TESCREAL

TESCREAL is an acronym for seven ideologies that are often associated with transhumanism and the future of artificial intelligence.

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They are:

• Transhumanism: This is the belief that humans can use technology to improve themselves, both physically and mentally. Transhumanists believe that we can create a new kind of being, one that is more intelligent, more powerful, and more free than anything that has come before.
• Extropianism: This is a branch of transhumanism that focuses on the idea of progress. Extropians believe that the future is bright, and that we can use technology to create a world that is better than anything that has come before.
• Singularitarianism: This is the belief that artificial intelligence will eventually become so advanced that it will surpass human intelligence. This could lead to a number of different outcomes, both positive and negative. Some singularitarians believe that this will lead to a utopia, while others believe that it could lead to the end of humanity.
• Cosmism: This is the belief that the universe is fundamentally rational and comprehensible. Cosmists believe that we can use science and reason to understand the universe, and that we can use this knowledge to improve our lives.
• Rationalism: This is the belief that reason is the best way to acquire knowledge and make decisions. Rationalists believe that we should use reason to overcome our emotions and biases, and to make the best possible decisions for ourselves and for others.
• Effective Altruism: This is the belief that we should use our resources to do the most good for the most people. Effective altruists believe that we should use evidence and reason to determine the best ways to help others, and that we should be willing to make sacrifices in order to do the most good.
• Longtermism: This is the belief that we should focus on the long-term future, rather than the short-term. Longtermists believe that we should make decisions that will benefit humanity in the long run, even if they come at a cost in the short term.

These ideologies are all interrelated, and they often overlap. For example, transhumanists are often also extropians, singularitarians, and cosmists. They believe that technology can be used to improve our lives, and that the universe is fundamentally rational and comprehensible. They also believe that the future is bright, and that we can use technology to create a better world.

The TESCREAL ideologies are all controversial, and they have been criticized by some for being unrealistic or dangerous. However, they are also incredibly influential, and they are shaping the way that we think about the future of technology and humanity.

 “Existential Threats to Civilization and Humanity” by Émile Torres is a fascinating and thought-provoking book that surveys the surprisingly rich history of apocalyptic thought in earlier centuries. It forms the backdrop to a comprehensive survey and critique of modern discourses on this compelling issue which confronts us―and does so with ever-increasing urgency. The book is deserving of wide readership ¹.

The author, Émile P. Torres is a philosopher whose research focuses on existential threats to civilization and humanity. They have published widely in the popular press and scholarly journals, with articles appearing in the Washington Post, Aeon, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Metaphilosophy, Inquiry, Erkenntnis, and Futures ¹.

The book is published by Routledge and is available in hardcover format with 530 pages