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DR. MAX MORE
Dr. Max More is an internationally acclaimed strategic futurist who
writes, speaks, and organizes events about the fundamental challenges of
emerging technologies. Max is concerned that our rapidly developing
technological capabilities are racing far ahead of our standard ways of
thinking about future possibilities. His work aims to improve our ability
to anticipate, adapt to, and shape the future for the
better.
In developing, communicating, and implementing better ways of foreseeing
possible futures and of making decisions under growing uncertainty, Max
takes a highly interdisciplinary approach. Drawing on philosophy,
economics, cognitive and social psychology, management theory, and other
fields, he develops solutions and strategies for minimizing the dangers
of progress and maximizing the benefits.
Max cofounded and is Chairman of
Extropy Institute, a diverse
network of innovative thinkers committed to creating solutions to
enduring human problems. He authored the
Principles of Extropy, which
form the core of a
transhumanist perspective. As a leading transhumanist
thinker, Max strongly challenges traditional, limiting beliefs about the
possibilities of our future. At the same time, he tempers visionary aims
with analytical and practical strategizing.
He has authored dozens of articles and papers on topics
including how to improve and apply critical and creative thinking,
especially about uncertain future possibilities; the ethics of
biotechnology and other technologies that directly affect humans; the
philosophical implications of technological transformations of human
nature; and strategic futures thinking in business. He
wrote
A Letter to Mother Nature and recently authored
The Proactionary Principle.
He is
currently working on a book, tentatively titled Beyond Caution,
that
responds to resurgent neophobia with a spirited yet balanced defense of
progress.
Max (as part of the ManyWorlds team) works with
companies and other organizations to improve strategic futures thinking
and weave it into regular decision-making and innovation processes. This
includes analyzing the interaction of technological trends, and
developing strategic
scenarios.
Max has a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from St. Anne's
College, Oxford University (1984-87). He was awarded a Dean's Fellowship
in Philosophy in 1987 by the University of Southern California. Max
studied and taught philosophy at USC with an emphasis on philosophy of
mind, ethics, and personal identity, completing his Ph.D. in 1995, with a
dissertation that examined issues including the nature of death, and
what it is about each individual that continues despite great change over
time.
Marvin Minsky, "the father of artificial intelligence", said of Dr.
More
We have a dreadful shortage of people who know so much, can both think
so boldly and clearly, and can express themselves so articulately. Carl
Sagan was another such one — and (partly by paying the price of his
life) managed to capture the public eye. But Sagan is gone and has not been
replaced. I see Max as my candidate for that post.
Ray Kurzweil,
author,
inventor, and winner of the Presidential Medal for innovation in
technology said
Max More's ideas are very influential among other
"big thinkers", who in turn are influence leaders themselves. Max's
writings
represent well grounded science futurism, and reflect a sophisticated
understanding of technology trends and how these trends are likely to
develop during this coming century.
Listen to his talk with fellow Scientific
Advisory Board member James
Hughes!
Listen to Max
at
The Singularity Summit at Stanford.
Max was the peer expert reader in
the fields
of technology acceleration and philosophy for the 2005 Ray Kurzweil book
The Singularity Is Near : When Humans Transcend
Biology.
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