| |
Update 4
- 29 March 2000
Dear Member,
- High time for another
update… Here are some of the things that have happened since the pervious
update (1 July 1999):
-
 | WTA membership
numbers have increased from 650 to 1087 |
| A transhumanist
group in Germany, De:Trans, has finally been launched after a
long period of careful preparations. Dr. Frank Prengel is the current
chairperson. Their website is at http://www.transhumanismus.de.
We expect great things from this group in the future, because of the
quality of its leading members and because what they do seem to have
a generally solid character. For example, one of their early contributions
is a very careful translation of the FAQ into German. The translators,
K. Mathwig, M. A. Ernst und F. Prengel, deserve plenty of kudos for
this work. |
| The Journal of
Transhumanism has published another two volumes: |
Anders
Sandberg "The
Physics of Information Processing Superobjects: Daily Life Among the
Jupiter Brains"
ABSTRACT
Physics limits
information processing, and hence the possible forms of intelligent
beings and their civilizations. In this review I discuss physical
limitations on density, speed, size, energy dissipation and communication,
sketching the constraints on very powerful information processing
objects.
John
Hickman
"The
Political Economy of Very Large Space Projects"
ABSTRACT
While popular
science writers typically describe the benefits to be derived from
their favorite very large space development project in detail, their
treatment of the crucial initial capitalization of such projects is
typically sparse or implausible. Capitalization is a crucial problem
for these projects because the total capital investment required is
very large and the investment takes a very long time before producing
economic returns. "Chunky" investments are unattractive to most private
investors and lenders. Very large space development projects are best
understood as massive public works projects which are necessary to
open frontiers. Despite the libertarian sentiments in much of the
popular science writing on very large space development projects,
government would likely have to play a large role in capitalizing
such projects.
| The WTA site and
the JTH site have been redesigned by a hired designer to give them a
more professional look. There is still room for improvement. For example,
if somebody can create a better logo (possibly on the same theme as
the current one), that would certainly be welcome. |
| Media coverage
of transhumanism seems to be on the rise. Most recently, Nick Bostrom
presented the case for life-extension and seeking a cure for aging on
the British television programme "Heart of the Matter" (BBC1). There
has also been a series of newspaper and radio interviews. The WTA seeks
to encourage the widest possible debate of the potentials (and dangers)
of anticipated technologies, among both scholars and the general public.
We see it is important to cultivate a degree of intellectual sophistication
and background knowledge so that people can discuss these issues in
a meaningful way. |
| The third TransVision
conference is in preparation! TVMM will be jointly organized
by the WTA and Alcor-UK. It will be held in London, in July 15-16. The
official conference site is at http://www.transhumanism.com/tv2k/.
Registration is now open. TransVision is the perfect opportunity not
only to visit London and attend interesting talks but also to meet up
with other transhumanists and talk about everything between heaven and
Earth (and how to from here to there). This is one you don't want to
miss! |
Finally, remember
that the WTA is a "distributed organization" or network: what happens depends
on individual members taking initiatives. Don't wait for orders from the
President, because you are not going to get any and there is no President.
If you want to contribute, put a link up to the WTA site from your home
page, write and submit a paper to the JTH, get together with a few other
transhumanists and start a local group (check out http://www.transhumanism.com/groups.htm
to see if there are other people in your area who want to do this), come
up with your own idea for how to make things better in some way, or help
somebody else who has a good idea. We will probably be discussing future
directions for WTA at TVMM.
Onward!
Nick Bostrom and Dave
Pearce
|
|
Basics