Zoltan Istvan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Zoltan Istvan
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Zoltan Istvan Gyurko
March 30, 1973 Los Angeles County, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Independent (2020–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Libertarian (2017–2020) Republican (2019–2020) Transhumanist (before 2017) |
| Spouses | Lisa M. Memmel, MD |
| Residences | Mill Valley, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Columbia University |
| Occupation | Journalist and entrepreneur |
| Known for | Transhumanist politics |
Zoltan Istvan Gyurko, known as Zoltan Istvan (born March 30, 1973), is an American transhumanist, journalist, and entrepreneur. He is also a political candidate and someone who thinks a lot about the future.
Istvan used to be a reporter for the National Geographic Channel. Now, he writes articles about the future, transhumanism, and politics for big news sources. These include The New York Times. He believes that transhumanism will become a major social idea in the 2020s. Istvan wrote a book called The Transhumanist Wager. It is a science fiction novel with ideas about philosophy.
In 2014, Istvan said he would run for President of the United States. This was for the 2016 election. He ran for his own Transhumanist Party. His goal was to make people more aware of transhumanist politics ideas. He did not get his name on any state ballot. Later, in 2017, Istvan ran for Governor of California. This was for the 2018 election. He was a member of the Libertarian Party. In 2019, Istvan tried to get the Republican Party's nomination. This was for the 2020 United States presidential election against President Donald Trump.
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Growing Up and School
Zoltan Istvan was born in Los Angeles in 1973. His parents, Ilona and Steven Gyurko, were immigrants from Hungary. When he was young, he was a top swimmer and water polo player. Istvan later went to Columbia University in New York City. He earned a degree in philosophy and religion.
His Work and Career
Early Jobs
Istvan worked as a reporter for the National Geographic Channel. He wrote articles and appeared on camera. His writings have also been in the San Francisco Chronicle and Outside. Other publications like The Huffington Post have covered his work. Istvan reported on the war in Kashmir. This report was made into a documentary called Pawns of Paradise.
Istvan says he helped create and make popular the extreme sport of volcano boarding. This is where people ride down volcanoes.
Istvan is also an entrepreneur, which means he starts and runs businesses. He works in real estate. He also owns vineyard properties where grapes are grown for wine. These are in Mendoza, Argentina, Bordeaux, France, and California's Napa Valley. Istvan owns a 68-acre island in Nova Scotia, Canada, in the Atlantic Ocean.
Thinking About the Future
After writing The Transhumanist Wager, Istvan started to actively promote transhumanism. This is a movement that believes in using science and technology to improve human abilities. He also promoted other ideas about the future. He did this through speeches, interviews, and his writings.
Istvan's ideas on transhumanism, philosophy, and the future have been in major media. He has written for Gizmodo, New Scientist, Salon, and TechCrunch. He also writes for Newsweek, Futurism, and Slate.
Istvan gives talks about future and transhumanist topics. He has spoken at the World Bank and the World Economic Forum. He also spoke at Congreso Futuro and Moogfest. He appeared in the 2016 documentary The Future of Work and Death.
Running for President in 2016
In October 2014, Istvan announced he was thinking about running for U.S. President in 2016. He said his goals were to help scientists. He wanted them to find ways to overcome human death and aging within 15–20 years. He also wanted Americans to accept "radical technology and science." He aimed to create safety measures against possible dangers of such technology.
Istvan wanted to bring the transhumanist community together. He said that big changes could happen in society. He believed transhumanism could offer ideas and safety rules. He hoped the Transhumanist Party could get on many state ballots.
Istvan helped make his campaign known in 2015. He drove a bus shaped like a casket across the United States. This was called the "Immortality Bus". He planned the bus tour to raise awareness about extending human life. At the end of the tour, Istvan gave a "Transhumanist Bill of Rights" to the U.S. Capitol. His plan included a universal basic income. This is a regular payment to everyone. It also included more money for space travel. He wanted to move money from the military to science and medicine.
Istvan was not on the ballot in any state. However, he said he had many supporters who would write in his name.
Running for Governor in California (2018)
Istvan focused on science, technology, and transhumanism in his California governor campaign. He also supported basic income. He suggested that basic income could be paid without raising taxes. This would be through a "Federal Land Dividend." Under this plan, the government would lease out federal land. The money from this would be used for monthly payments to households.
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 said he was again considering running for President. Istvan announced he would run for the Republican nomination on November 19.
His Ideas and Beliefs
Istvan believes that in the 21st century, people face a "Transhumanist Wager." This idea is explored in his science fiction novel of the same name. It's about how people deal with the fact that life ends. This wager comes from a life philosophy Istvan calls Teleological Egocentric Functionalism (TEF).
Istvan has created several concepts. These include the AI Imperative and the Singularity Disparity. He also proposed the idea of a Longevity Peace Prize in 2019. This prize would be for breakthroughs in extending life. Istvan also argued that surfing should be allowed during the Covid lockdowns.
Istvan wrote an article called "Transhumanism and Theistcideism." He also wrote a short story called "The Jesus Singularity." It was about a religious AI that goes out of control. This story was published in Vice magazine.
Istvan has a small chip implanted in his hand. He has talked with the U.S. Navy about using such implants in humans. According to Istvan's novel, there are three main rules for transhumanism:
- A transhumanist must protect their own life above everything else.
- A transhumanist must try to become as powerful as possible, as long as it doesn't go against the first rule.
- A transhumanist must protect what is valuable in the universe, as long as it doesn't go against the first and second rules.
Personal Life
Istvan lives in Mill Valley, California. He lives there 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 was the world's first orphanage for free-thinkers. It is in Mukhoya, Kasese district, western Uganda. Istvan wrote an article about it in Vice's Motherboard. This article helped a GoFundMe campaign raise money for the orphanage.
