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Neo-Tech (philosophy)

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Introduction

Neo-Tech is a philosophy that expressly promotes the elimination of mysticism from the human thought process as its central focus, by means of "fully-integrated honesty." It is held that mysticism is the highest enemy of human life. "Mysticism" here, as used in the context of epistemology, refers to using a non-rational means, such as faith or feeling, to pursue knowledge and base belief (it subsumes religious mysticism). Mysticism is further described by Neo-Tech writers as, "the dishonesty disease that creates problems where none exist".

Note: Neo-Tech literature says that Neo-Tech is a "tool" or a "new technology" rather than a philosophy, however, this article refers to the writings espousing Neo-Tech as philosophy for the sake of convention.

Neo-Tech as Neo-Objectivism

Neo-Tech can be classified as a brand of Neo-objectivism. As a self-described "dynamic" form of objectivism, it departs from Randian objectivism which it refers to as "static", in the following manner:

Branch of Philosophy Randian Objectivism Neo-Tech
Metaphysics Reality Business
Epistemology Reason Neothink
Ethics Self-interest Value Production
Politics Capitalism Free Competition

It is held that:

  • Business is how people most effectively use and manipulate Reality (all that exists).
  • Neothink is mysticism-free integration of knowledge. It is using Reason and information to arrive at bits of knowledge, then integrating those bits of knowledge into new knowledge. This process continues as those bits of new knowledge are then integrated with other bits of new knowledge thereby creating additional knowledge, and so on, ad infinitum. It is essential that mysticism is not involved in the process. Neothink allows the widest possible integration of knowledge to be peformed.
  • Value Production is Self-interest put into action through Business dynamics --the creation of valuable goods and services.
  • Free Competition is the dynamic of acting within a capitalist or free-market framework. Eliminating one's personal mysticism and using Neothink helps one to maximize his capacity to outcompete others (especially effective in outcompeting those whose whose mentalities are ridden with mysticism).

Neo-Tech and Biological Immortality

Neo-Tech also shares some similarities with transhumanism, notably in regard to advocating technological progress toward achieving human biological immortality, as a non-spiritual route to the quest for eternal youth or immortality. However, it is made clear in Neo-Tech that this should be pursued strictly as a commercial enterprise, as it is its opinion that the competitive marketplace, rather than taxpayer-funded research, is the most effective and speediest route to technological advancement. It is held that with the elimination of mysticism from the human thought process (which Neo-tech holds is the cause of beliefs in gods and supernatural afterlives), market forces will drive humanity in a more urgent manner to eliminate ageing and other diseases (ageing is increasingly being viewed as a "disease" by biogerontologists). That mysticism is putting a drag on technological progress toward biological immortality" is a major reason why Neo-Tech asserts that mysticism is the number one enemy of human life. It is believed, in Neo-Tech, that to experience and continue experiencing "profound happiness" is the ultimate purpose of living. And, that since life and health are essential to pursue happiness, given that the present state of technology promises certain death and degradation of health, the pursuit of "commercially biological immortality" should be the prime and most urgent technological goal of a rational civilization. Moreover, it is postulated that this technology to eliminate and reverse ageing is achievable in the lifetime of many of us --the sooner that mystical beliefs erode, the greater the probability of that happening through the dynamics of Business.

Neo-Tech and the Bicameral Mind Theory

Neo-Tech is notably influenced by the theories of the late psychology professor from Princeton University, Julian Jaynes, as expounded in his controversial book The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind. Neo-Tech accepts Jaynes' proposition that human mind has evolved from what was once a mere reactive mode, devoid of consciousness, abstract thought, and introspection, where external authority was accepted unquestioningly, to a proactive, conscious-thinking, and autonomous mode. Neo-Tech expands upon this and says that the next major evolution in the process of thought is the elimination of all mysticism in thinking, which it holds naturally results in the rejection of all external authority, both epistemological and coercive, in favor of a physically free and autonomous individual whose own conscious thinking, exercising "fully-integrated honesty," is the ultimate validator of knowledge (and therefore justifier of belief). This mysticism-free way of thinking, which is believed by Neo-Tech adherents to be the next evolution of the mind subsequent to the the advent of consciousness, is referred to as the "Neothink mind." The Neothink mind is the mind using Neo-Tech (Neo-Tech is defined literally as "fully integrated honesty"). It is said that vestiges of the "bicameral mind" remain in modern humans that make them susceptible to defaulting to unquestioning-acceptance of external guidance. Whereas Jaynes hypothesizes that consciousness may have emerged out of competitive pressures, Neo-Tech literature likewise states that Neothink is a superior way of using the mind that allows individuals to outcompete others who still employ mysticism-laden thinking and that, hence, the need to compete will behoove one to "go Neo-Tech." So, it is said that those individuals and civilizations that cling to mystical thinking will remain uncompetitive, self-destructive, and ultimately be left behind to perish. The competition-initiated collapse of mysticism will also spell the end of the livelihoods of those who, by playing on the remnants of the "bicameral mind" with its tendency to seek external authority, manipulate mysticism in individuals for personal gain (known as "Neocheaters") as these duped individuals come to realize that there are no valid external authorities and never have been. Neo-Tech writings state that the only valid authority comes not from figures such as clergymen, cult-leaders, politicians, academics, philosophers, or Neo-Tech writers, but solely from one's own conscious thinking.

Neo-Tech as Fully Integrated Honesty

The term "Neo-Tech" is defined literatally in Neo-Tech manuscripts as a "tool" called "fully integrated honesty." Neo-Tech writings maintain that "honesty" is a preferable term over "truth" as it is held that the latter term is subject to various philosophical interpretations, vagueness, and manipulation. In 1992, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in United States of America v Wallace Ward, ruled that replacing the word "truth" with "fully-integrated honesty" in the "honesty oath," used prior to testifying in court trials, is legally permissible. "The Neo-Tech oath" reads as follows: "Do you affirm to speak with fully integrated Honesty, only with fully integrated Honesty and nothing but fully integrated Honesty?"

The Zon Conjecture

A "Zon," in Neo-Tech, is a "metaphorically-postulated" person who operates from a Neo-Tech/Neothink perspective. It typically refers to one who has accumulated sufficient knowledge about the universe, by using Neothink, that he has the capability to perform large-scale manipulations of matter and energy. It can include persons of the human or some other hypothetical variety that may be found anywhere in the cosmos or multiverse. It is speculated by Neo-Tech writers that a neothinking Zon may have created this universe for profitable business puposes. Neo-Tech writings explicitly say that this is an "unproven speculation." However, some individuals are apparently conducting scientific research to find evidence to prove the "Zon conjecture."

Miscellaneous facts

Most writings concerning Neo-Tech are presented in the format of an instruction of how one may succeed in his business, and personal life, by using Neo-Tech.

In what is considered the definining Neo-Tech book, The Neo-Tech Discovery, the following notice is printed: "The Neo-Tech Disovery will not be sold to professional value destroyers at any price. Those blackballed include all politicians and business quislings, most lawyers and news-media reporters, many bureaucrats, clergymen, and university professors."

Interestingly, DC Comics did a four-issue series based on Neo-Tech, featuring Batman, called "Anarky," by Alan Grant (author of Batman comics, who happens to be an adherent of Neo-Tech philosophy).

The entire books of John and Revelations from the Holy Bible have been transposed to fit the philosophy of Neo-Tech under the title "The Bible Decoded" by "The Zon Association."

Neo-Tech philosophy was orginally developed by Dr. Frank R. Wallace, a former senior research scientist for E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. According to Wallace, his original inspiration for Neo-Tech came as a result of his study of the cognitive aspects of the game of poker.

The word "Neo-Tech" is not trademarked.

Books

Neo-Tech Publishing Company is the main publisher of books and articles authored by those who support the philosophy, including the owners and some employees of the company. Other proponents of this philosophy have also furnished books and materials through other publishers (Some affiliated with Neo-Tech Publishing and some not). The Neo-Tech philosophy existed, and was called "Neo-Tech," several years before the original promulgator, I&O Publishing, was renamed to Neo-Tech Publishing to match the namesake of the philosophy.

  • Frank R. Wallace, The Neo-Tech Discovery, Neo-tech Publishing (Originally published in 1975 by I&O Publishing and is the largest commercial success - Translated versions have been printed in Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Serbo-Croation, and Spanish)
  • Charles Beeler, Wolf Kahn, Strange City: The Future of Neo-Tech, Xlibris (Note: Xlibris is a print on demand self-publishing house.)
  • Mark Hamilton, Neo-Tech Business Control, Neo-Tech Publishing
  • Eric Savage, Neo-Tech Instructions, Black & White Pub Co. (1985)
  • Eric Savage, How to Build a Global Business Empire
  • Mark Hamilton, Profound Honesty: Outcompete God and Government, Neo-Tech Publishing
  • Brett Peters, Neo-Tech Protection Kit, Neo-Tech Publishing
  • Mark Hamilton, Will America Go Neo-Tech?, Integrated Management Associates (1995)
  • Mark Hamilton, God-Man: Our Final Evolution, Integrated Management Associates (1998)

See also

Biogerontology, Objectivism, Neo-objectivism, transhumanism,Julian Jaynes

Official Neo-Tech material

Criticisms
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