transhuman glossary

 

Ascension. The moment in history when humans attain immortality, unfading bliss, and vastly superior power, intelligence, wisdom, and compassion. Also divinization or theosis. Distinguish from Singularity.

Biostasis. Preserving a the essential information of a person's body by methods that will stop change or degradation. For example, vitrification.

Vitrification. A form of biostasis using cryoprotectants to store the body or brain at very low temperatures for long periods of time. Distinguished from cryonic suspension by the avoidance of signficant ice crystallization.

Enhancement. A rational improvement of a feature of an evolved living being.

God. An ascended person. Also, Power, Posthuman. In the collective singular, a hypothetical unity or merger of gods (also, group mind, hive mind, collective mind, Pleroma).

Holy. Related to or contributing to transcendence, also sacred.

Nanotechnology. An incipient technology using extremely small machines. Named for the unit of distance nanometer, one billionth of a meter.

Sapient. A sentient which has a unique, valuable personality incorporating detailed memories in a sophisticated way, e.g., as in higher mammals. It is unethical to end the life of a sapient needlessly. Distinguish from sophont, sentient.

Sophont. A sapient which has a conception of itself and the world around it and its life, and of itself as distinct from others (self-awareness). Humans are an example of sophonts. Sophonts may be in an active form or in a preserved form. It is unethical to end the life of a sophont. Also, person. Compare sentient, sapient.

Sentient. A living being which is capable of experiencing pain and suffering. It is unethical to cause a sentient to feel pain needlessly. See sapient, sophont.

Singularity. Specifically, technological singularity. The expected moment in history (from our current vantage point) when the amplification of human intelligence begins to accelerate hyper-exponentially. This amplification of human intelligence is expected to come about by the application of advanced technologies to the mind. Distinguish from Ascension.

Transhumanism. The philosophy which believes in the possibility and desirability of ethically enhancing humans.

Uplift. To enhance sentients or sapients in such a way as to raise them to the level of sophonts.

Upload. To transfer the essential information, memory, and dynamic consciousness of a person to an artificial substrate, for example, a computer, or a robot.