Mormon Transhumanist Association Member Survey Results 2014

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This document presents the results of the 2012 survey of members of the Mormon Transhumanist Association. The survey asked questions about religion, politics, God and the problem of evil, consciousness and spiritual properties, feedback and demographics.

Transcript of Mormon Transhumanist Association Member Survey Results 2014

  • MTAMemberSurvey2014SummaryThestatisticsinthisdocumentreflectthemembershipoftheMormonTranshumanistAssociationattheendof2014.

    Content

    MTAMemberSurvey2014SummaryContentMembershipLocationPerspectiveGodandtheProblemofEvilConsciousnessandSpiritualPropertiesFeedbackDemographics

  • MembershipTotalMembership:481(asofDec31,2014)SurveyParticipants:66

  • TranshumanistDeclaration

    (1)Humanitystandstobeprofoundlyaffectedbyscienceandtechnologyinthefuture.Weenvisionthepossibilityofbroadeninghumanpotentialbyovercomingaging,cognitiveshortcomings,involuntarysuffering,andourconfinementtoplanetEarth.(2)Webelievethathumanityspotentialisstillmostlyunrealized.Therearepossiblescenariosthatleadtowonderfulandexceedinglyworthwhileenhancedhumanconditions.(3)Werecognizethathumanityfacesseriousrisks,especiallyfromthemisuseofnewtechnologies.Therearepossiblerealisticscenariosthatleadtothelossofmost,orevenall,ofwhatweholdvaluable.Someofthesescenariosaredrastic,othersaresubtle.Althoughallprogressischange,notallchangeisprogress.(4)Researcheffortneedstobeinvestedintounderstandingtheseprospects.Weneedtocarefullydeliberatehowbesttoreducerisksandexpeditebeneficialapplications.Wealsoneedforumswherepeoplecanconstructivelydiscusswhatshouldbedone,andasocialorderwhereresponsibledecisionscanbeimplemented.(5)Reductionofexistentialrisks,anddevelopmentofmeansforthepreservationoflifeandhealth,thealleviationofgravesuffering,andtheimprovementofhumanforesightandwisdomshouldbepursuedasurgentpriorities,andheavilyfunded.(6)Policymakingoughttobeguidedbyresponsibleandinclusivemoralvision,takingseriouslybothopportunitiesandrisks,respectingautonomyandindividualrights,andshowingsolidaritywithandconcernfortheinterestsanddignityofallpeoplearoundtheglobe.Wemustalsoconsiderourmoralresponsibilitiestowardsgenerationsthatwillexistinthefuture.

  • (7)Weadvocatethewellbeingofallsentience,includinghumans,nonhumananimals,andanyfutureartificialintellects,modifiedlifeforms,orotherintelligencestowhichtechnologicalandscientificadvancemaygiverise.(8)Wefavourallowingindividualswidepersonalchoiceoverhowtheyenabletheirlives.Thisincludesuseoftechniquesthatmaybedevelopedtoassistmemory,concentration,andmentalenergylifeextensiontherapiesreproductivechoicetechnologiescryonicsproceduresandmanyotherpossiblehumanmodificationandenhancementtechnologies.MormonTranshumanistAffirmation

    (1)Weseekthespiritualandphysicalexaltationofindividualsandtheiranatomies,aswellascommunitiesandtheirenvironments,accordingtotheirwills,desiresandlaws,totheextenttheyarenotoppressive.(2)WebelievethatscientificknowledgeandtechnologicalpowerareamongthemeansordainedofGodtoenablesuchexaltation,includingrealizationofdiversepropheticvisionsoftransfiguration,immortality,resurrection,renewalofthisworld,andthediscoveryandcreationofworldswithoutend.(3)Wefeeladutytousescienceandtechnologyaccordingtowisdomandinspiration,toidentifyandprepareforrisksandresponsibilitiesassociatedwithfutureadvances,andtopersuadeotherstodolikewise.

  • Location

  • Perspective

  • GodandtheProblemofEvil

  • ConsciousnessandSpiritualProperties

  • Feedback

  • Reason

  • Demographics