Here at the Transvision 2014 in Paris we just concluded a meeting of the technoprogressive caucus to draft a statement of common principles. The meeting consisted of the members of Technoprog!: AFT, Amon Twyman representing Zero State/Institute for Social Futurism, David Wood from the London Futurists, and me (J. Hughes) from IEET. The result is below. We are inviting individual and organizational co-signators. Please let me know if you would like to add your or your organization’s name.  We would like to collect co-signators between now and the end of the year, so you don’t have to decide immediately.

Technoprogressive Declaration

The world is unacceptably unequal and dangerous. Emerging technologies could make things dramatically better or worse.  Unfortunately too few people yet understand the dimensions of both the threats and rewards that humanity faces. It is time for technoprogressives, transhumanists and futurists to step up our political engagement and attempt to influence the course of events.

Our core commitment is that both technological progress and democracy are required for the ongoing emancipation of humanity from its constraints. Partisans of the promises of the Enlightenment, we have many cousins in other movements for freedom and social justice.  We must build solidarity with these movements, even as we intervene to point to the radical possibilities of technologies that they often ignore. With our fellow futurists and transhumanists we must intervene to insist that technologies are well-regulated and made universally accessible in strong and just societies. Technology could exacerbate inequality and catastrophic risks in the coming decades, or especially if democratized and well-regulated, ensure longer, healthy and more enabled lives for growing numbers of people, and a stronger and more secure civilization.

Beginning with our shared commitment to individual self-determination we can build solidarity with

- Organizations defending workers and the unemployed, as technology transforms work and the economy

- The movement for reproductive rights, around access to contraception, abortion, assisted reproduction and genomic choice

- The movement for drug law reform around the defense of cognitive liberty

- The disability rights movement around access to assistive and curative technologies

- Sexual and gender minorities around the right to bodily self-determination

- Digital rights movements around new freedoms and means of expression and organization

We call for dramatically expanded governmental research into anti-aging therapies, and universal access to those therapies as they are developed in order to make much longer and healthier lives accessible to everybody.  We believe that there is no distinction between “therapies” and “enhancement.”  The regulation of drugs and devices needs reform to speed their approval.

As artificial intelligence, robotics and other technologies increasingly destroy more jobs than they create, and senior citizens live longer, we must join in calling for a radical reform of the economic system. All persons should be liberated from the necessity of the toil of work. Every human being should be guaranteed an income, healthcare, and life-long access to education.

We must join in working for the expansion of rights to all persons, human or not.

We must join with movements working to reduce existential risks, educating them about emerging threats they don’t yet take seriously, and proposing ways that emerging technologies can help reduce those risks. Transnational cooperation can meet the man-made and natural threats that we face.

It is time for technoprogressives to step forward and work together for a brighter future.

Signators (in formation- contact director@ieet.org to add your name/organization):

Organizational:

Technoprog-French Transhumanist Association

De:Trans (German Transhumanist Association)

Zero State/Institute for Social Futurism

Terasem Movement

Alianza Futurista (Spain)

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

Transhumanist [H+] Research & Media Center

Individual:

Australia

Adam Ford, President, Science Technology & the Future, Board member, Humanity+

Russell Blackford, Ph.D., LL.B., philosopher and author, University of Newcastle, NSW

Belgium

Didier Cournelle, Vice-Pres., Technoprog-French Transhumanist Association; co-chair, HEALES

Canada

George Dvorsky, IEET Board Chair, journalist

Estonia

David Latapie, Treasurer, Technoprog-French Transhumanist Association

France

Marc Roux, Spokesperson, Technoprog-French Transhumanist Association

Olivier Nerot, Technoprog-French Transhumanist Association

Cyril Gazengel, Technoprog-French Transhumanist Association

Germany

Günter Bachelier, Ph.D., Computer Artist

Daniel Wuttke, Chair, De:Trans (German Transhumanist Association)

Hungary

Giulio Prisco, IEET Board, Italian Transhumanist Association

India

Avinash Singh, founder, India Future Society

Israel

Ilia Stambler, PhD., Chair, Israeli Longevity Alliance

Italy

Giancarlo Stile Ph.D., Coordinator, Italian Transhumanist Network

Stefano Vaj, Secretary, Italian Transhumanist Association

Riccardo Campa Ph.D., Chair, Italian Transhumanist Association & Sociology, Jagiellonian University

David De Biasi, Co-founder of Italian Transhumanist Network

Bruno Formicola, Member, Italian Transhumanist Network

Serbia

Milan Ćirković Ph.D., Physics, University of Novi Sad

Spain

Sergio Tarrero, President, Alianza Futurista

Javier Ruiz Alvarez, Alianza Futurista

UK

David Wood D.Sc., chair London Futurists, Board member, Humanity+

Steve Fuller Ph.D., Prof. Sociology, University of Warwick, England

Naomi Curtis, Cardiff, United Kingdom

Alexander Karran Ph.D., Liverpool John Moores University

Amon Twyman Ph.D., organizer Zero State/Institute for Social Futurism

Olga Pavlovska, London Futurist

Julian Snape Cert Ed., Norfolk & London Futurist’

USA

Natasha Vita-More Ph.D., Chair, Humanity+, Fellow, IEET

Martine Rothblatt Ph.D., J.D., founder, Terasem Movement

PJ Manney, author and futurist

Hank Pellissier, Brighter Brains Institute

John Smart, President, Acceleration Studies Foundation

Paul Eckstein, Philosophy, Columbia College

John G Messerly Ph.D, philosopher

Susan Schneider Ph.D., Philosophy, University of Connecticut

Philippe van Nedervelde, Director of International Development, 2045 Initiative

Ken Goffman aka R.U. Sirius, Author/Editor/Publisher

B.J. Murphy, Editor, Serious Wonder

Stuart Mason Dambrot, Synthesist, Futurist, Board member, Humanity+

Linda M. Glenn, J.D. LL.M., Cal State U Monterey Bay, Alden March Bioethics Institute, Board, Humanity+

Bryce Alexander Lynch, Member, Zero State

Kent Gemre

J. Hughes Ph.D., Executive Director, Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

Kris Notaro, Managing Director, Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

Michael LaTorra, IEET Board, English, New Mexico State University

Mark Walker Ph.D., IEET Board, Philosophy, New Mexico State University

Jonathan Lyons M.F.A., IEET Affiliate Scholar

Franco Cortese, IEET Affiliate Scholar

Nathan A. Sonnenfeld; Human Factors researcher, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Alex Hamilton, Government Fishbowl

Mark Larkento, Member, Zero State

Jon Perry, Review the Future podcast

Ted Kupper, Review the Future podcast

Frazer Kirkman, Memetic engineer and Founder of United Visions

Rob Boyle, Posthuman Studios

Additional readings:

Overview of Biopolitics

TransVision 2014 - “What is Technoprogressive Thought? Origins, Principles, Agendas” James Hughes (Nov 22, 2014)

“Values and objectives of the French techno-progressivism” Marc Roux (2013)

David Wood Explains Technoprogressivism (2013)

“Towards a Transhumanist Techno-progressive Divorce” Rick Searle (Aug 20, 2013)

“Live Long and Prosper: A Program of Technoprogressive Social Democracy” Dale Carrico (July 31, 2005)

“TechnoProgressive Biopolitics and Human Enhancement,” J. Hughes, Progress in Bioethics, ed. Jonathan Moreno and Sam Berger, 2010, MIT Press, pp. 163-188

“Technoprogressives and Transhumanists: What’s the difference?” Mike Treder (Jun 25, 2009)

“Who are the Technoprogressives?” J. Hughes (Jul 14, 2013)

“Transhumanism, Technoprogressivism and Singularitarianism: What are the Differences?” J. Hughes (Jul 28, 2013)

Here at the Transvision 2014 in Paris we just concluded a meeting of the technoprogressive caucus to draft a statement of common principles. The meeting consisted of the members of Technoprog!: AFT, Amon Twyman representing Zero State/Institute for Social Futurism, David Wood from the London Futurists, and me (J. Hughes) from IEET. The result is below. We are inviting individual and organizational co-signators. Please let me know if you would like to add your or your organization’s name.  We would like to collect co-signators between now and the end of the year, so you don’t have to decide immediately.

Technoprogressive Declaration

The world is unacceptably unequal and dangerous. Emerging technologies could make things dramatically better or worse.  Unfortunately too few people yet understand the dimensions of both the threats and rewards that humanity faces. It is time for technoprogressives, transhumanists and futurists to step up our political engagement and attempt to influence the course of events.

Our core commitment is that both technological progress and democracy are required for the ongoing emancipation of humanity from its constraints. Partisans of the promises of the Enlightenment, we have many cousins in other movements for freedom and social justice.  We must build solidarity with these movements, even as we intervene to point to the radical possibilities of technologies that they often ignore. With our fellow futurists and transhumanists we must intervene to insist that technologies are well-regulated and made universally accessible in strong and just societies. Technology could exacerbate inequality and catastrophic risks in the coming decades, or especially if democratized and well-regulated, ensure longer, healthy and more enabled lives for growing numbers of people, and a stronger and more secure civilization.

Beginning with our shared commitment to individual self-determination we can build solidarity with

- Organizations defending workers and the unemployed, as technology transforms work and the economy

- The movement for reproductive rights, around access to contraception, abortion, assisted reproduction and genomic choice

- The movement for drug law reform around the defense of cognitive liberty

- The disability rights movement around access to assistive and curative technologies

- Sexual and gender minorities around the right to bodily self-determination

- Digital rights movements around new freedoms and means of expression and organization

We call for dramatically expanded governmental research into anti-aging therapies, and universal access to those therapies as they are developed in order to make much longer and healthier lives accessible to everybody.  We believe that there is no distinction between “therapies” and “enhancement.”  The regulation of drugs and devices needs reform to speed their approval.

As artificial intelligence, robotics and other technologies increasingly destroy more jobs than they create, and senior citizens live longer, we must join in calling for a radical reform of the economic system. All persons should be liberated from the necessity of the toil of work. Every human being should be guaranteed an income, healthcare, and life-long access to education.

We must join in working for the expansion of rights to all persons, human or not.

We must join with movements working to reduce existential risks, educating them about emerging threats they don’t yet take seriously, and proposing ways that emerging technologies can help reduce those risks. Transnational cooperation can meet the man-made and natural threats that we face.

It is time for technoprogressives to step forward and work together for a brighter future.

Signators (in formation- contact director@ieet.org to add your name/organization):

Organizational:

Technoprog-French Transhumanist Association

De:Trans (German Transhumanist Association)

Zero State/Institute for Social Futurism

Terasem Movement

Alianza Futurista (Spain)

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

Transhumanist [H+] Research & Media Center

Individual:

Australia

Adam Ford, President, Science Technology & the Future, Board member, Humanity+

Russell Blackford, Ph.D., LL.B., philosopher and author, University of Newcastle, NSW

Belgium

Didier Cournelle, Vice-Pres., Technoprog-French Transhumanist Association; co-chair, HEALES

Canada

George Dvorsky, IEET Board Chair, journalist

Estonia

David Latapie, Treasurer, Technoprog-French Transhumanist Association

France

Marc Roux, Spokesperson, Technoprog-French Transhumanist Association

Olivier Nerot, Technoprog-French Transhumanist Association

Cyril Gazengel, Technoprog-French Transhumanist Association

Germany

Günter Bachelier, Ph.D., Computer Artist

Daniel Wuttke, Chair, De:Trans (German Transhumanist Association)

Hungary

Giulio Prisco, IEET Board, Italian Transhumanist Association

India

Avinash Singh, founder, India Future Society

Israel

Ilia Stambler, PhD., Chair, Israeli Longevity Alliance

Italy

Giancarlo Stile Ph.D., Coordinator, Italian Transhumanist Network

Stefano Vaj, Secretary, Italian Transhumanist Association

Riccardo Campa Ph.D., Chair, Italian Transhumanist Association & Sociology, Jagiellonian University

David De Biasi, Co-founder of Italian Transhumanist Network

Bruno Formicola, Member, Italian Transhumanist Network

Serbia

Milan Ćirković Ph.D., Physics, University of Novi Sad

Spain

Sergio Tarrero, President, Alianza Futurista

Javier Ruiz Alvarez, Alianza Futurista

UK

David Wood D.Sc., chair London Futurists, Board member, Humanity+

Steve Fuller Ph.D., Prof. Sociology, University of Warwick, England

Naomi Curtis, Cardiff, United Kingdom

Alexander Karran Ph.D., Liverpool John Moores University

Amon Twyman Ph.D., organizer Zero State/Institute for Social Futurism

Olga Pavlovska, London Futurist

Julian Snape Cert Ed., Norfolk & London Futurist’

USA

Natasha Vita-More Ph.D., Chair, Humanity+, Fellow, IEET

Martine Rothblatt Ph.D., J.D., founder, Terasem Movement

PJ Manney, author and futurist

Hank Pellissier, Brighter Brains Institute

John Smart, President, Acceleration Studies Foundation

Paul Eckstein, Philosophy, Columbia College

John G Messerly Ph.D, philosopher

Susan Schneider Ph.D., Philosophy, University of Connecticut

Philippe van Nedervelde, Director of International Development, 2045 Initiative

Ken Goffman aka R.U. Sirius, Author/Editor/Publisher

B.J. Murphy, Editor, Serious Wonder

Stuart Mason Dambrot, Synthesist, Futurist, Board member, Humanity+

Linda M. Glenn, J.D. LL.M., Cal State U Monterey Bay, Alden March Bioethics Institute, Board, Humanity+

Bryce Alexander Lynch, Member, Zero State

Kent Gemre

J. Hughes Ph.D., Executive Director, Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

Kris Notaro, Managing Director, Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

Michael LaTorra, IEET Board, English, New Mexico State University

Mark Walker Ph.D., IEET Board, Philosophy, New Mexico State University

Jonathan Lyons M.F.A., IEET Affiliate Scholar

Franco Cortese, IEET Affiliate Scholar

Nathan A. Sonnenfeld; Human Factors researcher, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Alex Hamilton, Government Fishbowl

Mark Larkento, Member, Zero State

Jon Perry, Review the Future podcast

Ted Kupper, Review the Future podcast

Frazer Kirkman, Memetic engineer and Founder of United Visions

Rob Boyle, Posthuman Studios

Additional readings:

Overview of Biopolitics

TransVision 2014 - “What is Technoprogressive Thought? Origins, Principles, Agendas” James Hughes (Nov 22, 2014)

“Values and objectives of the French techno-progressivism” Marc Roux (2013)

David Wood Explains Technoprogressivism (2013)

“Towards a Transhumanist Techno-progressive Divorce” Rick Searle (Aug 20, 2013)

“Live Long and Prosper: A Program of Technoprogressive Social Democracy” Dale Carrico (July 31, 2005)

“TechnoProgressive Biopolitics and Human Enhancement,” J. Hughes, Progress in Bioethics, ed. Jonathan Moreno and Sam Berger, 2010, MIT Press, pp. 163-188

“Technoprogressives and Transhumanists: What’s the difference?” Mike Treder (Jun 25, 2009)

“Who are the Technoprogressives?” J. Hughes (Jul 14, 2013)

“Transhumanism, Technoprogressivism and Singularitarianism: What are the Differences?” J. Hughes (Jul 28, 2013)