We advocate for a global technoprogressive movement
Rooted in Enlightenment thought, grounded in democratic values, and committed to the equitable distribution of the benefits of emerging technology.
The convergence of technological progress and democratic social change
Technoprogressivism is an ideological stance with roots in Enlightenment thought. It holds that human flourishing is advanced by the convergence of technological progress and democratic social change. Technological innovations can be profoundly empowering and emancipatory — when they are democratically and transparently regulated for safety and efficacy, and then made universally and equitably available.
See for instance the Technoprogressive Declaration.
IEET has built a network of the most visionary thinkers and activists working on the policy implications of human enhancement and other emerging technologies.
We support technoprogressive research through grants and donations, funding IEET Fellows and Interns working on the ethical and policy issues of human enhancement and other emerging technologies. Since 2004, IEET Fellows and Affiliate Scholars have written thousands of op-eds, journal articles, and book chapters, promoted through the IEET website and publications.
IEET also organizes and co-sponsors conferences and one-day seminars in North America and Europe to promote discussion of technoprogressive ideas.
Sane adult citizens have a right to control their own bodies and minds. IEET engages with legal scholars, human rights communities, reproductive rights activists, and public health advocates to deepen and broaden the concept of human rights — including the right to technological self-determination, which we believe should be protected by laws and treaties.
Rights of the Person
Engaging the transgendered community, reproductive rights activists, and public health advocates to deepen the concept of human rights and protect technological self-determination.
Longer, Better Lives
Making the case for life extension: addressing objections from overpopulation to ennui, and working with senior citizens groups to challenge ageist attitudes that discourage health technology.
Economic security
The technological innovations of the 21st century will dramatically reduce the demand for human labor of all kinds. IEET believes we need to prepare now for the political and economic reforms necessary to ensure that technological unemployment is a boon for all — not just an economic elite.
Science & technology policy
- Encouraging innovation and resisting intellectual property overreach
- Public financing of science
- Regulation for safety and efficacy
Rights & access
- Bodily self-determination, including genetic self-ownership
- Enabling the disabled through technology
- Reproductive rights and access to safe, effective reproductive and contraceptive technologies, including genomic choice
Read the research
Thousands of articles, op-eds, journal papers, and books produced by IEET Fellows and Affiliate Scholars since 2004 — all freely available.