Zoltan Istvan

Zoltan Istvan Gyurko

Zoltan Istvan Gyurko
Born Zoltan Istvan Gyurko[1]
1973
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Residence Mill Valley, California, U.S.
Nationality American
Alma mater Columbia University
Occupation Journalist and Entrepreneur
Known for Transhumanist politics
Political party Transhumanist Party
Spouse(s) Lisa M. Memmel, MD

Zoltan Istvan Gyurko,[1] professionally known as Zoltan Istvan (born 1973), is an American journalist,[2] entrepreneur,[3][4] and transhumanist. He writes transhumanist-themed columns: "The Transhumanist Philosopher" a blog for Psychology Today[5] and "Transhumanist Future" for Vice's Motherboard. He has also worked as a reporter for the National Geographic Channel[6] and is a blogger of futurist, transhumanist, and atheist topics for The Huffington Post.[7]

He is the author of The Transhumanist Wager, a philosophical science fiction novel.[8][9]

In late 2014, he announced his intent to run for President of the United States in the 2016 elections to raise awareness for transhumanist politics issues.[10] His presidential campaign has been broadly covered in major media for its science and technology platform.[11][12][13][14] Istvan announced in social media he voted for himself in the elections.[15]

Career

Early career

Istvan was an online and on-camera reporter for the National Geographic Channel.[16][17] His writings have appeared in a blog of the San Francisco Chronicle,[18] Outside,[19] and The Daily Caller.[20] His work has been covered in publications such as The Huffington Post.[21]

Istvan's coverage of the war in Kashmir was made into a documentary, Pawns of Paradise,[22] distributed by Janson Media. Australia's The Age has acquired nonexclusive Australian rights to the show.[23]

According to Istvan, he invented,[24][25][26] pioneered, and popularized the extreme sport of volcano boarding.

Istvan is an entrepreneur who has been successful in real estate.[27]

Futurist career

After publishing The Transhumanist Wager, Istvan began actively promoting transhumanism and other futurist issues via speeches, media interviews, activism, and his writings.[28]

Istvan's writings and ideas on transhumanism, philosophy, atheism, and futurist issues have been featured in Yahoo News, The Daily Telegraph,[29] The Huffington Post UK,[30] The Daily Beast,[31] Business Insider,[32] and other media sites. Istvan and his ideas have been featured on Fox News Channel's Stossel show,[33] CNN's Inside Man, RT's television show Desde La Sombra,[34] Ryan O'Shea's Future Grind podcast,[35] and the Joe Rogan Experience.[36] Istvan has also written for Gizmodo,[37] New Scientist,[38] Salon,[39] TechCrunch,[40] The Daily Dot,[41] International Business Times[42] Singularity University's Singularity Hub,[43] Daily Mail,[44] TechInsider,[45] Newsweek,[46] Futurism,[47] and Slate.[48]

Istvan is a member of the World Future Society, a volunteer Ambassador for The Seasteading Institute,[49] an advisory board member of the India Future Society,[50] a member of the Young Professionals, an advisory board member of A-Team for Wildlife,[51] and is on the Futurist and Space Settlement boards of the Lifeboat Foundation.[52]

He has regularly given talks on futurist and transhumanist topics, which include speeches at the World Future Society's annual conference,[53] Transhuman Visions in San Francisco,[54] Brighter Brain's Future of Emotional Health and Intelligence Conference at University of California, Berkeley,[55] TEDxTransmedia in Geneva, Switzerland,[56][57] and being the opening keynote speaker at the Financial Times Camp Alphaville conference.[58]

2016 presidential campaign

In October 2014, Istvan announced that he was "in the very early stages of preparing a campaign to try to run" for U.S. President in 2016. He stated that his goals would be to support scientists in "overcoming human death and aging within 15-20 years", to encourage Americans to embrace "radical technology and science", and to set up safeguards against dangers including potential abuse of such technology.[59][60][61]

In October/November 2014 interviews, he explained that he aimed to unify the transhumanist community which otherwise was splintered, and to establish a single voice.[62] He said great changes in society could happen and that Transhumanism could provide ideas, safeguards and policies.[63] He said the aim for a Transhumanist Party would be to get onto as many state ballots as possible.[64]

In March 2015, Istvan reported progress in organizing a campaign, and explained his wish to get major candidates to address issues. He hoped to be included in some debates, at least with third parties. He himself had funded nearly all of his campaign's expenses to date, however, and he noted donations were needed.[65]

Istvan helped to publicize his campaign in late 2015 by driving a bus shaped like a casket – the "Immortality Bus" – across the United States.[66][67] Istvan planned the bus tour to raise awareness of life extension.[67][68] At the end of the Immortality Bus tour, Istvan delivered a "Transhumanist Bill of Rights" to the US Capitol.[69]

His 20-point platform includes a Universal Basic Income, increased funding for space travel, and taking money from the military and putting it into science and medicine.[70][71][72]

In February 2016, it was reported that he was likely to vote Democrat, placing himself "somewhere between Bernie and Hillary in terms of political ideologies",[69] but in September 2016 Istvan also wrote that he was not for or against any of the major presidential candidates.[73] On October 15, 2016, he stated on his social media accounts that he would be voting for himself.[74]

As of June 2016, Istvan was not on the ballot in any state, though he claimed substantial potential write-in backers.[75]

Philosophy

According to Istvan's novel, the three laws of Transhumanism are:

  1. A transhumanist must safeguard one's own existence above all else.
  2. A transhumanist must strive to achieve omnipotence as expediently as possible—so long as one's actions do not conflict with the First Law.
  3. A transhumanist must safeguard value in the universe—so long as one's actions do not conflict with the First and Second Laws.

Istvan states that in the 21st Century, everyone faces a Transhumanist Wager.[76]

Istvan is the creator of Theistcideism,[77][78] the AI Imperative,[79] the Singularity Disparity,[80][81] and Jethro's Window,[82] a possible solution to the Fermi Paradox. Istvan is also a populizer of AI Day,[83] the Jesus Singularity,[84][85] and a robot AI president[86][87]

Istvan has a chip implant in his hand and consulted for the US Navy on broad use of the implant in humans.[88][89][90][91][92]

Transhumanist community reaction

Within the transhumanist community, reactions to the foundation of the US Transhumanist Party have ranged from the enthusiastic and supportive to the sharply critical. Some transhumanist critics, such as Peter Rothman, have questioned whether the Transhumanist Party adds value to the overall goals of transhumanism.[93][94][95]

Natasha Vita-More criticized Istvan saying "In that the transhumanist movement is global, diverse, and comprised of varied political and religious views that support and advocate the values and tenets of Transhumanist Thinking...There have been numerous persons over the decades who have entered the social network of transhumanism as uninformed. It is obvious when a person sincerely wants to be a part of the culture or showboating for effect. The issue is not that either behavior has or does not have high-level value or contributions to the core of Transhumanist Thinking, but these individuals *need something* from Transhumanist Thinking."[96]

Istvan's activity within the transhumanist movement has been characterized by transhumanist Peter Rothman as representing "a very individualistic strain of transhumanism" and Rothman notes that "not all transhumanists accept these laws or agree with Zoltan’s suggestions about the best approach to social management and control."[94]

Personal life

Istvan resides in Mill Valley, California with his daughters and physician wife.[9] He identifies as an atheist.[97]

In February 2015, he helped launch BiZoHa, the world’s first ‘free-thinker’ orphanage, in Mukhoya, Kasese district, western Uganda.[98] Istvan’s promotional article on the topic in Vice's Motherboard, helped a GoFundMe campaign to achieve success in raising $5,820 to provide funding for the orphanage.[98][99]

References

  1. 1 2 "FEC Form 2 Statement of Candidacy" (PDF). Federal Election Commission. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  2. ↑ Bartlett, Jamie (April 3, 2014). "'Transhumanists' are planning to upload your mind to a memory stick...". The Telegraph. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  3. ↑ http://www.marinij.com/article/ZZ/20131219/NEWS/131218480
  4. ↑ http://ziventures.com/About.html
  5. ↑ Istvan, Zoltan, The Transhumanist Philosopher. Psychology Today. Retrieved 13 March 2015
  6. ↑ "Writing & Photography Assignments". ZI Ventures. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Zoltan Istvan". The Huffington Post. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  8. ↑ Istvan, Zoltan (2013). The Transhumanist Wager. Futurity Imagine Media. ISBN 0988616114.
  9. 1 2 Vicki Larson (December 19, 2013). "Transhumanist novel by Zoltan Istvan sparks intense dialog among futurists". Marin Independent Journal. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  10. ↑ Zoltan Istvan (January 22, 2015). "The Transhumanist Party's Presidential Candidate on the Future of Politics". Motherboard.vice.com. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  11. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jun/16/transhumanist-party-immortality-zoltan-istvan-presidential-campaign
  12. ↑ http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/06/15/zoltan-istvan-2016-lets-make-americans-immortal/85929946/
  13. ↑ http://www.vox.com/2015/9/18/9352117/zoltan-istvan-2016-campaign
  14. ↑ http://www.oregonlive.com/today/index.ssf/2016/05/transhumanist_candidate_zoltan.html
  15. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=647934148713468&set=rpd.100004906654490&type=3&theater
  16. ↑ "National Geographic Search". National Geographic. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  17. ↑ "The Transhumanist Wager". Gooddaysacramento.cbslocal.com. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  18. ↑ Zoltan Istvan (August 17, 2003). "Farflung Correspondents / Travel! Intrigue! Cannibals! / Extreme journalism at far ends of Earth". SFGate. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Cordon Green".
  20. ↑ Istvan, Zoltan (14 January 2010). "Marijuana crop could bring cash to California's next Napa". The Daily Caller. Archived from the original on January 16, 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  21. ↑ "In Vanuatu, Islanders Literally Jump into Manhood (VIDEO)". The Huffington Post. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  22. ↑ Mike Mcdonnough (n.d.). "Filmmaker Courts Danger to Document Longest Running Conflict in History". Janson.com. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Watch Pawns of Paradise Online – theage.tv". theage.tv. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  24. ↑ Zoltan Istvan of Istvan Media for the National Geographic Channel. "Volcano Boarding: the New Extreme Sport". YouTube. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  25. ↑ Zoltan Istvan (November 5, 2002). "Reporter's Notebook: Surfing the Volcano". National Geographic Today. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  26. ↑ Zoltan Istvan (December 8, 2002). "EXTREME SPORTS / Really Good Pumice, Dude! / Volcano boarding: Russian roulette on a snowboard". SFGate. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  27. ↑ http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/11/14/the-transhumanists-nominee-for-president
  28. ↑ Gray Scott (July 3, 2013). "Zoltan Istvan: The Transhumanist Wager". seriouswonder.com. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  29. ↑ "Zoltan Istvan – Telegraph Blogs". Technology – Telegraph Blogs. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  30. ↑ "Artificial Womb and the Human Society: When Science Will Create New Grow-Homes for Babies". The Huffington Post UK. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  31. ↑ "The Artificial Womb Will Change Feminism Forever". The Daily Beast. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Jamie Bartlett On Transhumanism - Business Insider". Business Insider. November 25, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Stossel 06/19/2014: New World Inventions". Fox Business. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Desde la sombra (E81). El sueño de la razón, ¿produciría monstruos?". RT en Español. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  35. ↑ "Ep. 4 – US Presidential Candidate Zoltan Istvan". futuregrind.org. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  36. ↑ The Uprising Creative. "Joe Rogan (Podcast Site)". Joe Rogan (Podcast Site).
  37. ↑ Zoltan Istvan. "When Superintelligent AI Arrives, Will Religions Try to Convert It?". Gizmodo. Gawker Media.
  38. ↑ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2101635-meet-the-us-presidential-candidate-campaigning-for-immortality/
  39. ↑ http://www.salon.com/2016/05/22/upgrading_religion_for_the_21st_century_christianity_is_forcibly_evolving_to_cope_with_science_and_progress/
  40. ↑ https://techcrunch.com/contributor/zoltan-istvan/
  41. ↑ http://www.dailydot.com/authors/zoltan-istvan/
  42. ↑ http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/zoltan-istvan-immortality-bus-delivers-transhumanist-bill-rights-us-capitol-1534388
  43. ↑ "Which New Technology Will Win the Race to Repair and Replace Our Organs?". Singularity HUB.
  44. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3034300/Russian-oligarch-pledges-1-million-prize-person-live-123.html
  45. ↑ http://www.techinsider.io/presidential-candidate-zoltan-istvan-visits-the-alcor-cryonics-facility-2015-10
  46. ↑ http://www.newsweek.com/transhumanism-zoltan-istvan-civil-rights-21st-century-453884
  47. ↑ http://futurism.com/gary-johnson-wants-driverless-secret-service-cars-and-a-us-led-gene-editing-revolution/
  48. ↑ "Zoltan Istvan". Slate Magazine.
  49. ↑ "Ambassadors – The Seasteading Institute". The Seasteading Institute. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  50. ↑ "Our Team – India Future Society". India Future Society. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  51. ↑ "Advisory Council Archives – A-Team for Wildlife". A-Team for Wildlife. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  52. ↑ Zoltan Istvan. "Zoltan Istvan". Lifeboat Foundation. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  53. ↑ "Everyone Faces a Transhumanist Wager". Wfs.org. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  54. ↑ Hank Pellissier (November 22, 2013). "Transhuman Visions: February 1, 2014 San Francisco Conference Almost Sold Out". Singularity Weblog. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  55. ↑ "Brighter Brains". Brighterbrains.org. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  56. ↑ "A TEDx Talk on Beauty and Life Extension Science". The Huffington Post.
  57. ↑ "A TEDx Talk Celebrating Scientists and Exploring the Technological Future of Beauty". The Huffington Post.
  58. ↑ http://ftalphaville.ft.com/2015/06/23/2132561/camp-alphaville-ft-forever-young/
  59. ↑ Zoltan Istvan (October 8, 2014). "Should a Transhumanist Run for US President?". The Huffington Post. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  60. ↑ "The Transhumanist Party Announces Their 2016 Presidential Candidate". Giant Freakin Robot. October 8, 2014. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  61. ↑ Eric Schulke (October 9, 2014). "Zoltan Istvan plans a courageous transhuman political surge". ImmortalLife.info. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  62. ↑ Litost Publishing Collective (November 23, 2014). "An Interview with Zoltan Istvan, Founder of the Transhumanist Party and 2016 U.S. Presidential Candidate". Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  63. ↑ "Zoltan Istvan on The Future of Politics and Transhumanism". Future Thinkers Podcast. 2015-04-13. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
  64. ↑ "An interview with Zoltan Istvan, leader of the Transhumanist Party and 2016 presidential contender". ExtremeTech. October 31, 2014. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  65. ↑ Raj, Ajai (March 6, 2015), "The Transhumanist Who Would Be President: An interview with Zoltan Istvan", Medium.com/re-form, re:form (ezine), retrieved March 7, 2015
  66. ↑ Maughan, Tim (30 November 2015). "Meet Zoltan, the presidential candidate who drives a coffin". BBC. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  67. 1 2 Holland, Catherine (14 October 2015). "Presidential candidate running as Transhumanist wants more immortality research". azfamily.com. 3TV. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  68. ↑ "This futuristic presidential candidate is about to drive a giant coffin across America for one unusual reason". Business Insider. Retrieved 2015-10-18.
  69. 1 2 Roussi, Antoaneta (February 19, 2016). "Now this is an "outsider candidate": Zoltan Istvan, a Transhumanist running for president, wants to make you immortal". Salon.
  70. ↑ "Meet Zoltan, the strangest candidate running for President". BBC.
  71. ↑ http://transhumanistparty.org/Platform.html
  72. ↑ Akshat Rathi (July 21, 2015). "This U.S. presidential candidate doesn't want to be president, he wants to live forever".
  73. ↑ Istvan, Zoltan (September 13, 2016). "Hillary Clinton's Health Situation Means Libertarian Gary Johnson Must Now be in the Presidential Debates". The Huffington Post. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
  74. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=634281330078750&set=a.161095190730702.1073741826.100004906654490&type=3
  75. ↑ Brett McGinness (June 15, 2016). "Zoltan Istvan 2016: Let's make Americans immortal". USA Today.
  76. ↑ "Everyone Faces a Transhumanist Wager". Wfs.org. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  77. ↑ http://motherboard.vice.com/read/do-we-have-free-will-because-god-killed-herself
  78. ↑ http://www.marinij.com/article/NO/20151121/NEWS/151129999
  79. ↑ Zoltan Istvan (March 6, 2015). "A Global Arms Race to Create a Superintelligent AI is Looming". Motherboard.
  80. ↑ Zoltan Istvan (April 21, 2015). "What If One Country Achieves the Singularity First?". Motherboard.
  81. ↑ http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/interviews/a35078/transhumanist-presidential-candidate-zoltan/
  82. ↑ http://motherboard.vice.com/read/the-language-of-aliens-will-always-be-indecipherable
  83. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zoltan-istvan/ai-day-will-replace-christmas_b_4496550.html
  84. ↑ http://motherboard.vice.com/read/the-jesus-singularity
  85. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zoltan-istvan/are-we-heading-for-a-jesu_b_5002863.html
  86. ↑ http://www.newsweek.com/could-robot-run-president-2020-trump-clinton-bush-kanye-west-426799
  87. ↑ http://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/episode-277-veterans-and-pot-the-case-for-a-robot-president-dolphin-soldiers-and-more-1.3495805/the-case-for-a-robot-president-1.3495837
  88. ↑ https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1292761/us-navy-considers-plans-to-fit-humans-with-microchips-and-track-their-every-move/
  89. ↑ http://www.techinsider.io/presidential-candidate-zoltan-istvan-gets-an-rfid-chip-implant-2015-9
  90. ↑ http://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/Chip-enhanced-political-candidates-coming-soon-8694149.php
  91. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3645171/Is-Navy-planning-implant-people-microchips-Officials-consult-Presidential-candidate-merging-humans-machines.html
  92. ↑ http://sputniknews.com/science/20160619/1041597594/transhumanism-microchips-us-navy.html
  93. ↑ Unnamed. "Run, don't Hide !". transhumanity.net. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  94. 1 2 Peter Rothman (October 8, 2014). "Transhumanism Gets Political". hplusmagazine.com. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  95. ↑ Truman Chen (December 15, 2014). "The Political Vacuity of Transhumanism". Stanford Political Journal. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  96. ↑ Truman Chen (December 15, 2014). "The Political Vacuity of Transhumanism". Stanford Political Journal. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  97. ↑ Istvan, Zoltan (December 5, 2013). "I'm an Atheist, Therefore I'm a Transhumanist". The Huffington Post. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  98. 1 2 BiZoHa Orphanage (February 27, 2015). "BiZoHa - the World's First Atheist Orphanage - launched by Brighter Brains Institute". Brighter Brains Institute.
  99. ↑ Zoltan Istvan (February 24, 2015). "The World's First Atheist Orphanage Has Launched a Crowdfunding Campaign". Motherboard.vice.com. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
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