Transcendence

The Disinformation Encyclopedia of Transhumanism and the Singularity

R.U. Sirius, Jay Cornell

• Publisher: Disinformation Books
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9781609259594
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Semantics
• Index: Computer Science

"A deceptively light treatment of mind-blowing technologies and their cultural, social and political impact. This book will put your mind on fire."—Giulio Prisco, Hacked.com Transhumanism is an international movement that advocates the use of science and technology to overcome the natural limitations experienced by humanity, through such developments as:

• the Singularity—the creation of machine intelligences that exceed the capacities of our biological brains
• the ability to replicate individual minds and put them into solid-state bodies or virtual environments
• individual control over mental and emotional states for enhancing functionalities and/or ecstasies

Some of this is happening now. Some it is still in the minds of dreamers. In nearly ninety A-Z entries, Transcendence provides a multilayered look at the accelerating advances in artificial intelligence, cognitive science, genomics, information technology, nanotechnology, neuroscience, space exploration, synthetic biology, robotics, and virtual worlds that are making transhumanism a reality. Entries range from Cloning and Cyborg Feminism to Designer Babies and Memory-Editing Drugs. In addition, the book notes historical predecessors and personalities, both in mythology and history—ranging from Timothy Leary to Michael Jackson to Ray Kurzweil. It also introduces the culture around Transhumanism, covering all the geeky obsessions of the Transhumanist movement. "A new book deciphering the surreal truths, questionable fictions, and high weirdness of the Singularity... Infotaining, irreverent, and frequent piss-taking paperback."— Boing Boing "RU Sirius and Jay Cornell present us with their own psychedelic guide to the galaxy in this adventurous idea-rich book, bootstrapping on emerging technologies that beckon us to take control of our evolutionary destiny and lead humanity towards radical new landscapes of mind, of dream, of cosmos, of possibility."—Jason SilvaTranshumanism is an international movement that advocates the use of science and technology to overcome the natural limitations experienced by humanity, through such developments as: the Singularitythe creation of machine intelligences that exceed the capacities of our biological brainsthe ability to replicate individual minds and put them into solid-state bodies or virtual environmentsindividual control over mental and emotional states for enhancing functionalities and/or ecstasiesSome of this is happening now. Some it is still in the minds of dreamers. In nearly ninety A-Z entries, Transcendenceprovides a multilayered look at the accelerating advances in artificial intelligence, cognitive science, genomics, information technology, nanotechnology, neuroscience, space exploration, synthetic biology, robotics, and virtual worlds that are making transhumanism a reality. Entries range from Cloning and Cyborg Feminism to Designer Babies and Memory-Editing Drugs. In addition, the book notes historical predecessors and personalities, both in mythology and historyranging from Timothy Leary to Michael Jackson to Ray Kurzweil. It also introduces the culture around Transhumanism, covering all the geeky obsessions of the Transhumanist movement.