Max More wrote the philosophical foundations of transhumanism before most people had heard the word. His "Principles of Extropy" articulated a coherent worldview: boundless expansion, self-transformation, dynamic optimism, intelligent technology, and spontaneous order. He founded the Extropy Institute in 1988, creating the first organized transhumanist community and publication. More's "proactionary principle" offered a counterpoint to the precautionary principle, arguing that excessive caution about new technologies carries its own risks. He served as CEO of Alcor Life Extension Foundation from 2011 to 2021, putting cryonics on more professional footing. More than anyone, Max More took transhumanism from scattered ideas into a coherent philosophical movement with real-world institutions.
Key contributions
- Authored the "Principles of Extropy" and founded Extropy Institute
- Formulated the proactionary principle
- Served as CEO of Alcor Life Extension Foundation
- Built the philosophical foundation of modern transhumanism
Quotes (1)
“No more gods, no more faith, no more timid holding back. Let us blast out of our old forms, our ignorance, our weakness, and our mortality.”
1990