Toward a Technoprogressive Manifesto

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

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Posted by Steve Burgess  on  05/30  at  08:19 PM

I daresay that many do not consider such unalienable rights to be self-evident even now. Tuning in to the talk radio medium (which millions do daily) would indicate so, as would noting the results of popular polls on the subject matter of the Bill of Rights.

I would assert that assuming that learnedeness in the 1700's translates to not having in mind the theistic God of the time is a stretch. After all, less than a hundred years earlier, Sir Isaac Newton was professing that his math and science were to clarify and glorify his god's works (as I understand it). That would be the God of Abraham, which Jews, Christians and Moslems of this day ostensibly all revere.

However, regardless of what Jefferson's beliefs may or may not have been, the language of the Declaration makes a clear distinction between "Nature" and "God". Even though I've read the Declaration of Independence several times before, it was only just now that I really noticed the actual opening of the Declaration. The first paragraph, says "...separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them". That seems to suggest that "God" is subordinate to "Nature" and that "God"'s laws are distinct from those of Nature. That's a powerful distinction, especially in light of the ongoing struggle to maintain the separateness between state and church. Do you read it the same way?

Your statement of Purpose is a bold assertion. Many (myself not included) would not find the intentions and objectives you state to be ethical. Therefore, while IEET's goals are clearly related to emerging technologies and I applaud your efforts, you / we may have work to do make this assertion a consensus ethic, if that is your wish. Otherwise we face an "I'm right. You're wrong." scenario that has been plaguing mankind since (as far as I can tell) its inception.

I believe that even "abundance for all" as a goal, while it is my vision as well, is not a sentiment held by a powerful many and again, there is much work to be done for this to be a truly dominant meme.

My comments notwithstanding, I applaud and support your efforts.

Posted by Daniel Durrant  on  05/30  at  09:12 PM

We're thinking in the right direction. I think there also needs to be an emphasis on self-augmentation as a means to become more human. That being said we need to define humanness. Ultimately humanness is about relation and about revealing to all our highest and best nature. In so far as augmentation does enhance human capacities for knowledge, understanding, communication, and wise decision-making then we will certainly be able to utilize the ancient documents to our side. However, we must be careful not to become isolationist megalomaniacs.

Posted by hector  on  05/30  at  11:57 PM

"it's nearly certain that what Jefferson intended by that is at most a vague deistic Creator, and more likely a naturalistic creative phenomenon. "

I'm not so sure about that. After all, Jefferson wrote:

"When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of *** nature's God *** entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

In my opinion, the expression "nature's God" is inconsistent with the notion of a "naturalistic creative phenomenon." In other words, nature < > God.

Though you're correct that he was not a Christian, but rather a deist, he also wrote "I hold (without appeal to revelation) that when we take a view of the Universe, in it's [sic] parts general or particular, it is impossible for the human mind not to perceive and feel a conviction of design, consummate skill, and indefinite power in every atom of it's [sic] composition. . . it is impossible, I say, for the human mind not to believe that there is . . . a fabricator of all things."

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