Zoltan Istvan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Zoltan Istvan
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Zoltan Istvan Gyurko
March 30, 1973 |
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| Movement | Transhumanist politics |
| Spouse(s) | Lisa M. Memmel |
Zoltan Istvan Gyurko, known professionally as Zoltan Istvan (born March 30, 1973), is an American thinker and writer. He is known for his ideas about transhumanism, which is a movement that believes in using science and technology to improve human abilities. Istvan is also an entrepreneur and has run for political office.
He used to be a reporter for the National Geographic Channel. Now, Istvan writes articles about the future, technology, and politics for big news outlets like The New York Times. He believes that transhumanism will become a major social movement in the 2020s. Istvan wrote a science fiction novel called The Transhumanist Wager.
In 2014, Istvan announced he would run for President of the United States in the 2016 election. He ran with his own Transhumanist Party to make people more aware of transhumanist ideas. He did not get his name on any state ballots. Later, in 2017, Istvan ran for Governor of California in the 2018 election as a member of the Libertarian Party. In 2019, Istvan ran for the Republican Party's nomination in the 2020 United States presidential election. In April 2025, Istvan announced he was running for California Governor as a Democrat in the 2026 elections.
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Early Life and Education
Zoltan Istvan was born in Los Angeles in 1973. His parents, Ilona and Steven Gyurko, were immigrants from Hungary. When he was younger, Istvan was a very good swimmer and water polo player. He was ranked nationally in these sports.
Istvan later went to Columbia University in New York City. He earned a degree in philosophy and religion there. He also earned a master's degree in practical ethics from the University of Oxford.
Career Paths
Early Work Experiences
Istvan worked as a reporter for the National Geographic Channel. He wrote articles for publications like the San Francisco Chronicle and Outside. His work has also been featured in The Huffington Post. A documentary called Pawns of Paradise was made about his reporting on the war in Kashmir.
Istvan is also known for helping to create the extreme sport of volcano boarding. This involves riding down the side of a volcano. He also worked as a director at WildAid, a group that helps protect wildlife.
Istvan is an entrepreneur who works with real estate. He owns different investment properties. He also owns a large island in Nova Scotia, Canada. He has vineyard properties in Argentina, France, and California.
Focus on the Future
After writing The Transhumanist Wager, Istvan started to actively promote transhumanism. He shares his ideas about the future through speeches, interviews, and his writings.
Istvan's ideas on transhumanism and philosophy have been featured in many major media outlets. He has written for Gizmodo, New Scientist, Salon, TechCrunch, and Wired magazine.
He gives talks about futurist and transhumanist topics. He has spoken at places like the World Bank and the World Economic Forum. He also appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast. In 2016, he was in the documentary The Future of Work and Death. He has also discussed politics on C-SPAN.
Running for President in 2016
In October 2014, Istvan announced he was thinking about running for US President in 2016. He said his main goals were to support scientists in finding ways to overcome human death and aging. He also wanted to encourage Americans to use new technology and science.
Istvan explained that he wanted to bring together the transhumanist community. He hoped to give them a single voice. He believed that transhumanism could offer new ideas and policies for big changes in society.
To help his campaign, Istvan drove a bus shaped like a casket across the United States in 2015. This bus was called the "Immortality Bus." The tour aimed to raise awareness about extending human life. At the end of the tour, Istvan presented a "Transhumanist Bill of Rights" to the US Capitol. His platform included ideas like a universal basic income. It also suggested putting more money into science and medicine instead of the military.
Istvan was not on the ballot in any state for the 2016 election.
Running for Governor in California (2018)
In his campaign for California Governor, Istvan focused on science, technology, and transhumanism. He also supported the idea of a basic income. He suggested that basic income could be paid for by leasing out federal land. This would avoid raising taxes. Istvan finished 15th in the 2018 California gubernatorial primaries.
Running for President in 2020
In December 2017, Istvan said he was thinking about running for the Libertarian Party's Presidential nomination. In March 2019, he confirmed he was considering another run for President.
Istvan announced he would seek the Republican nomination on November 19, 2019. He campaigned around the country. Istvan finished 6th among the declared Republican candidates in terms of votes.
Philosophy and Ideas
Istvan believes that in the 21st century, everyone faces a "Transhumanist Wager." This idea is explored in his science fiction novel, The Transhumanist Wager. He summarizes this wager as a simple choice:
If a person values life, they will want to live as long as possible. This means they desire to be immortal. It's impossible to know if they will be immortal after they die. Doing nothing does not help them become immortal, since everyone will likely die someday. So, trying to do something scientifically to ensure immortality is the most logical choice.
Istvan has created several new concepts. These include the AI Imperative and the Singularity Disparity. He also helped popularize ideas like AI Day and the transhumanist olympics. In 2019, he suggested creating a Longevity Peace Prize. Istvan has written articles for The New York Times about supporting artificial wombs and allowing surfing during the Covid lockdowns.
Istvan also wrote an article called "Transhumanism and Theistcideism." He wrote a short story called "The Jesus Singularity" about a religious AI. This story was published in Vice magazine.
Istvan has a small chip implanted in his hand. He has also talked with the US Navy about using such implants in humans. According to Istvan's novel, there are three main laws of Transhumanism:
- A transhumanist must protect their own existence above all else.
- A transhumanist must try to become as powerful as possible, as long as it doesn't go against the first law.
- A transhumanist must protect value in the universe, as long as it doesn't go against the first and second laws.
Personal Life
Istvan lives in Mill Valley, California. He lives with his wife, who is a doctor, and his daughters. He identifies as an atheist, meaning he does not believe in a god.
In February 2015, he helped start BiZoHa. This is an atheist orphanage in Mukhoya, Kasese district, in western Uganda. Istvan wrote an article about it for Vice's Motherboard. This article helped raise money for the orphanage.
See also
In Spanish: Zoltan Istvan para niños
- Transhuman Citizen
