing with ethical conceptions of the “good life” that are substantively defined in terms of "human nature", which transhumanists seek to transform if not overcome.

But surely, we sensed, this cannot be the final word on the matter. The present volume thus seeks to explore these philosophical tensions and, at the same time, suggest avenues that point towards a rapprochement.

This London Futurists webinar features an opening presentation from one of the co-editors of the volume, Georg Theiner, as well as commentary from an author of one of the chapters included in the book, Tracy Trothen.

Topics likely to be discussed include:

• Strengths and weaknesses of transhumanist narratives
• Conceptions of “human nature” and “flourishing”
• The roles of relationship, interdependence, and social justice
• Responses to the challenges of unprecedented technological disruption
• Should we welcome, or resist, a potential "Humanity 2.0"?
• Foundations for ethical decisions: Utilitarianism vs. virtues

The webinar will also include time for audience questions, feedback, and extended conversation.

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The Technoprogressive Opportunity is a two-day in-person conference in Central London (SE1), organised by the IEET and London Futurists, on the subject of "The future of ethics and emerging technologies".

As planning for the conference proceeds, members and friends of London Futurists are invited to RSVP 'Yes' if they expect to attend on one or both days - Saturday 19th September and Sunday 20th September.

Formal registration will become available nearer the time. There will be no charge to attend, or for morning and afternoon refreshments.

Brief description
We live in a time of dramatic changes in the capabilities of technologies. Political and social norms are being disrupted as never before. The future is deeply uncertain. Humanity faces a bewildering mix of risks of catastrophe. But we also have the potential to transition to a new state of civilisation – a new relationship with technology and the environment – featuring unparalleled increases in all-round flourishing.

In this state of confusion and turmoil, how can society reach the wisest decisions about which technologies to encourage and which to constrain? How can society ensure that these decisions are followed in practice, rather than being ignored or subverted by powerful self-interested forces? How can a technoprogressive coalition grow in strength, as a decisive counter to existing worldviews which are more likely to leave humanity diminished, fragmented, or even extinct?

These are the questions at the heart of the technoprogressive opportunity.

Themes
Speakers are being invited to address themes such as:

• Politics and human enhancement
• Technologies for collaboration
• Democracy in the wake of AI
• Abundance: Creating it, sustaining it, and sharing it
• The techlash as a catalyst for profound change
• The Technoprogressive Declaration, 12 years later
• Beyond the Green New Deal: global health and technological justice
• Society as a Service – assessing the Network State
• The impending Economic Singularity: myth or reality?
• AI misalignment: how bad could things get?
• Regulation in the era of augmented capabilities
• PostCapitalism and PostSocialism
• Progressive politics if there’s no working class
• Escaping from Molloch: avoiding the race to the bottom
• The Longevity Dividend: making it real
• Alternative banners: transhumanism, vitalism, ecomodernism, or what?
• From Cold War 2.0 to a new world order?
• Ethics: by whom and for whom?
• Lobbying for better policies: dos and don’ts
• Concrete next steps in building the technoprogressive coalition