Transhumanist hedonism: or, let's party like it's 2099.

What's the point of living longer if you're not having any fun? I wouldn't want to do the same old same old for another 40 years, let alone for the kind of lifespan that de Grey envisions. So, How do we extend the range and depth of the human experience? According to sci-fi canon, futuristic recreation will come along the big three: drugs, sex, and videogames.

But lets go back to the original mythology for a moment: what is heaven like? Not the afterlife that's held out as a reward for the religious faithful; I'm talking about the general concept of an ideal, perfect existence. Transcendental well-being, without bounds.

It seems to me that the traditional Christian version of Heaven is not nearly as well-depicted as the Christian Hell, the fire and brimstone. I can easily imagine an eternity of suffering, but what is the opposite of that? Is it just an eternity of happiness with your family and loved ones?

Don't get me started on the whole 72 virgins thing for Islam; what happens when you run out of virgins?? (Most people don't believe this anyway, like the Christian imagery of clouds and angels and harps.)

A perpetual drug-like high, the kind that's induced by opium or heroin? Everlasting orgasm?

Pure blissful happiness, forever? Wouldn't that get boring? 
 


Here, Picard and Kirk are stuck in the Nexus, which makes real all their dreams and desires. The best starship captain in the galaxy only wants a fancy Christmas dinner with well-dressed children and a carousel? Chopping wood by a mountain cabin? Please. Besides, any place that you wish to leave is inadequate as heaven.

Maybe heaven is conflict? Drama and adventure, battles and challenges, pain and sacrifice, love and loss, defending the galaxy, thrilling in victory, forever striving and achieving?

What do you want in your personal heaven?

Famed transhumanist David Pearce proposes to bring about heaven on Earth using technology, what he calls paradise engineering. First eliminate pain and suffering, then boost our baseline sense of well-being. The possible methods: designer drugs, wireheading, genetic engineering.

It's a noble goal, but like our visions of heaven, it is one-dimensional and incomplete. Transhumanism should aim to expand the scope of human experience, and that does not simply stop at happiness.

So what else is a hedonist to do? Stay tuned!