Mormon Transhumanist Association: Administration

Call for papers - Transhumanism?

Lincoln Cannon — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 04:37:00 GMT

Online journal Re-public invites contributions for its upcoming special issue entitled "Transhumanism?". Is there a new challenge about to dominate our world ? A challenge that appears more pressing than the fight against climate change, as demanding as the one against "terrorism" or poverty, more complex than our current questions around bioethics.

Are we in a position to redefine, to drastically transform our very human nature?

This is a question formed in the last 20 years by an international movement, deriving from a scientific current, advocating that if the human is a result of an evolution process of millions of years time, nothing rationally preempts its conclusion. On the contrary, transhumanism proposes that the convergence of nanotechnologies, biotechnologies, information and cognitive sciences provide us with a new opportunity, as well as, the responsibility to collectively participate and assume this evolution: it is, more than ever, possible to "form a better humanity" meaning better health for individuals, longer life expectancy, a more effective control of themselves, through enhanced skills, capacities and capabilities.

The special issue will attempt to investigate the influence of transhumanism and the new questions that its poses. Possible essay themes include:

Where does Η+ stand today in theoretical and political terms?
What kind of humanity do we wish for?
Can we move beyond the dillema between a uniformed or a diverse humanity?
Where are the new limits between prevention and personal freedom (eg. to own or dispose our body)?
Which are the formal or informal political practices that can guide the enhancement of human capacities? What is the relationship between H+ et bio-politics?
Where do we meet these practices, today, how are they being formed? What can we learn from them?

These are some of the questions that touch upon the most sensible aspects of our identity, values, beliefs, questions that can not be abandoned to the decisions of the scientific community, but that they should form the terrain for a public debate on a global scale.

Essays should be approximately 1,500 words long.

Please submit contributions in any electronic format to:

marcroux AT yahoo.com

Guest editor: Marc Roux

Deadline for submission: 15 February 2008

January 2009 Humanity+ (WTA) Board Elections

Lincoln Cannon — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:28:00 GMT

Humanity+ (WTA) Board members set policy goals and oversee their
implementation, contributing with their experience and expertise to the
WTA's work. We've got a very full agenda for the coming year, setting up
our new website, revising the Transhumanist Declaration, fundraising,
building our network of chapters and student groups, and publishing our
new H+ magazine.

Please think about contribute your talents and energy for our projects.
Five Humanity+ (WTA) Board members' terms expire in January and two
others are leaving the Board to pursue exciting new projects. Running
for a board post, as well as voting in the election, is open to all
dues-paid ("supporting" or "sustaining") members of the association.

All voting members in good standing as of Saturday January 10th, 2009
are eligible to run in and vote in the Board election. Board members
must be and remain voting members in good standing in order to run and
serve.

The Board meets and votes virtually, so no travel is required, although
Internet access is essential.

The term of service is two years, Jan 20, 2009 - Jan 20, 2011, for the
five open positions, which will be filled by the five candidates with
the most votes. The two candidates with the next most votes will fill
the two one year replacement positions (Jan 20, 2009 - Jan 20, 2010).

The period for self-nominations closes Saturday January 10th, 2009 at
noon GST.

Candidate statements will be posted on January 11th, 2009.

Voting will be conducted Monday January 12th to Thursday January 15th,
2009.

Please send your candidate statements to H+ (WTA) Secretary J. Hughes at
secretary@transhumanism.org.

Previous examples of candidate statements are here:

http://www.transhumanism.org/index.php/WTA/more/vote2006/

http://www.transhumanism.org/index.php/WTA/more/vote2007/

http://www.transhumanism.org/index.php/WTA/more/vote2008/

All voting members of the Mormon Transhumanist Association are voting members of H+ (WTA).

Job Opening: Executive Director, Humanity+

Lincoln Cannon — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:26:00 GMT

Humanity+ (formerly known as the World Transhumanist Association) is
accepting applications for the position of Executive Director. The
Executive Director is responsible for managing the affairs of H+ under
the Direction of the Board of Directors, including:

- directing the work of the Assistant Director
- maintaining the website
- fundraising
- managing H+ Magazine, mailing lists, a newsletter, and member
communications
- maintaining contact with chapters and organizing committees, and
facilitating chapter growth
- maintaining contact with affiliates around the programmatic agenda
outlined by the Board
- representing H+ and transhumanism in the media and other fora

Experience with organizational management and fundraising, and an
understanding of and commitment to transhumanism, are essential.

Location is irrelevant as the candidate will be expected to telework.

Fluency in English is essential, with other world languages a plus.
(S)he is expected to have strong communication skills.

The position is currently voluntary. However, there are prospects that
fundraising will enable some level of compensation in the coming year.

Applications will be accepted until December 19, 2008.
A final decision will be made by December 30, 2008, and the position
will begin January 1, 2009.

Candidates should submit a letter of interest detailing relevant
experience and one's personal vision for the position to:
secretary@transhumanism.org.

Welcome David Foster as New Director

Lincoln Cannon — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:55:00 GMT

The Mormon Transhumanist Association is pleased to welcome David Foster to the board of directors. David is finishing his PhD in physics at Arizona State University, specializing in magnetic resonance imaging. He also has research experience in solar physics and superconductivity, and has degrees from Rick's College, Brigham Young University, and the University of Colorado. David grew up in Idaho. He and his two children now live in Arizona. David has a healthy respect for what the scientific method does and does not say, and an appreciation for investigating unpopular ideas.

Thanks to Andy West for Service as Director

Lincoln Cannon — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:15:00 GMT

Andy West is stepping down from his position as a director of the Mormon Transhumanist Association. On behalf of the association, I'd like to thank Andy for his service on the board of directors. Andy is a founding member of the association, was one of the original directors, and organized our monthly roundtable discussions in Salt Lake City. Although we will miss his participation on the board of directors, Andy plans to continue his support for and contributions to the purpose of the Mormon Transhumanist Association. Thank you, Andy!

Eighth Monthly Transfigurism Roundtable, October 18, 2008

Barlow — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:57:00 GMT

The Mormon Transhumanist Association will be hosting the next in their series of monthly round table discussions on 18 October 2008. Subsequent discussions will be held on the third Saturday of each month. October's discussion will be focused on Krista Tippets' "Speaking of Faith" podcast entitled "Quarks and Creation" an interview with John Polkinghorne. The podcast can be downloaded here. Andrew West, Director of the Mormon Transhumanist Association, will moderate the discussion. The event will be held in the conference hall of the Arnell-West building located at 3441 S 2200 W, Salt Lake City, Utah, just southeast of the E-Center. The discussion will begin at 7:00 PM Mountain Time. Light refreshments will be served.

Convergence 08

Lincoln Cannon — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:18:00 GMT

On November 15-16, 2008, the world's most dangerous ideas will collide in Mountain View, California. Convergence⁰⁸ examines the world-changing possibilities of nanotech and the life-changing promises of biotech. It is the premier forum for debate and exploration of cogtech ethics, and ground zero of the past and future infotech revolution. Convergence⁰⁸ is an innovative, lively unconference, the first and only forum dedicated to NBIC (Nano-Bio-Info-Cogno) technologies.

Convergence 08 is sponsored by Humanity+ (the World Transhumanist Association), which is an affiliate of the Mormon Transhumanist Association.

Parallels and Convergences: Mormon Thought and Engineering Vision - Call for Papers

Lincoln Cannon — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:23:00 GMT

The Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies in the School of Religion at Claremont Graduate University is pleased to sponsor a conference on:

Parallels and Convergences: Mormon Thought and Engineering Vision

Location:
Claremont Graduate University, 150 E. 10th Street, Claremont, CA 91711

Important Dates:
Abstract deadline: 2008 December 1 (extended abstract)
Conference: 2009 March 7 (Saturday)

The Howard W Hunter Chair is interested in expanding the discussion of Latter-day Saint (LDS) perspectives on the attributes of God and the potential of man through a variety of innovative directions. One of the directions to be explored is whether there is a possible resonance between Mormon and engineering thought. The assumption is that according to LDS understanding, God is the architect of the Creation and the engineer of our bodies and spirits. Man, on the other hand, is believed to be capable of growing to become like God. The theological question is: where does engineering fit in the convergence of these two realms?

Details and Call for Papers can be found on http://www.mormonism-engineering.org

This conference is being organized under the direction of Howard W. Hunter Chair, Richard Bushman.

"The New God Argument" at Sunstone 2008

Lincoln Cannon — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 04:26:00 GMT

The Mormon Transhumanist Association will sponsor a presentation of "The New God Argument" at the Sunstone Symposium on Saturday 9 August 8:45AM at the Sheraton Hotel in Salt Lake City.

LINCOLN CANNON, M.B.A., founding member, director, and president of the Mormon Transhumanist Association; information technology specialist, primarily working in systems management

JOSEPH WEST JR., founding member, director, and secretary of the Mormon Transhumanist Association; begins graduate study in sociology this fall at the University of Arizona

In this session, we will present The New God Argument. Most philosophical arguments for God’s existence have been aimed at justifying traditional Christian theology. However, Mormon theology, particularly as advocated by Joseph Smith near the end of his life, diverges from tradition to posit emergent gods that organize worlds from existing matter according to existing laws. Aiming at justifying Mormon theology, we have formulated a new argument for God’s existence. The argument is based on assumptions widely shared among both secular and religious persons, is consistent with modern science and technological trends, and concludes that we should trust that our world probably is created by advanced life forms more benevolent than we are. We invite philosophers, theologians, scientists, technologists, and anyone interested in such matters to come with your most critical eyes and ears. We are very interested in feedback, and a good portion of this session will be devoted to questions and criticisms.

Session Sponsor—Mormon Transhumanist Association

2008 LDS Tech Awards

Lincoln Cannon — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:17:00 GMT

The technology division of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced a program whose purpose is to publicly and formally celebrate the technical achievements of those who are sharing their skills with the Church. They want to ensure that those individuals who use their technical talents as a tremendous expression of their faith are acknowledged and encouraged. Learn more and nominate someone who you think has made a significant contribution to the LDS technical community by visiting http://tech.lds.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=308&Itemid=5.