Transhumanism At The Forefront of American Politics
At first glance, author and philosopher Zoltan Istvan, proponent of transhumanism – a movement that advocates for the improvement of the human race through technologies such as robotics and many experimental areas of medicine and science – would seem like the last person to run for United States president.
Not only is the transhumanist party, which he created, extremely new, but he is also possibly the only atheist running for the office of president.
Father of two, Istvan lives in California. He is known for his writing of books such as The Transhumanist’s Wager as well as his columns with The San Francisco Chronicle and The Daily Caller. Transhumanism may very well be at the forefront of American politics.
In fact, Istvan, at the age of 41, would be the youngest U.S. president to date. His policies are centered around not allocating funds towards foreign wars and conflicts but centering them around issues that affect all Americans. These include issues such as healthcare and better prosthetics and even extending human lives indefinitely.
“I think the biggest thing I’m running on is, if you voted me in, I would do my best to guarantee you an indefinite lifespan,” Istvan said. “I know that sounds a little crazy–”Vote for me and I’ll give you eternal life!”–but it’s true.”
Istvan and his party also seem more concerned with also making Americans more involved in the electoral process. He wishes them to have more options and to be kept better informed than they are at present.
“Wouldn’t it be great if we could just vote from our iPhones,” Istvan said. The idea is that the current system highly complicates things and makes constituents disinterested in the process.
Transhumanism, according to Istvan and his party, need not just be about better elections and better health, but about how our relationships will be re-defined. He has tackled the issue of same-sex marriage and human unions when we are able to live for millennia.
“If one is in love, then they need no controls. Love just is, and for two people in love, it manifests itself every day,” Istvan said. “And if it doesn’t, then it’s no longer love.”