The Posthuman Condition*

1. The Posthuman Condition* By Kip Werking * Hunter Washburne helped edit my article “The Posthuman Condition.”

2. Introductory Quotations • "There is no evil I have to accept because 'there's nothing I can do about it'. There is no abused child, no oppressed peasant, no starving beggar, no crack-addicted infant, no cancer patient, literally no one that I cannot look squarely in the eye. I'm working to save everybody, heal the planet, solve all the problems of the world."— Eliezer Yudkowsky, Singularitarian Principles 1.0 • "How could we drink up the sea? Who gave us the sponge to wipe away the entire horizon? What were we doing when we unchained this earth from its sun? Whither is it moving now? Whither are we moving? Away from all suns? Are we not plunging continually? Backward, sideward, forward, in all directions? Is there any up or down left? Are we not straying as if through an infinite nothing? Do we not feel the breath of empty space?"—  Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra* * The article “Caution and the Way Forward” by Max More, which can be found at Reason’s The Longevity Meme www.longevitymeme.org first drew my attention to this quotation. I thought that Nietzsche’s words were especially for my article as well, as therefore included them.

3. Introduction • Philosophy and Natural Science • Why my thesis is not shocking • Anthropocentric conceits • Darwin • Copernicus • The third and fourth conceits

4. The Third Anthropocentric Conceit "The third blow, which is psychological in nature, is probably the most wounding."— Freud • The unique importance of IA • Some transhumanists have yet to abandon: • Kurzweil • Yudkowsky and the Singularitarians • Contrast intelligence with speed, strength • Our superiors already exist • Speed and strength do not accelerate • Contrast Freud and Nietzsche

5. The Fourth Anthropocentric Conceit • Definition: the collective naïve answers to the hard problems of philosophy • Transhumanists have yet to abandon: • Libertarian transhumanism • Yudkowsky’s FAQ and CFAI • Contrast Nietzsche with Ayn Rand • The three questions discussed here: • Ethics • Freedom • Reality • Other possible questions in the fourth: • Personal Identity (More, Hughes) • Religion

6. Ethics • Is happiness a subgoal? • Response B does not respect the BRM – Hedonistic Imperative • Universal DNA and universal orgasm • Beware the Naturalistic Fallacy

7. Ethics • How valid are the moralities of HS1-4? • Consider the possibilities for X1 and X2, including maladaptive behaviors • So, if a behavior was conducive to fitness and utility, that behavior would be moral, regardless of appearance • But our sense of morality involves feelings coupled with actions – not just feelings • In summary: BRM manipulation threatens to undermine our sense of morality

8. Freedom • Not a trivial problem • Summarize recent work • Transhumanists and compatibilists • Transhumanist therapy / enhancement distinction disappears as enhancement improves • Free will skeptic therapy / punishment distinction disappears as therapy improves • Intelligence amplification • Behavior engineering • Consider HS4 / Layers of Control

9. Freedom • In 1924 Ayn Rand studied Nietzsche • In 1924 Leopold studied Nietzsche • In 1924 John Burdon Sanderson Haldane presented his paper “Daedalus, or, Science and the Future” • In summary, future technologies will force us to once again confront Darrow’s challenge

10. Reality • Image of sensory deception evolves with technology • The Matrix • The Simulation Argument • How To Live In A Simulation • Why are the citizens of Zion not suffering an epistemological crisis? • Court cases

11. Conclusion & Questions • Transhumanists have abandoned the third conceit • But they continue to believe in the fourth • This is seen by considering BRM modification, intelligence amplification, behavior engineering, and virtual reality simulations • Other philosophical dilemmas might be relevant too (personal identity, religion) • Questions