WTA Statements and Position Papers

Bostrom responds to TechRev attacks on Aubrey de Grey; TR editor responds to H+ community outrage

Saturday, January 15, 2005

The February 2005 issue of Technology Review has a cover story reviewing the research and advocacy for life extension of Aubrey de Grey, founder of the Methusaleh Mouse prize, the WTA’s 2004 HG Wells award winner and a fellow of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies. The article by Sherwin Nuland argues a bioconservative line that life extension is bad for human dignity. But far more offensive is the lead editorial by editor Jason Pontin “Against Transcendence.” Pontin says that believing in the transcendent possibilities offered by technology turns people into “troolls” and points to Aubrey de Grey’s beard and the lines on his face as evidence. The transhumanist community has responded passionately to these ad hominem attacks, and below is a letter from WTA chair Nick Bostrom to Pontin, and his response.

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Older Statements

• Action Agenda Adopted [ October 19, 2006 ]
• Statement on Totalitarianism [ November 04, 2005 ]
• Statement on Artificial Intelligence - Adopted March 1, 2005 [ March 01, 2005 ]
• Bostrom responds to TechRev attacks on Aubrey de Grey; TR editor responds to H+ community outrage [ January 15, 2005 ]
• Position on Human Germline Genetic Modification [ December 26, 2004 ]
• Bostrom Responds to Fukuyama’s Assertion that Transhumanism is World’s Most Dangerous Idea [ September 10, 2004 ]
• Molecular Manufacturing Research Offers Great Promise, and Deserves Public Debate [ April 25, 2003 ]
• Clones Are People Too, Group Says [ December 25, 2002 ]
• WTA STATEMENT ON NEO-NAZISM AND UFO CULTS [ February 25, 2002 ]
• WTA STATEMENT ON RACIALISM []
• WTA STATEMENT ON CLONING []