Two roads diverge in transhumanism (from the archive

The first road biologically and genetically modifies natural evolution, the second road moves beyond what we are to join with machines or become artificial life. I affirm the first road of conscious evolutionary modification of billions of years of unconscious evolution, from the simple to the complex, using many forms of biological enhancements.

The superstructure of genetics and bioengineering needs to rest on the evolutionary base of biology and genetics, and not become a new artificial structure without a natural base. We can enhance our genetic and biological capabilities endlessly as we evolve toward Godhood, but if we upload ourselves into silicone chips we could end natural evolutionary life, which is a diabolical end.

There seems to be something almost paranoid about those who see racism behind any talk of the improvement of hereditary qualities, which is taken to the point of preferring artificial evolution to biological evolution, as with many transhumanists. A very cynical reading could also see those who wish to stop the evolutionary biological improvement of hereditary qualities as an underhanded way to enhance their own genes, consciously or unconsciously, by stopping the advancement of others.

Ethics can be inferred from evolutionary history (what else?) otherwise we attempt to go beyond nature itself. This does nor mean we will not move beyond the human species, ethnocentrism, for example, has been a stopping off place to secure beneficial mutations before moving on to the next stage, the next pause, the next species.

The aim and zenith

 Andrew Balio wrote “Johann Sebastian Bach said that “The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.” That is another way to say that the aim and final end of all music should be Beauty, for it has always been with beauty that we glorify God just as it has always been beauty that refreshes our souls."

The philosophy of theological materialism believes that life evolves materially to Godhood and defines that Godhood as the zenith of beauty, truth, and goodness and the fulfillment of the soul, or Tirips, which is the the will-to-Godhood activating material life. Life is then shaped by the vagaries of outside natural selection and evolution. There is endless evolution toward higher and higher truth, intelligence, beauty, and goodness, that is, continually evolving ascending Godhoods are reached. Tirips or the will-to-Godhood within life decides where it wants to go first, toward Godhood, and then the body, mind and culture, and outside evolution, follow as best they can, given the various environments life finds itself living in. But life can also fall back in devolution, new cosmos are formed again, but always giving life another chance to evolve to Godhood. 

Progress (evolution) and puritanism (conservatism)

Progress (evolution) and puritanism (conservatism) can go together in political philosophy but only when the puritanism is first grounded in the biological origin of social behavior, or the survival and reproductive success of any given ethnic group; there is no better way to synthesize the contending elements of progress and puritanism: and it is the most import and way to retain conservatism. Babbitt and Kirk neglected it. But alas, it remains a “politically incorrect” taboo subject, so conservatism fades away along with the ethnic groups.