Extropy Institute (ExI) was incorporated in 1992 as an educational, tax-exempt organization. Like the Extropians e-mail list, ExI was an outgrowth of Extropy (founded in 1988 by Max More and Tom Morrow). We created ExI in order to provide a structure and network that would facilitate

the spread and evolution of extropic ideas, values, and culture. Extropy Institute is the foremost organization developing and disseminating transhumanist ideas.

This organizational mission encompasses two aspects which together explain all our activities: (a) Within our existing Extropian culture refining and developing our ideas, working together to transform ourselves into “posthumans” and to evolve a radically new culture free of the irrationalities and limitations of the past. (b) To clearly and persuasively communicate our philosophy of life even to those who are not already attuned to the same ideas and attitudes, in order to influence the broader culture in more extropic directions.

ExI pursues these transhumanist goals in several ways. Complementing our primary publication, Extropy, is our members’ newsletter, Exponent. Exponent carries shorter articles, membership information such as forthcoming meetings, reports on progress of projects, new media coverage, and discussion of organization questions.

We hold a variety of meetings, including Idea Forum discussion meetings and dinner gatherings, lunch meetings, and impromptu celebrations and outings with extropic themes. As membership grows, local events across the country and abroad are taking place. Spring ‘94 saw an important new development: EXTRO¹ heralded the start of a series of annual conferences where ideas can be explored in depth, and bounced off persons of many different specialities and perspectives.

web site.) The Principles is intended not as a detailed statement or final word on any topic, but as a codification of some of our shared attitudes.

Our second conference, EXTRO² brought together 133 extropically-oriented people for a

Extropy Institute

weekend of intellectual stimulation, social interaction, and pure pleasure. Prof. Marvin Minsky gave the keynote address and the program was filled out by 12 other sessions. (See back cover for conference audio tapes can be ordered. EXTRO³ is being planned for summer 1997.

INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT

The Extropian movement, and the transhumanist ideas it presents, is certainly not merely a “California Ideology” as one critic has dubbed it. Nationwide coverage of this rapidly growing movement has been increas-

ingly matched by international interest.

Recent media interest has come from both BBC1 (the recent series Future Fantastic) and BBC 2 in the UK, CNBC in Canada,

The Extropy Institute Web site is now open (as of September ‘96) at:

http://www.extropy.org

Here you will find detailed information about Extropy Institute and transhumanist activities and ideas. Updates on 1997’s EXTRO³ conference will appear on the site. (See p.50 for more Web site info.)

As befits a transhumanist, high-tech subculture, supplementing printed publications and physical meetings is the on-line Extropian virtual community. The Extropian cyber-community continues to expand, encompassing the main Extropians e-mail list (now in its 4th year), the ExI Essay list, five local e-mail lists for arranging meetings, parties, and other joint activities, a newsgroup, and an Extropian presence on the World Wide Web. To join the main Extropians e-mail list, see page 6 for information. Our new web site adds greatly to ExI’s online presence.

If this issue is your first real contact with extropian ideas, the short version of The Extropian Principles (p.48) will help clarify our shared values and goals. (The full text appeared in Extropy #11, and is on the

several magazines in Brazil, publications and TV crews in Belgium, a major book, Cyberland,

Clockwise from top: Fiorella Terenzi & Roy Walford at EXTRO²; Tanya Jones, Ralph Whelan, Rob Michels, & Abe Heward outside conference hotel; Nancie Clark, Mike, Regina Pancake, Keith at Siggraph; Eric Messick, Max More, Ray Sahelian, Marvin Minsky, Steve, at pre-conference reception; Ralph Merkle, Nick Szabo, David May, Max More, Hara Ra, Fred Moulton, Peter Voss, Peter McCluskey, Mark Miller at discussion meeting.

in Germany, and magazines and TV in France, Chile, Australia, and

ExI Directors

Max More, President, Editor of Extropy. maxmore@primenet.com

Tom Morrow, Vice President. t0morrow@aol.com

Tanya Jones, Treasurer. tanya@alcor.org

Ralph Whelan, Secretary. ralph@alcor.org

Eric Watt Forste. arkuat@pobox.com

Russell E. Whitaker. russw@netcom.com

Council of Advisors

Jamie Dinkelacker, Ph.D.

Prof. Bart Kosko, USC

Prof. Marvin Minsky, MIT

Natasha Vita More

Sharon Presley, Ph.D., Resources for Independent Thinking

EXTROPY INSTITUTE

13428 MAXELLA AVENUE, #273

MARINA DEL REY, CA 90292

310-398-0375 EXI-INFO@EXTROPY.ORG

For details of membership rates, see p.2,

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EXTROPY #17 H2 ‘96

“This is a philosophy of boundless expansion, of upward- and outwardness, of fantastic superabundance. It’s a doctrine of self-transformation, of extremely advanced technology, and of dedicated, immovable optimism. Most of all, it’s a philosophy of freedom from limitations of any kind.”

Ed Regis, “Meet the Extropians”, Wired, October 1994.

“Extropians remain die-hard rationalists, resistant to revealed truth of any kind, even if it’s the truth of their own predictions… The Extropians’ is a libertarianism of rare sophistication… [their] vision could turned out to be our best guide through the strange eons to follow.”

Village Voice, December 1994.

elsewhere. Here in the US, recent coverage of the Extropian movement has been seen in the Synthetic Pleasures technodoc currently showing at theaters, CBS’s Mysteries of the Millennium, the August debate on Hotwired web magazine, and in several books on technology, cyber-culture, and the future.

THE FUTURE

Watch out for new projects and developments in the Extropian school of thought and the transhumanist movement. More frequent and detailed updates can be found in our members’ newsletter, Exponent, and on our web site. We hope you will join us as an active participant in the Extropian movement. (See p.2 for membership information.) Help shape the future!

Upward and Outward!

Max More

President

EXTROPIAN PRINCIPLES v.2.5

(Full version in Extropy #11 and on Web site)

Coming soon: Version 3.0 will appear on the Extropy Institute web site: http://www.extropy.org

1. Boundless Expansion

Seeking more intelligence, wisdom, and effectiveness, an unlimited lifespan, and the removal of political, cultural, biological, and psychological limits to self-actualization and self-realization. Perpetually overcoming constraints on our progress and possibilities. Expanding into the universe and advancing without end.

2. Self-Transformation

Affirming continual moral, intellectual, and physical self-improvement, through reason and critical thinking, personal responsibility, and experimentation. Seeking biological and neurological augmentation.

3. Dynamic Optimism

Fueling dynamic action with positive expectations. Adopting a rational, action-based optimism, shunning both blind faith and stagnant pessimism.

4. Intelligent Technology

Applying science and technology creatively to transcend “natural” limits imposed by our biological heritage, culture, and environment.

5. Spontaneous Order

Supporting decentralized, voluntaristic social coordination processes. Fostering tolerance, diversity, long-term thinking, personal responsibility, and individual liberty.

V I R T U A L Z O N E

TRANSHUMANIST ART

Transhumanist Art Universe Web Site

AUTOMORPH

LIVE ART — BE ART

BIO TECH BODIES

CRYO

CULTURE

EXTROPIC PRESENCE

http://www.primenet.com/~flexeon

What is Transhumanist Art?

• Subsets of Transhumanist Art, Automorph & Exoteria A Brief History & Other Art Genres TransArt Virtual Gallery What’s New & Selected Events
• Fun Web Designs Reading List
• Links! to Transhumanist Artists, Organizations and Ideas Orders: videos, art, t-shirts

NATASHA VITA MORE

EXTROPY #17 H2 ‘96

48

TOOLS FOR HEALTHY LIVING

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DWIDP (Dr. Walford’s Interactive Diet Planner for Windows) helps you track your daily nutritional intake for optimal health.

DWIDP’s easy to use foodlists and the graphical and numerical displays allow you to see exactly what you’re eating. Simple to use search functions help you find which foods contain the nutrients you need to complete a healthy diet. Have fun while learning a tremendous amount about your diet.

Sweet Dreams Melatonin is the purest on the market. Sweet Dreams was developed by endocrinologist Dr. Christopher Heward.

Melatonin can be used to: Improve sleep, reset body rhythms to minimize jet lag, enhance the immune system, act as a powerful antioxidant, intensify dreams in some people, improve cholesterol metabolism, and possibly extend lifespan.

For Extropy Institute members only, we’re making these two products available for 10% less. You cannot buy the Diet Planner for a lower price.

You can order by mail, or by telephone, using your credit card.

By mail: Send to: Extropy Institute, 13428 Maxella Avenue, #273, Marina del Rey, CA 90292.

Phone or e-mail in credit card orders, including your name, card #, expiration date, and phone number, to: (310) 398-0375 or extropy@extropy.org

Sweet Dreams Melatonin: Bottle of 60 3mg caps: $7.75. 2 bottles: $14. Add $3.50 any size order. [10% off for Exl members]

Diet Planner: $86 + $3 shipping. (In California add 8.25% sales tax.) [10% off for Exl members]

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EXTROPY #17 H2 ‘96

EXTROPY INSTITUTE

WEB SITE

Extropy Institute: History, goals, projects, updates Newsletter Meet the members

EXTRO conference updates

Advances & Breakthrough!

Extropy magazine back issues, selections from and comments on the current issue

http://www.extropy.org

Ideas: Explanations of numerous extropian ideas, from life extension to critical thinking to nanotechnology and neural-computer integration, with links to further details.

FAQ: Answers to common questions about the extropian school of thought.

Links: More resources on nano, uploading, life extension, space habitation, intelligence increase, transhumanist art, artificial intelligence, etc.

Extropians Online: Join the extropian e-mail lists via the Web, and search the archives for previous postings.

Definitions: A handy lexicon of extropian terms.

Crucial extropian/transhumanist essays

EXTROPY #17 H2 ‘96

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