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Humanity+ and the Transhumanist Declaration

Transhumanism strives to embrace the fullest potential of scientific and technological advancement to improve the human condition while responsibly addressing the attendant risks. The Transhumanist Declaration lays out these goals and priorities.

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  1. Humanity stands to be profoundly affected by science and technology in the future. We envision the possibility of broadening human potential by overcoming aging, cognitive shortcomings, involuntary suffering, and our confinement to planet Earth.
  2. We believe that humanity’s potential is still mostly unrealized. There are possible scenarios that lead to wonderful and exceedingly worthwhile enhanced human conditions.
  3. We recognize that humanity faces serious risks, especially from the misuse of new technologies. There are possible realistic scenarios that lead to the loss of most, or even all, of what we hold valuable. Some of these scenarios are drastic, others are subtle. Although all progress is change, not all change is progress.
  4. Research effort needs to be invested into understanding these prospects. We need to carefully deliberate how best to reduce risks and expedite beneficial applications. We also need forums where people can constructively discuss what should be done, and a social order where responsible decisions can be implemented.
  5. Reduction of existential risks , and development of means for the preservation of life and health, the alleviation of grave suffering, and the improvement of human foresight and wisdom should be pursued as urgent priorities, and heavily funded.
  6. Policy making ought to be guided by responsible and inclusive moral vision, taking seriously both opportunities and risks, respecting autonomy and individual rights, and showing solidarity with and concern for the interests and dignity of all people around the globe. We must also consider our moral responsibilities towards generations that will exist in the future.
  7. We advocate the well-being of all sentience , including humans, non-human animals, and any future artificial intellects , modified life forms, or other intelligences to which technological and scientific advance may give rise.
  8. We favour allowing individuals wide personal choice over how they enable their lives. This includes use of techniques that may be developed to assist memory, concentration, and mental energy; life extension therapies; reproductive choice technologies; cryonics procedures; and many other possible human modification and enhancement technologies.
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The Transhumanist Declaration

The Transhumanist Declaration was first drafted by a small group of committed visionaries in 1988, and later adopted by the World Transhumanist Association (now called Humanity+). It lays the foundation for a vision of Transhumanism that is widely accepted by transhumanists today, enumerating both goals to strive for and practices to achieve them.

It affirms:

  1. A commitment to use science and technology to expand human potential and curtail the effects of old age and other forms of human suffering.
  2. A belief that humanity’s potential is still largely unrealized.
  3. A conscious awareness that not all change is progress and that technological power can also be misapplied or even abused.
  4. A commitment to carefully researching, understanding, and collaboratively deliberating over these potential risks.
  5. Mitigation of existential risks and the need to improve human foresight and wisdom.
  6. The importance of policy-making approaches that embrace human autonomy and human diversity.
  7. A commitment to the well-being of all sentient beings everywhere, including non-human intelligence.
  8. The importance of personal choice and individual freedom in efforts to broaden human potential and minimize suffering.

We invite you to read the full text of the Transhumanist Declaration.

The Transhumanist Declaration

Questions for Discussion

  • What are the purposes and goals of the Transhumanist Declaration?
  • What do the goals of Transhumanism have in common with Mormon visions of an exalted humanity?
  • Why is individual agency so important in the pursuit of these goals? Why is it central to both Mormonism and Transhumanism?
  • What are some of the risks and benefits of pursuing the technological expansion of human potential as a deliberate, active endeavor?
  • Why is it important to recognize and honor human freedom and human diversity in these pursuits?
  • What parts of the Transhumanist Declaration most resonate with you? What parts would you like to better understand?
  • Having read about transhumanist goals, how do you feel about depictions of AI in film and literature as dystopian, dangerous, and scary?

Advance to Primer 4