Kevin Jain Transhumanism & Education In reviewing the curricula of various Universities, one will find few, if any, classes that meaningfully consider the increasing assimilation of technology with the human. If an education predicated on assumptions of human nature is made without a meaningful consideration of transhumanism, can it remain relevant in a future where technology may render false these very assumptions? How can the question of human enhancement be introduced as a topic of more widespread academic deliberation? This talk will also discuss current efforts in this arena. Kevin Jain is an undergraduate at Harvard University, and is Founder and President of the Harvard College Future Society, a student organization interested in evaluating the impact of future technologies on the human and humanity. He is the Student H+ Summit Coordinator, and helped organize the H+ 2010 Summit at Harvard. He plans to graduate with a special concentration in Transhumanism.

1. Transhumanism & Education Kevin Jain President, Harvard College Future Society kevinjain@college.harvard.edu 2010 H+ Summit at Harvard University June 12, 2010

2. Purpose of Education For the Individual: A means towards self sufficiency & well being Fulfilling desire to learn about something For Society: Augment productivity & enable future well being Prepare us for the future

3. Vision of the Future Education: to “prepare us for the future” What is assumed to be the “future” that we are being prepared for?

4. Modern Assumptions * As a model for the future, not “explanatory” or “descriptive”

6. Astrophysics

7. Biology

8. Chemistry

9. Computer Science

10. Economics

11. English

12. Government

13. Philosophy

14. Physics

15. Psychology

16. Sociology

17. Etc.

18. Nanotechnology

19. Longevity

20. Cryonics

21. Artificial (General) Intelligence

22. Moore's law

23. Transhumanism & Human Enhancement

24. Virtual reality

26. Significance Keep Education Relevant to Goal Shaky foundation Disconnection between model and world Understanding increases Receptivity Counteract Short Termism Consider our Biology Government, Businesses Interests

27. Towards a Solution: Our Current Efforts Organizations & Conferences Humanity+, Foresight, Singularity Summit, etc. Science Fiction VernorVinge, Isaac Asimov, Books & Magazines The Singularity is Near, Ending Aging, hplus Independent Research Wikipedia, blogs Classroom?

29. Accelerating Technological Change

30. Kurzweil, Ray. The Singularity Is Near When Humans Transcend Biology. New York: Viking Adult, 2005.

31. The Singularity is Always Near, Critique of Kurzweil: http://www.kk.org/thetechnium/archives/2006/02/the_singularity.php

32. Response to The Singularity is Always Near: http://www.kurzweilai.net/articles/art0664.html?printable=1

33. “What if the singularity does not happen” by vernorvingehttp://www.kurzweilai.net/meme/frame.html?main=/articles/art0696.html

34. Smart, J. 2004. A Brief History of Intellectual Discussion of Accelerating Change. Published at AccerationWatch.com.

35. “Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us” by Bill Joy: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/8.04/joy_pr.html

36. Flesh and Machines: How Robots Will Change Us by Rodney Brooks (Excerpts)

37. Existential Risks

38. Existential Risks (2002): http://www.nickbostrom.com/existential/risks.html 40 pages

39. TED Video on Different Routes to Human Extinction http://www.ted.com/talks/stephen_petranek_counts_down_to_armageddon.html

40. The Future of Humanity by Nick Bostromhttp://www.fhi.ox.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/10222/future_of_humanity.pdf

41. Other:

42. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_extinction

44. Getting Involved Textbook: Goal- Finish and get into classes by this time next year Collaborate Effort: We need teachers to teach Experts to write Students to take it! Taking Charge: Recognize the importance of transhumanism

45. Educating the Future.

46. Transhumanism & Education Kevin Jain President, Harvard College Future Society kevinjain@college.harvard.edu 2010 H+ Summit at Harvard University June 12, 2010