About the Colloquium on the Law of Transbeman Persons
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PURPOSES OF THE COLLOQUIUM
First, to provide the public with informed perspectives regarding the legal rights and obligations of "transbeman persons" via audio/video webcast (including transcripts) of expert presentations, challenges and discussions.
Second, to begin development of a body of law covering the rights and obligations of conscious computers, cryogenically-revived persons and other entities that transcend, and yet encompass, conventional conceptions of humanness.
MEANING OF TRANSBEMAN
In 1957 the evolutionary biologist Julian Huxley, in a book of essays on the future of humanity entitled New Wine in New Bottles, defined the term "transhumanism" (T.S. Elliott and Dante had also mentioned versions of the word). Huxley envisioned a new philosophy under this name that was based on the proposition that humans had the duty, and the destiny, to "take charge" of evolution by transcending their biological limitations.
Nearly half-a-century later, Ray Kurzweil, inventor of technologies such as all-font scanners, digital music synthesizers and talking books for the blind, has redefined the term "singularitarianism" to express a similar sentiment. In his 2005 treatise, The Singularity is Near, Kurzweil calculates, based on many decades of intersecting trends, that humanity is on the cusp of merging with computational technology. This merger is occurring both extrinsically (such as reliance upon computers for civilized life) and intrinsically (via nano-sized supercomputer neural implants vastly more advanced but roughly analogous to contact lenses or pacemakers). He observed that due to exponential growth rates in processor speed and digital memory, such computational technology was the path of future evolution. (Read more)
“Transbeman” is defined as a being who claims to have the rights and obligations associated with being human, but who may be beyond currently accepted notions of legal personhood. Examples of transbemans include beings who claim human rights but (a) are of computerized substrate, or (b) have been revived from biostasis, or (c) whose DNA varies significantly from human DNA.
ATTENDEES
Student attendees are selected by the sponsor (Terasem) based on the quality of their submissions in response to the annual Call for Student Papers. Student invitees may take positions either in favor of or opposed to expanded legal rights for transbeman persons, even though the sponsor favors such rights. The sponsor believes that law develops best when challenged via an adversarial process, and hence welcomes opposing views.
Additional attendees will be invited by the sponsor based on their interest in the subject matter and their ability to make a valuable contribution to the discussion. The number of attendees for each year is limited to enhance the interactive atmosphere.
SPONSOR
Martine Rothblatt endowed the sponsor to encourage Earth to move forward with curative GRAIN (Genomics, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence and Nanotechnology) technologies. Based on her experience in implementing new world-changing technologies, she believes that publicly accessible information and reasonable regulatory controls are essential to overcome resistance to technological change. She was previously responsible for co-founding the first non-governmental international satellite communications system (PanAmSat), launching the global vehicle tracking industry (Geostar), creating the satellite sound broadcasting alternative to shortwave (WorldSpace) and founding/running a major satellite-to-car digital radio company (Sirius Satellite Radio).
She also represented the Radio Astronomy quiet band interests of the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Radio Frequencies and led the International Bar Association's effort to provide the United Nations with a draft Human Genome Treaty. In 1996 she formed United Therapeutics, a NASDAQ-traded biotech company with FDA-approved therapies for pulmonary disease, advanced clinical trials in oncology, and one of the world's largest telemedicine networks.
LODGING, VENUE & EXPENSES
All expenses for invitees are paid by the sponsor.
The Colloquium is at the nearby Terasem Space Coast Retreat, Satellite Beach, Florida.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The genesis of the Terasem Colloquium on the Law of Transbeman Persons was the historic BINA48 mock legal proceeding, convened at the 2003 International Bar Association Meeting in San Francisco, CA. We encourage interested participants to review the transcript and/or videocast of that hearing at "Biocyberethics: should we stop a company from unplugging an intelligent computer?" on KurzweilAI.net.
