Transcedence: The Disinformation Encyclopedia of Transhumanism and the Singularity

Transhumanism is an international movement that advocates the use of science and technology to overcome the "natural" limitations experienced by humanity. Beyond ending aging, gaining greater intelligence, and conquering the stars, many transhumanists look forward to a plethora of other alterations to what has been the ordinary human condition, among them:

• the Singularity--the creation of machine intelligences that exceed the capacities of our biological brains
• radical robotics and the end of economic scarcity and boring labor
• the ability to replicate individual minds and put them into solid-state bodies or virtual environments
• improved physiological strength, sexual pleasure, and the intentional mutation of the human body
• the ever-increasing interconnectedness and empowerment of humans via ever-faster and more powerful communications technology and, with it, the potential for vastly more productive and creative group minds
• individual control over mental and emotional states for enhancing functionalities and/or ecstasies

Some of this is happening now. Some of it is still in the minds of dreamers. In nearly ninety A-Z entries, Transcendence provides a multi-layered look at the accelerating advances in artificial intelligence, cognitive science, genomics, information technology, nanotechnology, neuroscience, space exploration, synthetic biology, robotics, and virtual worlds. Entries range from Cloning and Cyborg Feminism, to Designer Babies to Memory-Editing Drugs. In addition, the book notes historical predecessors and personalities, both in mythology and history--ranging from Methusala to Timothy Leary to Ray Kurzwiel. It also introduces the culture around Transhumanism, covering all the geeky obsessions of the Transhumanist movement.