What currents are there within transhumanism?
A rich variety of opinion exist within transhumanist thought, and many subgroups have formed based on their specific interests, views, values, or geographical locations. Groups distinguished by their interests include: cryonicists, life extensionists, nanotechnology specialists, the Wired community, space enthusiasts, transhumanist artists and performers, science fiction aficionados, cypher punks and people experimenting with alternative societal groupings. The extropians constitute a prominent transhumanist group that places a high value on self-ownership, self-transformation, individual freedom, and freedom from state coercion [see “Is extropianism the same as transhumanism?”]. Another transhumanist current is represented by advocates of the sort of “paradise-engineering” outlined in David Pearce’s Hedonistic Imperative. Pearce argues on ethical grounds for a biological program to abolish all forms of cruelty, suffering and malaise. In the short-run, our emotional lives can be enrich