Tag: collaboration

6 Steps to Paradise: How Do We Prepare for a Post-Scarcity Society? – Article by Tom Ross

6 Steps to Paradise: How Do We Prepare for a Post-Scarcity Society? – Article by Tom Ross

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Tom Ross

We Were (Necessarily) Way Off

Paradism says, “What if work, money, and survival panic weren’t running the show anymore?” That sounds great, but our nervous systems were trained in the opposite direction. Our limbic system—your built-in threat detector—got rewarded for spotting danger, hoarding resources, and competing. So these steps are about retraining that system. We’re moving from “there’s not enough” to “we can make enough,” from fear to trust, from isolation to collaboration. The goal isn’t to make people naïve—it’s to help humans stay calm, creative, and ethical in a world where AI, automation, and shared resources make survival less of a struggle.

What is Paradism?

Paradism is a vision of society where technology and AI do most of the work, resources are shared fairly, and people are free to create, learn, care for others, and explore. It’s “post-scarcity” because the basic stuff—food, housing, health, energy—can be produced in abundance, so we don’t need to build society around jobs and bills. It’s not fantasy; it’s a different operating system for humans.

Six Practical Steps to Prepare for Paradism

1. Train your nervous system out of scarcity mode.

Do a daily “sufficiency check”: name three things you already have enough of today (food, shelter, allies, knowledge). This tells your limbic system, “We’re safe right now.” Add in slow breathing (4 seconds in, 6 seconds out) to physically downshift. A regulated human can cooperate; a panicked human hoards.

2. Shift your value from labor to contribution.

In a post-scarcity world, your worth isn’t “hours worked” but “value added.” Start asking: “What can I make easier, clearer, or more beautiful for others?” Practice it now—share a template, teach a skill, explain a hard topic. You’re training your brain to see usefulness beyond a paycheck.

3. Build collaboration muscles.

Paradism runs on networks, not lone wolves. Start small: join or form a skill-swap group, co-write something, co-host an event, even co-garden. The point is to get comfortable creating with others, sharing credit, and making decisions together. Scarcity says, “Mine.” Paradism says, “Ours.”

4. Normalize AI as a partner, not a rival.

We can’t get to post-scarcity without machines doing the heavy lifting. So practice delegating thinking: “AI, draft this,” “AI, summarize this,” “AI, give me three options.” This teaches your brain that help is normal. The limbic system hates replacement; the higher self loves augmentation.

5. Detox from status-through-stuff.

Scarcity culture sells identity through consumption. Paradism will prize creativity, stewardship, and kindness. Start measuring yourself by what you repair, what you share, and what you uplift—not by what you own. Do a monthly “release cycle”: donate, repurpose, or share something. This weakens the hoard reflex.

6. Practice purpose without pressure.

If survival is handled, people ask, “Then why am I here?” Start answering that now. Keep a “purpose log”: moments you felt useful, alive, or aligned. Paradism needs humans who can self-direct, not lie around bored. You’re rehearsing being a free being.

Three Practices for Parents

1. Teach abundance stories.

Tell or show examples where people shared and everyone got more (potluck, open-source software, community gardens). Make cooperation the “cool” story, not competition.

2. Let kids solve real problems together.

Give them small joint missions—plan dinner, organize a room, make a video—and praise collaboration, not “who did the most.”

3. Model calm around technology.

If you act threatened by AI or automation, they learn to fear it. If you act curious—“Let’s see what this can help us do”—they learn partnership.

That’s it. Calm the animal, wake the human, welcome the future.

Tom Ross is the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s Director of Sentient Rights Advocacy. He was also the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s 2024 candidate for President of the United States. Learn more about Tom Ross here. Read the THPedia entry about Tom Ross here. 

Tom Ross: A Beacon of Friendship and Admiration for Bangladesh and Bangabandhu – Article by Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana

Tom Ross: A Beacon of Friendship and Admiration for Bangladesh and Bangabandhu – Article by Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana

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Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana

Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana and Tom Ross in Bangladesh


Introduction:

In the realm of international relations, the significance of fostering strong bonds between nations cannot be overstated. One such exemplar of diplomatic amity and genuine admiration is Tom Ross, an American presidential candidate who has emerged as a true friend of Bangladesh and an avid enthusiast of its founding father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

A Pioneering Friendship:

Tom Ross’s connection with Bangladesh transcends the conventional boundaries of political alliances. His interest in the country and its people goes beyond the typical political rhetoric, reflecting a deep understanding and appreciation for the cultural, historical, and social fabric of Bangladesh.

Ross has actively engaged in fostering diplomatic ties between the United States and Bangladesh, recognizing the strategic importance of a strong bilateral relationship. His visionary approach emphasizes collaboration on issues such as trade, climate change, and global security, laying the foundation for a comprehensive partnership.

Bangabandhu’s Influence:

A unique facet of Tom Ross’s affinity for Bangladesh is his profound admiration for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the revered architect of the nation. Ross’s admiration extends beyond political posturing, reflecting a genuine respect for the visionary leader who played a pivotal role in the country’s independence.

Ross has often expressed his admiration for Bangabandhu’s commitment to democracy, social justice, and economic development. His speeches and public statements underscore the belief that the principles advocated by Bangabandhu are not only relevant to Bangladesh but hold universal significance for fostering a just and equitable world.

Building Bridges:

Ross’s commitment to building bridges between nations is evident in his efforts to facilitate cultural exchanges and people-to-people connections. Recognizing the rich cultural tapestry of Bangladesh, he has supported initiatives that promote mutual understanding and appreciation between the American and Bangladeshi people.

His advocacy for educational collaborations, artistic exchanges, and cultural events has created a platform for fostering deeper connections at the grassroots level. By emphasizing the importance of shared values and aspirations, Ross seeks to strengthen the foundation of the friendship between the two nations.

Conclusion:

In the complex landscape of international relations, Tom Ross stands out as a beacon of friendship and admiration for Bangladesh. His genuine appreciation for the nation’s history, culture, and its founding father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, reflects a commitment to building a robust and enduring partnership.

As Tom Ross charts a course in his presidential campaign, his vision for a stronger alliance with Bangladesh resonates as a testament to the enduring power of diplomacy, friendship, and shared values in shaping a better world. The evolving narrative of this unique friendship promises to contribute positively to the global stage, fostering collaboration and understanding between nations.

Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana and Tom Ross next to a portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana is the U.S. Transhumanist Party Director of Foreign Relations and Foreign Ambassador in Bangladesh. Learn more about him here. 

Bengali Version:

টম রস: বাংলাদেশ এবং বঙ্গবন্ধুর জন্য বন্ধুত্ব ও প্রশংসার আলোকবর্তিকা

ভূমিকা:

আন্তর্জাতিক সম্পর্কের ক্ষেত্রে, জাতিগুলির মধ্যে দৃঢ় বন্ধন গড়ে তোলার তাত্পর্যকে বাড়াবাড়ি করা যায় না। কূটনৈতিক বন্ধুত্ব এবং অকৃত্রিম প্রশংসার এমনই একজন উদাহরণ হলেন টম রস, একজন আমেরিকান রাষ্ট্রপতি প্রার্থী যিনি বাংলাদেশের একজন সত্যিকারের বন্ধু এবং এর প্রতিষ্ঠাতা বঙ্গবন্ধু শেখ মুজিবুর রহমানের একজন উত্সাহী হিসেবে আবির্ভূত হয়েছেন।

একটি অগ্রগামী বন্ধুত্ব:

বাংলাদেশের সাথে টম রসের সংযোগ রাজনৈতিক জোটের প্রচলিত সীমানা অতিক্রম করে। দেশ এবং এর জনগণের প্রতি তার আগ্রহ সাধারণ রাজনৈতিক অলংকারের বাইরে চলে যায়, যা বাংলাদেশের সাংস্কৃতিক, ঐতিহাসিক এবং সামাজিক কাঠামোর জন্য গভীর উপলব্ধি এবং উপলব্ধি প্রতিফলিত করে।

রস একটি শক্তিশালী দ্বিপাক্ষিক সম্পর্কের কৌশলগত গুরুত্বকে স্বীকৃতি দিয়ে মার্কিন যুক্তরাষ্ট্র এবং বাংলাদেশের মধ্যে কূটনৈতিক সম্পর্ক বৃদ্ধিতে সক্রিয়ভাবে জড়িত। তার দূরদর্শী দৃষ্টিভঙ্গি বাণিজ্য, জলবায়ু পরিবর্তন এবং বৈশ্বিক নিরাপত্তার মতো বিষয়গুলিতে সহযোগিতার উপর জোর দেয়, একটি ব্যাপক অংশীদারিত্বের ভিত্তি স্থাপন করে।

বঙ্গবন্ধুর প্রভাব:

বাংলাদেশের প্রতি টম রসের সখ্যতার একটি অনন্য দিক হল জাতির শ্রদ্ধেয় স্থপতি বঙ্গবন্ধু শেখ মুজিবুর রহমানের প্রতি তার গভীর প্রশংসা। রসের প্রশংসা রাজনৈতিক ভঙ্গির বাইরেও প্রসারিত, যা দেশের স্বাধীনতায় গুরুত্বপূর্ণ ভূমিকা পালনকারী দূরদর্শী নেতার প্রতি অকৃত্রিম শ্রদ্ধাকে প্রতিফলিত করে।

রস প্রায়ই গণতন্ত্র, সামাজিক ন্যায়বিচার এবং অর্থনৈতিক উন্নয়নের প্রতি বঙ্গবন্ধুর প্রতিশ্রুতির প্রশংসা করেছেন। তাঁর বক্তৃতা এবং জনসাধারণের বিবৃতিগুলি এই বিশ্বাসের উপর জোর দেয় যে বঙ্গবন্ধু যে নীতিগুলি উত্থাপন করেছিলেন তা কেবল বাংলাদেশের জন্যই প্রাসঙ্গিক নয় বরং একটি ন্যায় ও ন্যায়সঙ্গত বিশ্ব গড়ে তোলার জন্য সর্বজনীন তাৎপর্য বহন করে।

সেতু নির্মাণ:

জাতিগুলির মধ্যে সেতু নির্মাণে রসের প্রতিশ্রুতি সাংস্কৃতিক আদান-প্রদান এবং জনগণের মধ্যে সংযোগ স্থাপনের জন্য তার প্রচেষ্টায় স্পষ্ট। বাংলাদেশের সমৃদ্ধ সাংস্কৃতিক ট্যাপেস্ট্রির স্বীকৃতি দিয়ে, তিনি আমেরিকান এবং বাংলাদেশী জনগণের মধ্যে পারস্পরিক বোঝাপড়া এবং উপলব্ধি উন্নীত করে এমন উদ্যোগকে সমর্থন করেছেন।

শিক্ষাগত সহযোগিতা, শৈল্পিক আদান-প্রদান, এবং সাংস্কৃতিক ইভেন্টের জন্য তার উকিল তৃণমূল পর্যায়ে গভীর সংযোগ গড়ে তোলার জন্য একটি প্ল্যাটফর্ম তৈরি করেছে। ভাগ করা মূল্যবোধ এবং আকাঙ্ক্ষার গুরুত্বের উপর জোর দিয়ে, রস দুই দেশের মধ্যে বন্ধুত্বের ভিত্তি মজবুত করতে চায়।

উপসংহার:

আন্তর্জাতিক সম্পর্কের জটিল ল্যান্ডস্কেপে টম রস বাংলাদেশের জন্য বন্ধুত্ব ও প্রশংসার আলোকবর্তিকা হিসেবে দাঁড়িয়ে আছেন। জাতির ইতিহাস, সংস্কৃতি এবং এর প্রতিষ্ঠাতা পিতা বঙ্গবন্ধু শেখ মুজিবুর রহমানের প্রতি তার অকৃত্রিম উপলব্ধি একটি শক্তিশালী এবং স্থায়ী অংশীদারিত্ব গড়ে তোলার অঙ্গীকার প্রতিফলিত করে।

টম রস যখন তার প্রেসিডেন্ট নির্বাচনী প্রচারণার একটি পথ নির্ধারণ করেন, বাংলাদেশের সাথে একটি শক্তিশালী জোটের জন্য তার দৃষ্টিভঙ্গি একটি উন্নত বিশ্ব গঠনে কূটনীতি, বন্ধুত্ব এবং ভাগ করা মূল্যবোধের স্থায়ী শক্তির প্রমাণ হিসাবে অনুরণিত হয়। এই অনন্য বন্ধুত্বের ক্রমবর্ধমান আখ্যানটি বিশ্ব মঞ্চে ইতিবাচকভাবে অবদান রাখার প্রতিশ্রুতি দেয়, দেশগুলির মধ্যে সহযোগিতা এবং বোঝাপড়া বৃদ্ধি করে।

On Space Exploration – Graphics by Luis Arroyo

On Space Exploration – Graphics by Luis Arroyo

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Luis Arroyo

Editor’s Note: The U.S. Transhumanist Party features this set of graphics by our member Luis Arroyo to bring attention to some of the reasons to pursue space travel, a goal embraced in Section XVII of the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform. Space travel is essential to turn humanity into a multi-planetary species, and, as Mr. Arroyo points out, also provides numerous benefits to human development and collaboration on Earth. Also, these graphics are effective for sharing on various social-media platforms.

~ Gennady Stolyarov II, Chairman, United States Transhumanist Party, November 6, 2021

 

References

[1]  Richard Monastersky. “Shooting for the Moon”. Nature. July 15, 2009. Available at https://www.nature.com/articles/460314a.

[2] International Space Exploration Coordination Group. “Benefits Stemming from Space Exploration”. NASA. September 2013. Available at https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/Benefits-Stemming-from-Space-Exploration-2013-TAGGED.pdf.

Transhumanists Need New Symbols – Statement by Gennady Stolyarov II

Transhumanists Need New Symbols – Statement by Gennady Stolyarov II

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Gennady Stolyarov II

Transhumanists: we need new symbols in place of “H+ / h+” – which are not the best representations of our movement as a whole. We need inspiring, meaningful, unambiguous symbols that are developed through grassroots efforts within our community and made freely available for anyone to use.

Infinity Ankh by Nic Nassuet

The U.S. Transhumanist Party / Transhuman Party (USTP) calls upon graphic designers, artists, marketing experts, philosophers, and other interested individuals to design a series of new symbols representing transhumanism in general. There is no limit to the number of symbols developed or the kinds of artistic and design directions that are pursued. The only condition of this collaboration is that any resulting symbols be released into the public domain in entirety and become available for free download, reuse, and upload to popular image repositories such as Wikimedia Commons. Ultimately, it will be user preference that will determine which symbols will achieve widespread adoption – but the USTP encourages a thousand (symbolic) flowers to bloom.

TH Symbol by Gennady Stolyarov II

 

Please join us in this collaboration. View the many symbols generated in response to it thus far here. We expect numerous new symbols to be added to our gallery over time.

You may submit your symbols via e-mail to USTP Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II here, as well as link to them in the comments on this article or post them on any social-media thread where this article is being shared. By contributing symbols in response to this project, you grant your consent to have those symbols released freely into the public domain and to be used by any individuals at no monetary cost to them worldwide and in perpetuity, without the right to use those symbols being limited to any particular individual(s) or organization(s) or subject to the control of any such individual(s) or organization(s). You agree that no person, at any time in perpetuity, would be able to claim any intellectual property rights over the symbols generated in response to this collaboration.

Infinity Arrow by Michael Murray

 

The USTP also encourages all transhumanists to abandon the use of any variants of the “H+ / h+” symbols for the purpose of referring to transhumanism generally or as a whole, for numerous reasons which shall be explicated below. In November 2016, when leadership of the USTP passed to Chairman Stolyarov, the USTP made the decision to discontinue the use of “H+ / h+” and to replace it with its current “exponential infinity” logo. Now the USTP calls upon all other transhumanists – including candidates competing for the USTP’s endorsement in the forthcoming Electronic Primary – to replace any uses of “H+ / h+” with original and unrelated symbols which are likely to better represent what transhumanism stands for.

Transhumanist Wolf by Michael Passavant

1. The “H+ / h+” symbols are ambiguous and can refer to many other matters besides transhumanism. Many of these uses are, in fact, better known than transhumanism. In chemistry, “H+” refers to a hydron, the most common of which is the simple proton. In physics, “h+” refers to an electron hole. Among mobile-phone networks, “H+” stands for Evolved High-Speed Packet Access, the fastest of the 3G networks. Even the streaming service Hulu uses the “h+” symbol while an entire chain of “H+ Hotels” has been established across Germany. Surely, transhumanists can do better than a derivative symbol which has many other, mostly unrelated uses and will be overshadowed in the public mind by those uses.

2. The “H+ / h+” symbols were attempted substitutes for transhumanism; we need to openly embrace transhumanism instead. The symbols originated in the course of the 2008 rebranding of the World Transhumanist Association into Humanity+, yet the USTP holds that symbols depicting the transhumanist movement should be focused on promoting and reinforcing connections with the word “transhumanism”. Transhumanism is the technically accurate name for our philosophy advocating the dramatic improvement of the human condition through science and technology. We should not shy away from the term “transhumanism” – but rather we should proclaim it proudly and articulate it accurately. Intellectually honest persons with dispositions open to truth and learning will understand and appreciate this unabashed transparency, and they are the allies we should seek to cultivate.

We do not need to fear misunderstandings from the public but should rather challenge those misunderstandings when confronted with them. Transhumanism is our philosophy, and we should advocate it clearly and openly by that name.

3. The use of the “H+ / h+” symbols is largely limited to the United States, whereas transhumanism is a global and cosmopolitan movement. Consistent with the spirit of the Transhumanist Bill of Rights, transhumanism includes the promise of a better life for all sentient entities, not limited to a particular culture or any particular national boundaries. Our symbols also need to be universal, cosmopolitan, and inclusive – encompassing both today’s humans as well as sentient entities and forms of intelligence and sapience that have yet to arise.

4. Transhumanism is much more than a single organization. A movement and a philosophy cannot be confined to a particular corporate entity; to confine it thus is to stifle its growth and transform a living, open philosophy into a staid and centrally controlled dogma. This is not in itself a criticism of the Humanity+ organization, but rather a recognition that the movement as a whole is not the same as any given organization within it. It is confusing to have symbols that could potentially refer to a single organization but also to the movement as a whole. A cleaner approach would be to leave the “H+ / h+” symbols to the Humanity+ organization – since its rebranding occurred long in the past and is a fait accompli – while adopting new, more creative, and more representative symbols which anyone could use in the capacity of referring to transhumanism as a whole – much like anyone may use a cross to refer to Christianity, a crescent to refer to Islam, a Star of David to refer to Judaism, a torch to refer to liberty, a red flag or red star to refer to socialism, or a fleur-de-lis to refer to France. No one owns these symbols, and their meanings transcend any particular individual or group. It is for this reason that the USTP calls for the new symbols of transhumanism to be released into the public domain; they will also not be confined to the USTP itself but will rather be usable by any transhumanist to refer to all of transhumanism – including those parts of the transhumanist movement which are outside the USTP.

5. Transhumanists may become unable to use the “H+ / h+” symbols anyway. It has come to the USTP’s attention that the Humanity+ organization has recently embarked upon a campaign to enforce its trademark in a broadly construed manner. Humanity+ owns a trademark to a stylized lowercase “h+” logo but has, per the understanding of the USTP, taken the position that any use of “H+” or “h+” in the context of transhumanism is sufficiently similar to be an infringement of that trademark. The USTP considers this position to be overly reaching and impracticable to enforce completely, given that Creative Commons versions of “h+” symbols which are distinct from the Humanity+ logo have been available and used in at least tens of thousands of instances for over a decade. However, the USTP as an organization does not have a direct stake in this matter and has already differentiated itself in its logos and other graphics. Out of an abundance of caution, the USTP recommends that transhumanists discontinue using the “H+ / h+” symbols more broadly.

Our more general concern is that there is always a danger with a broader intellectual movement resorting to essentially proprietary symbols. Proprietary symbols can potentially lead to intellectual “gatekeepers” emerging and restricting the growth of the movement – whether or not this is any entity’s current intention. A philosophy which can potentially be adopted by anyone should also utilize symbols that could potentially be adopted by anyone without the need to seek permission or approval. In order to continue the remarkable growth that transhumanism has experienced in recent years, it is therefore prudent for all transhumanists outside of Humanity+ to immunize themselves by discontinuing the use of the “H+ / h+” symbols. By ceding the ground of those symbols to Humanity+, transhumanists in all areas of the movement gain the much more important territory of intellectual freedom in preventing the gatekeeper phenomenon from emerging. No single transhumanist organization, including the USTP itself, should become the gatekeeper of the transhumanist movement as a whole.

6. Transhumanists needs to embrace techno-optimism and pursue a more hopeful, heroic vision of the future. In practice, the “H+ / h+” symbols are insufficiently connected with radical life extension and the potential for technology to solve many of today’s pressing social problems. While there is nothing inherently wrong with toned-down variants of transhumanism as such, they should not be the only ones. When perceiving the “H+ / h+” symbols, one does not immediately associate them with the heroic ambitions that ought to characterize the transhumanist movement – ambitions toward biological immortality (or indefinite life extension), radical abundance, and humankind seizing control of its own evolution – ambitions toward solving, within our (hopefully greatly extended) lifetimes, every problem that afflicts the contemporary world.

Since 2013, through grassroots advocacy by a newer cohort of transhumanists, including the USTP’s founder Zoltan Istvan, a more exuberant, direct, and techno-positive vision of transhumanism has gradually emerged to the forefront of public awareness and inspired many to consciously seek to transform the flawed contemporary world into a new Transhuman Era of our civilization. The new Transhuman Era needs new symbols which properly convey the spirit of techno-optimism and indefinite, open-ended improvement of length and quality of life in all respects.

Become part of the effort to shape the vision for the new Transhuman Era of our civilization by helping to create its symbols. Deploy your skills and imagination to help us represent our aimed-for future of indefinite lifespans, perpetual progress, and unending prosperity for all – and exemplify the spirit of radical abundance by sharing your creations freely with the world.

Gennady Stolyarov II is the Chairman of the United States Transhumanist Party / Transhuman Party. Find out more about him here. 

Jessica Milne – Presentation on Decentralizing Trust at the California Transhumanist Party Leadership Meeting

Jessica Milne – Presentation on Decentralizing Trust at the California Transhumanist Party Leadership Meeting

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Jessica Milne

The California Transhumanist Party held its inaugural Leadership Meeting on January 27, 2018.

Jessica Milne, the California Transhumanist Party’s Director of Information Science and Technology, delivered a presentation entitled, “De-Centralizing Trust: A map to a better tomorrow”, on the subject of organizational dynamics and the various roles individuals tend to fall into in today’s organizations (as well as whether there might be a better way). This video includes a recording of the presentation and the subsequent interaction with the audience, including U.S. Transhumanist Party Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II, California Transhumanist Party Chairman Newton Lee, and California Transhumanist Party Director of Networking Charlie Kam.

Watch the first video from the California Transhumanist Party Leadership Meeting, featuring a presentation by Newton Lee and ensuing discussion on Transhumanist political efforts, here.

Visit the website of the California Transhumanist Party:http://www.californiatranshumanistparty.org/index.html

Read the U.S. Transhumanist Party Constitution: https://transhumanist-party.org/constitution/

Become a member of the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free: https://transhumanist-party.org/membership/

(If you reside in California, this would automatically render you a member of the California Transhumanist Party.)

Concrete Transhumanism – An Overview of Emerging Instantiations and the Transhuman Present Project

Concrete Transhumanism – An Overview of Emerging Instantiations and the Transhuman Present Project

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Gennady Stolyarov II

Note: This post was also published on Steemit, where Mr. Stolyarov publishes under an account with the username gstolyarovii.

Transhumanism is a philosophy of lofty aspirations and universally applicable substance. Yet, when articulated at its usual level of abstraction, it is often misunderstood, especially if commonplace cultural connotations, myths, and fears from popular fiction inject nefarious undertones into what ought to be seen straightforwardly as a salutary overcoming of (deleterious) human limitations and a dramatic expansion of our potential through the application of science, technology, and rationality. Some accuse transhumanists of being a cabal of Illuminati who somehow secretly run the world. (How is this even possible, I wonder?) Others believe that transhumanists seek to turn humankind into the Borg from Star Trek or to create a dystopia where only a handful of rich Silicon Valley entrepreneurs will live forever at everyone else’s expense. Of course, no transhumanist actually even remotely resembles these stereotypes – and while it would have been quite helpful to have a few more Silicon Valley entrepreneurs as allies, the reality remains that the vast majority of transhumanists, including leaders of the movement, are people of ordinary means and relatively ordinary life situations. Transhumanists as people have much more in common with those who are unaware of, or hold misconceptions regarding, transhumanism than the latter persons think!

So what, then, sets transhumanists apart? Although we are generally people of ordinary means and circumstances, we are also people of extraordinary vision, and we see the world around us as in the midst of technological transformation which not only will have, but is already having, paradigm-shifting effects on everyday life. We are not beholden to status quo bias; we recognize that the present is a transitional state, and that life has not always been like this, nor will it always remain the way it is now.

Until recently, few efforts have been made to illustrate this observation concretely. But dedicated small associations of transhumanists are emerging to show the world what a transhuman present looks like. Through the projects they put into practice, the general public might get a glimpse of a transhuman existence, and in what directions it may head during the coming years and decades.

The Transhuman House and Foundation Library

If today’s technological capabilities were fully integrated into a residence, or even a room inside a residence, what would this look like? The Transhuman House, established in 2017, aims to answer this question. Version 1.0 of the Transhuman House opened to the public in Provo, Utah, in June 2017, even including an option for guests to rent a room via AirBnB.  (See images from a 3D tour of Version 1.0 here.) The Transhuman House contains a showcase of emerging technologies, such as Nest, Alexa, and the Microsoft HoloLens. While observing and interacting with these examples of today’s devices – which either are already available or soon will become available for consumer adoption – visitors have the opportunity to read and study works from the Foundation Library – a wide-ranging collection of philosophical, scientific, technological, and fictional works exploring the ideas of transhumanism as well as visions of potential futures and specific pathways toward bringing those futures into being. In November 2017 the Transhuman House expanded into Version 2.0, moving into a larger (3-bedroom) building and adding touch screens and a giant touch-operable wall panel with which visitors can interact to learn about ongoing projects by transhumanist entrepreneurs and activists. Might most residences ten years in the future look somewhat like the Transhuman House? Now that there is a concrete illustration of what is possible even today, visitors have the opportunity to ponder the question of its wider applicability. The creators of the Transhuman House have given us a glimpse into what everyday life might look like with the emerging “transhuman” technologies more fully integrated into it. Some of these technologies are already available to consumers – so if you would like to create your own partial version of a “Transhuman House”, you may have the opportunity to begin setting up some of the components today.

Zero State – The Alternate Reality Game

The Zero State is a Social Futurist Community – described as “an organization formed in 2011 to work toward the establishment of a pro-technology, Transhumanist, distributed, virtual State. ZS’ motto is ‘Positive Social Change Through Technology’.” As one of the Zero State’s co-founders, Dirk Bruere, explains, the primary meaning of the name “Zero State” is “the lowest energy state of a system, the place to which everything returns when the energy runs out.” The Zero State has had several incarnations, the latest of which is an Alternate Reality Game (ARG), whose fictional premise is that the participants are representatives of twelve technologically advanced Houses, which have become the dominant influences in a post-dystopian late 21st century – a new era subsequent to the turmoil that (in this fictional timeline) would characterize the proximate future. The real-world application of the game involves members of the twelve Zero State Houses undertaking projects today which would enable the more salutary aspects of that distant future to take shape. Through the approach of gamification and interesting storylines woven into concrete projects, it is hoped that this format will motivate more people who are interested in the promise of emerging technologies and their societal impacts to take specific actions to realize the kind of world we would wish to see.

The U.S. Transhumanist Party, of which I am the Chairman, recently initiated a collaboration with the Zero State under the auspices of House Rhadamanth. I anticipate that the gamification format will be particularly useful in achieving projects where large numbers of distributed, volunteer participants are required for success. There is a strong potential for synergies between the Zero State and the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s Transhuman Present project, announced below.

The Transhuman Present Project

The U.S. Transhumanist Party represents a broad spectrum of members from throughout the world, who consider themselves transhumanists and who have expressed alignment with our three Core Ideals:

Ideal 1. The Transhumanist Party supports significant life extension achieved through the progress of science and technology.

Ideal 2. The Transhumanist Party supports a cultural, societal, and political atmosphere informed and animated by reason, science, and secular values.

Ideal 3. The Transhumanist Party supports efforts to use science, technology, and rational discourse to reduce and eliminate various existential risks to the human species.

The Transhuman Present project is our next step for reaching out to our members and others who consider themselves transhumanists and inviting them to show us what transhumanism means for them in their own lives. Participation is easy and available in a variety of formats. Here is how to get involved:

  1. Create a post on any social medium with the hashtags #TranshumanPresent and/or #IAmTranshuman. To render us aware of the post, you can either link it to the U.S. Transhumanist Party Facebook page, or e-mail Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II at gennadystolyarovii [at] gmail [dot] com with your submission. Make sure that we are able to download or otherwise access the content of the post.
  2. The post should contain some manner of specific illustration – for instance, a photo, video, drawing, diagram, audio file, or other interactive medium – showing how your life, environment, or aspirations can already be recognized as “transhuman” in terms of incorporating emerging technologies to expand your potential and the potential of those around you. The post may also include artistic elements that express your vision and aspirations for the future – as long as these elements are your original work or specific to your setting. (In other words, we would like to see how individual transhumanists have made their own lives more transhuman – not just reposts of images highlighting the work of famous individuals like Aubrey de Grey, Ray Kurzweil, or Elon Musk.)
  3. The goal of the project is to collect many contributions from a diverse range of transhumanists and to illustrate to the public that the ideals we hold are accessible, capable of integration with ordinary life, and of practical relevance to living in today’s technological era. You are encouraged to use the tools of social media to promote your post and the hashtags #TranshumanPresent and #IAmTranshuman. Consider creative ways of spreading these messages (for instance, integrating the hashtags into videos or taking a photograph of yourself holding a poster beginning with “#IAmTranshuman because…”) The best submissions will focus on answering questions such as the following:
  • a. How are you using technology in ways that greatly broaden your potential compared to what was possible in even the proximate past?
  • b. How does your life look differently now as a result of emerging technologies? In what directions is your life being recognizably transformed?
  • c. What previously insurmountable barriers has technology enabled you to overcome?
  • d. What achievements can you show the world, which were possible due to the role that technology has played in your life?

Contributions to the project are open to the general public, and one does not need to be a member of the U.S. Transhumanist Party in order to contribute. However, the U.S. Transhumanist Party reserves the right to curate any submissions and to assemble videos, collages, or other media using the content therein. Furthermore, by making a submission, the content creator grants the U.S. Transhumanist Party and any of its Officers a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive right to use and distribute the content at their discretion, without any further requirement of additional permissions or express or implied compensation.

Because the U.S. Transhumanist Party is an all-volunteer, non-monetary organization, the contributions to the Transhuman Present project will not receive monetary compensation, but they are likely to receive public exposure and may benefit the contributor through increased recognition and inspiration for others to adopt the contributor’s ideas and values toward the realization of a better future.

Contributions to the Transhuman Present project are open until July 1, 2018, at which time the U.S. Transhumanist Party will compile the results into videos, collages, and potentially other media that will show the world the range of transhumanist endeavors and improvements to living standards that are possible today. While we are a young political party, and the road toward winning elections is a long one, we can profoundly influence public opinion much sooner by providing a reputable and appealing vision of what is possible if our principles are put into practice.

Gennady Stolyarov II, FSA, ACAS, MAAA, CPCU, ARe, ARC, API, AIS, AIE, AIAF, is the Chairman of the United States Transhumanist Party. Find out more about Mr. Stolyarov here.

Announcement of U.S. Transhumanist Party Collaboration with the Zero State (ZS) and Participation in the ZS Alternate Reality Game

Announcement of U.S. Transhumanist Party Collaboration with the Zero State (ZS) and Participation in the ZS Alternate Reality Game

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Gennady Stolyarov II

The U.S. Transhumanist Party is pleased to announce its incipient collaboration with a Social Futurist community based in the United Kingdom – the Zero State (ZS) – described as “an organization formed in 2011 to work toward the establishment of a pro-technology, Transhumanist, distributed, virtual State. ZS’ motto is ‘Positive Social Change Through Technology’.” As one of the Zero State’s co-founders, Dirk Bruere, explains, the primary meaning of the name “Zero State” is “the lowest energy state of a system, the place to which everything returns when the energy runs out.”

Given that the U.S. Transhumanist Party strongly supports such pro-technology initiatives as advocated by the Zero State, as well as distributed systems for participation in political processes, throughout its Platform (particularly Article III, Sections V, VI, VIII, IX, XIII) and also supports various forms of political, economic, and cultural experimentation in Article III, Section XXII, our collaboration with the Zero State is a logical fit for implementing our own vision for as many polities throughout the world which open themselves to ambitious experiments in paradigm-shifting technologies.

The most recent incarnation of the Zero State is that of an Alternate Reality Game (ARG), whose premise is described on this page. The game is pursued by twelve Houses, described as follows:

The Zero State is organised into twelve Houses, and each of those Houses began with twelve Founding Members.

The first five of those are the Core members, each of whom leads their own crew of “subsid” (subsidiary/affiliated) members. The five Core members of each House together comprise a kind of meta-team, known as the House’s Core Team. That Core Team is tasked with establishing their House in the years 12017-12018, by recruiting, developing the House’s internal culture and traditions, and working on projects known as Missions.

Dr. M. Amon Twyman (Ámon Ásentir), who co-founded the Zero State, has kindly designated the use of one of the twelve Zero State Houses – House Rhadamanth – for activities that would further the goals of the U.S. Transhumanist Party. The announcement of this development is available here and reads as follows:

House Rhadamanth has now been joined by Gennady Stolyarov II, who has assumed the Core role of “Anankes Atraktos” (a Greek term from Plato‘s Republic, meaning “Spindle of Necessity“). Gennady is Chairperson of the US Transhumanist Party, Chief Executive of the Nevada Transhumanist Party, and much more besides. This connection reflects a major development in House Rhadamanth’s focus and culture, which has now expanded from drones and robotics to Transhumanism in general, and which hinges on direct support for and collaboration with the Transhumanist Party, both in the US and internationally.

House Rhadamanth is now seeking both additional Core Members and Subsidiary Members to populate it. The purpose of this arrangement will be to engage transhumanists, futurists, and life-extensionists to pursue, in a “gamified” manner, the projects that will advance the objectives of the U.S. Transhumanist Party in the real world, all the while strengthening the network of connections and beneficial interactions among future-oriented thinkers throughout the world. If you are interested in joining, please e-mail Gennady Stolyarov II here. We are interested in 10 other individuals who would be able to devote a reasonable amount of time to actively advancing ongoing projects such as the following:

  • (1) The U.S. Transhumanist Party infographic project, which it is hoped will result in detailed visual representations that would, in essence, serve as a map of the terrain of transhumanist and life-extensionist organizations, social-media pages, and key individuals.
  • (2) Participation in distributed computing projects (for instance, Folding@home) aimed at fundamental research that could help accelerate the arrival of cures to various diseases. The U.S. Transhumanist Party previously announced this activism project here.
  • (3) Campaigns for writing and advocacy on particular issues – for instance, rejuvenation biotechnology research, rights of patients of rare diseases to pursue experimental treatments, or the official recognition of biological aging as a disease.

We welcome ideas for any other projects that could be pursued in this “gamified” format as well. Much of the Alternate Reality Game remains to be developed, but the early participants will have the opportunity to shape many of its parameters and contents. The U.S. Transhumanist Party sees promise in this additional way to strengthen ties within the international transhumanist movement and explore opportunities for collaborative endeavors among transhumanists and futurists of various persuasions and backgrounds.

Gennady Stolyarov II is the Chairman of the United States Transhumanist Party. Read more about Mr. Stolyarov here.

A Call for the Formation and Identification of Transhumanist Student Groups

A Call for the Formation and Identification of Transhumanist Student Groups

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Gennady Stolyarov II

Attention, college, university, and high-school students: If you are interested in forming campus-level or school-level transhumanist associations for discussion and advocacy of emerging technologies, the U.S. Transhumanist Party wants to work with you.  If you already have such a group – formal or informal – in proximity or in affiliation with an educational institution, please let us know in this thread or via e-mail here. We can help by offering content, guidance, and publicity to your initiatives.

Any student interested in advocating for life extension, medical care, progress in artificial intelligence, automation, space colonization, and technologies of privacy and individual empowerment, is most welcome to start a campus club and affiliate it with the U.S. Transhumanist Party. What we would request from you are periodic updates regarding your activities, which we could then publish on our website and publicize to our members. You could also feel free to host and record (via video or audio) meetings, interviews, guest speeches, and similar events.

When forming the club or association, please take a look at the U.S. Transhumanist Party Constitution (including the Platform in Article III) so that, when the club represents the official positions of the Transhumanist Party, those representations are made accurately. Of course, you are also free to discuss ideas regarding emerging technologies and the future more generally, and personal opinions of individuals may be different from, or address other subject areas than, any of the official positions of the U.S. Transhumanist Party.  

Also, during the formation stages of the club or association and as activities unfold, please continue to explore the content we have already posted on our website (http://transhumanist-party.org/), and check back for frequent updates in the future. This content is intended to engage and inspire, and we hope it will be useful for motivating discussions.

Once you are ready to take the step of direct affiliation, please e-mail Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II here, and you would be provided with a Delegation of Authority that would be tailored to allow you to run the club in a relatively autonomous manner, while remaining under the auspices of the  U.S. Transhumanist Party.

Local organizations, including student transhumanist discussion groups, are one important way in which the U.S. Transhumanist Party will spread its influence and messages to the public. We encourage the formation and grassroots operation of as many of these groups as possible.

 

Gennady Stolyarov II, FSA, ACAS, MAAA, CPCU, ARe, ARC, API, AIS, AIE, AIAF

Chairman, United States Transhumanist Party

October 1, 2017

Activating Transhumanism – James Strole Interviews Gennady Stolyarov II on RAAD Fest

Activating Transhumanism – James Strole Interviews Gennady Stolyarov II on RAAD Fest

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Gennady Stolyarov II

U.S. Transhumanist Party Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II was interviewed by James Strole regarding the forthcoming RAAD Fest 2017 in San Diego, California, which will occur on August 9-13, 2017. This interview addressed Mr. Stolyarov’s impressions of RAAD Fest 2016, his goals for the transhumanist movement in politics, and how various perspectives within the transhumanist and life-extensionist movement can benefit from interfacing with one another. Watch the video of the interview on YouTube or below.

At RAAD Fest 2017, Mr. Stolyarov will be moderating a panel consisting of transhumanist philosophers, researchers, and activists – including Zoltan Istvan, Dr. Ben Goertzel, Dr. Max More, and Dr. . You can see the full RAAD Fest schedule here.

The panel moderated by Mr. Stolyarov will occur at 10 a.m.  on Friday, August 11, 2017. Machine augmentation of human bodies and minds will be one topic of discussion; transhumanist politics will be another. As previously announced, Mr. Stolyarov will inaugurate the panel with a brief presentation entitled “The U.S. Transhumanist Party: Pursuing a Peaceful Political Revolution for Longevity”.

Members of the U.S. Transhumanist Party: When registering for RAAD Fest, you can use the special discount code TRANSHUMAN, which will now reduce the cost of registration to $497.