Suffering is unavoidable. Or is that really the case? David Pearce, renowned transhumanist, author of the Hedonistic Imperative and cofounder of the World Transhumanist Association / Humanity+, has a vision that sees suffering abolished in all sentient life and replaced with "information-sensitive gradients of bliss". In this feature length episode, David gives an introduction to his abolitionist project and how we can achieve this remarkable goal using biotechnology, especially genetic engineering. Join us to hear David's fascinating insights into what has been dubbed the Biohappiness Revolution.

You can follow David Pearce on Twitter at @webmasterdave.

Note: As this episode tips over the hour mark into "Long Play" territory, if you are short on time, you are invited to use the "Chapters" feature of the web player (or in your podcast app or offline audio player if it supports chapters). We've put a little extra effort into indexing this conversation for your convenience and we hope you find it useful. Let us know!

Main Talking Points

• Hedonic set-points and the hedonic threadmill
• The Lottery Paradox
• Problems associated with existing drug-based treatments for pain
• Gene therapy and the role of certain genes, such as SCN9A, in pain
• Hyperthymic people and the role of the FAAH and FAAH-OUT genes
• Preimplantation genetic screening and CRISPR
• Happier babies and whether suffering should be opt-in or opt-out
• Holding genetic engineering to account and the sanctity of life
• Contrasting software engineering techniques to genetic engineering

If you care about helping to bring an end to suffering,  please donate whatever you can afford to provide a life-saving mosquito net to someone who really needs it at http://www.againstmalaria.com/thephilosophists

Other Links

• Lottery winners and accident victims: Is happiness relative? Brickman, P., Coates, D., & Janoff-Bulman, R. (1978 paper)
• Gene-Editing (SCN9A) Pain Away With CRISPR
• Landmark CRISPR trial shows promise against deadly disease (Transthyretin Amyloidosis)
• Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (including preimplantation genetic screening)
• Windows Phone, A History - An interactive timeline of the Windows Phone operating system dating back to 1996

Socially Awkward

• You can follow @thephilosophists on Instagram / Facebook / Twitter
• You can follow Declan at @theirishpenguin
• Show website at https://www.thephilosophists.com (rss feed)

Credits

• "Bike, Bell Ding, Single, 01-01.wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org
• Music and artwork by © 2022 Declan McGrath, All Rights Reserved