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12 Axes Test

Acceleration vs Bioconservative

The Acceleration vs Bioconservative axis asks how fast to develop technology that could change human beings themselves, such as gene editing, artificial intelligence and human enhancement.

Societal domain0% Acceleration ⟷ 100% Bioconservative
Acceleration

Technology, including human enhancement and AI, should be developed and adopted as fast as possible.

vs
Bioconservative

Human nature and biology should be protected, with caution and limits on technologies that alter them.

0% (Acceleration)50% Neutral100% (Bioconservative)

The question this axis asks: Should we speed up technological progress, even when it changes what humans are, or slow down and set limits?

Compare both sidesReal-world examples

Where do you stand?

Statement 1 of 3

People should be free to use technology to enhance their bodies and minds.

Nothing is sent anywhere.

What is Acceleration vs Bioconservative?

The question this axis asks

Should we speed up technological progress, even when it changes what humans are, or slow down and set limits?

This axis covers genetic engineering, human enhancement, life extension, artificial intelligence and genetically modified food. It asks how you weigh the potential benefits of technology against its risks and against ethical limits on altering life.

People on the Acceleration side usually believe that technology is the best route to solving disease, poverty and other problems, and that people should be free to enhance themselves. People on the Bioconservative side usually argue for caution, regulation and respect for human nature, and worry about inequality and unforeseen harm.

What does each side believe?

Neither side is better or worse. They are different answers to the same question.

What does Acceleration mean?

Technology, including human enhancement and AI, should be developed and adopted as fast as possible.

Typical positions

  • People should be free to use technology to enhance their bodies and minds
  • Gene editing to prevent disease should be encouraged
  • AI should be developed quickly with few restrictions
  • Technology will solve most big problems

What does Bioconservative mean?

Human nature and biology should be protected, with caution and limits on technologies that alter them.

Typical positions

  • Some parts of human nature should not be altered
  • New technologies should slow down until risks are understood
  • Editing the human genome crosses a line
  • Genetically modified food should be restricted
  • Merging humans and machines would undermine humanity

What does your Acceleration vs Bioconservative score mean?

Scores run from 0% to 100% toward Bioconservative. Here is how to read them.

ScoreWhat it suggests
0–15%Very strongly Acceleration
16–30%Strongly Acceleration
31–43%Leaning Acceleration
44–56%Near the middle
57–69%Leaning Bioconservative
70–84%Strongly Bioconservative
85–100%Very strongly Bioconservative

A middle score suggests you welcome technology that treats disease but want limits on enhancing or redesigning humans.

How does Acceleration vs Bioconservative play out in the real world?

Debates over embryo editing, AI regulation, longevity research and GM crops all sit here. Rules differ: for example, the European Union applies stricter rules to GM crops than many other regions, and countries differ on embryo research and gene editing. Estimated profiles of countries and ideologies at each end of this axis.

Countries leaning Acceleration

  1. 1Singapore72% toward Acceleration
  2. 2United Arab Emirates70% toward Acceleration
  3. 3South Korea70% toward Acceleration
  4. 4Estonia68% toward Acceleration
  5. 5China68% toward Acceleration

Ideologies leaning Acceleration

  1. 1Transhumanism97% toward Acceleration
  2. 2Technocracy85% toward Acceleration
  3. 3Anarcho-Capitalism70% toward Acceleration
  4. 4Communism65% toward Acceleration

Countries leaning Bioconservative

  1. 1Afghanistan75% toward Bioconservative
  2. 2Nigeria72% toward Bioconservative
  3. 3Ethiopia72% toward Bioconservative
  4. 4Pakistan72% toward Bioconservative
  5. 5Egypt70% toward Bioconservative

Ideologies leaning Bioconservative

  1. 1Bioconservatism98% toward Bioconservative
  2. 2Theocracy72% toward Bioconservative
  3. 3Green Politics70% toward Bioconservative
  4. 4Christian Democracy65% toward Bioconservative

These are editorial estimates for discussion, not rankings of quality.

Which terms relate to Acceleration vs Bioconservative?

Words you may meet in the test statements about this axis.

Acceleration vs Bioconservative

Transhumanism

Transhumanism is the belief that humans should use science and technology to overcome biological limits such as aging, disease and limited intelligence.

Read the explanation

What do people get wrong about Acceleration vs Bioconservative?

  • Bioconservative does not mean anti-science. Many bioconservatives support medicine and research.
  • Acceleration is not the same as recklessness. Supporters usually call for managing risks, especially around AI.

Frequently asked questions about Acceleration vs Bioconservative

A bioconservative favors caution about using technology to change human biology and nature, for example through genetic enhancement or radical life extension.

The belief that science and technology should be used to overcome human limits such as aging and disease. It sits on the Acceleration side of this axis.

In this test it means favoring faster technological development. It is not the same as the political philosophy of accelerationism sometimes discussed in academic and online debates.

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