David Pearce

David Pearce is a prominent figure in the transhumanist movement, known for his advocacy of “paradise engineering.” He argues that advances in biotechnology and genetic engineering offer the potential to eliminate suffering throughout the living world. Pearce, who hails from the UK, has dedicated over two decades to exploring the technical possibilities and ethical implications of such a radical transformation of the biosphere.

Pearce’s work focuses on outlining a practical plan to phase out involuntary pain and suffering, not only in humans but across all species. He is actively exploring technological proposals which would align with the vision of a world free from cruelty, a concept deeply rooted in utopian ideals, such as the Peaceable Kingdom of Isaiah, and that are also ecologically literate.

Videos by David Pearce

Paradise-Engineering, Reprogramming the Biosphere

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David Pearce

Paradise-Engineering, Reprogramming the Biosphere

2020.03.21

David Pearce presents his vision for “paradise engineering”—using biotechnology to eliminate involuntary suffering throughout the living world. Beginning with Isaiah’s peaceable kingdom where “the wolf shall dwell with the lamb,” Pearce argues that such visions are no longer ecologically illiterate fantasies but technically achievable goals. He discusses CRISPR gene editing, synthetic gene drives, and the programmability of hedonic set points, suggesting that we could choose the pain sensitivity and baseline well-being of future generations. Pearce also advocates for cultured meat as a way to end factory farming—a transition he calls both morally imperative and practically beneficial given the zoonotic origins of pandemics.