FM-2030

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FM-2030

FM-2030 (October 15, 1930, Brussels – July 8, 2000, New York) was an author, teacher, transhumanist philosopher, futurist and consultant.[1] FM-2030 was born Fereidoun M. Esfandiary (Persian: فریدون اسفندیاری‎).

He became notable as a transhumanist with the book Are You a Transhuman?: Monitoring and Stimulating Your Personal Rate of Growth in a Rapidly Changing World, published in 1989. In addition, he wrote a number of works of fiction under his original name F.M. Esfandiary.

Early life and education

The son of an Iranian diplomat, he travelled widely as a child,[2] living in 17 countries by age 11;[3] then, as a young man, he represented Iran as a basketball player in the 1948 Olympic Games[2] and served on the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine from 1952 to 1954.[4]

Name change

In the mid-1970s F.M. Esfandiary legally[5] changed his name to FM-2030 for two main reasons. Firstly, to reflect the hope and belief that he would live to celebrate his 100th birthday in 2030; secondly, and more importantly, to break free of the widespread practice of naming conventions that he saw as rooted in a collectivist mentality, and existing only as a relic of humankind's tribalistic past. He viewed traditional names as almost always stamping a label of collective identity—varying from gender to nationality—on the individual, thereby existing as prima facie elements of thought processes in the human cultural fabric, that tended to degenerate into stereotyping, factionalism, and discrimination. In his own words, "Conventional names define a person's past: ancestry, ethnicity, nationality, religion. I am not who I was ten years ago and certainly not who I will be in twenty years. [...] The name 2030 reflects my conviction that the years around 2030 will be a magical time. In 2030 we will be ageless and everyone will have an excellent chance to live forever. 2030 is a dream and a goal."[6]

Predictions

Many of FM-2030's predictions about social trends from the 1970s through the early 21st century proved remarkably prescient.[6] FM-2030 argued that the inherent dynamic of the modern globalizing civilization would bring such changes about despite the best efforts of conservative elites to enforce traditional beliefs.[4] He predicted in vitro fertilization and correcting genetic flaws in 1977, and in 1980, he predicted teleconferencing, telemedicine and teleshopping.[1] He taught at The New School, UCLA, and Florida International University.[1] He worked as a corporate consultant for Lockheed and J.C. Penney.[1]

Personal life

He was a lifelong vegetarian and said he would not eat anything that had a mother.[7] FM-2030 once said, "I am a 21st century person who was accidentally launched in the 20th. I have a deep nostalgia for the future."[8]

Death

On July 8, 2000, FM-2030 died from pancreatic cancer and was placed in cryonic suspension at the Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Scottsdale, Arizona, where his body remains today.[9] He did not yet have remote standby arrangements, so no Alcor team member was present at his death, but FM-2030 was the first person to be vitrified, rather than simply frozen as previous cryonics patients had been.[7] FM-2030 was survived by his four sisters and brother. A documentary was produced about FM-2030 called Are You a Transhuman?

Published works

Fiction
  • The Day of Sacrifice 1959 available as an eBook
  • The Beggar 1965
  • Identity Card 1966 (ISBN 0-460-03843-5) available as an eBook
Non-fiction
  • UpWingers: A Futurist Manifesto 1973 (ISBN 0-381-98243-2) (pbk.) Available as an eBook ISBN FW00007527, Publisher: e-reads, Pub. Date: Jan 1973, File Size: 153K
  • Telespheres 1977 (ISBN 0-445-04115-3)
  • Optimism one; the emerging radicalism 1970 (ISBN 0-393-08611-9)
  • Are You a Transhuman?: Monitoring and Stimulating Your Personal Rate of Growth in a Rapidly Changing World 1989 (ISBN 0-446-38806-8).

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Martin, Douglas (July 11, 2000). "Futurist Known as FM-2030 Is Dead at 69". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-08-25. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1
  3. ↑ "F.M. Esfandiary". Ghandchi.com. 2000-07-11. Retrieved 2011-03-12. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1
  5. ↑ NY Times, Futurist Known as FM-2030 Is Dead at 69, Published: July 11, 2000 http://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/11/us/futurist-known-as-fm-2030-is-dead-at-69.html retrieved 2012-12-09
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 All Things Considered (2000-07-11). "Fm-2030". NPR. Retrieved 2011-03-12. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Chamberlain, Fred (Winter 2000). "A Tribute to FM-2030". Alcor Life Extension Foundation. Retrieved 2009-08-25. 
  8. ↑ Greenwich Village Gazette (A New1.com Publication). "Greenwich Village Gazette: Columns: Gay Today: Jack Nichols". Nycny.com. Retrieved 2011-03-12. 
  9. ↑ Shermer, Michael. "Nano Nonsense and Cryonics". 

External links

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