The Extropy Institute is where Max More and his coterie explain the benefits and superiority of their outlook on life. The official values are presented in the third version of the "Principles of Extropianism", that extols the benefits of perpetual progress, self-transformation, practical optimism, intelligent technology, an open society, self-direction, and rational thinking.

Extropianists are avid optimists, striving to create dynamic futures today. Their literature stresses the duty of making the world a better place, which will show non-Extropians how the movement is beneficial. Despite claiming openness to everyone in the Quest for Human Excellence, I detect a self-congratulatory elitism throughout many essays: altruism masks apparent perfection. Perhaps we should be cautious about this mentality.

The cult-like mantras of the movement's literature makes Extropianism seem bullet-proof. The constant evaluation of current methods and practices - always searching for means of improvement - dictate no stagnation or dogma. The forums for the free exchange of ideas, the chance to criticize and examine any aspect are the foundation of their utopian construct. I find their idealism to be suffocating.

Throughout the Extropian literature there is a lot of talk of rooting out "undesirable aspects" of the human condition and of not settling for the cards nature has dealt. Extropians wish to harness the power of the new sciences to make them selves greater than they are. Genetic engineering, molecular programming, robotics, cybernetics, pharmacology, space exploration, neurology: all play a part in extending the capacity of human minds and our life expectancy.

As a philosophy of life for the new technological age, Extropianism has beautiful if slightly condescending dreams. The idea of immortality appeals to a lot of people, as does increasing the capacity of your mind, augmenting the physical nature of ones body to super human proportions. An apparent obsession with mental, emotional and physical perfection dictates the movement's disgust and anger with anything morbid or obstructing. Negativity in all its forms is cast out by a mentality that promotes problem solving, intelligence and learning from ones mistakes.

The social implications are another overtly optimistic ideal. The opportunity to chart ones own path through life, accepting and casting aside any values, ideas or choices that do not fit ones own personal preferences is an exciting proposition. The inherent freedom to make every choice a personal one, all of this is supported by the Extropians. Which then begs the question. If one can choose to accept or decline any of the values of the Extropianist when is one deemed no longer an Extropianist?

The ultimate goal for the Extropianist movement is what has been termed the Singularity. A few definitions of the singularity as it pertains to the Extropianism exist, but a generally accepted definition is this. When the rate of technological progress reaches a maximum acceleration, this will be the Singularity. When humanity transcends to a higher level (god-like?), that will also be the Singularity. In a nutshell, omnipotence is the singularity.

To helpfully indoctrinate new comers, the Extropians offer a reading list (both fiction and non-fiction) that accurately conveys the feelings and motivations underlying the Extropian worldview, to the reader. Philosophy is meme-spliced with science fiction and futurist techno-determinist predictions. It's an interesting cross-section of Extropian minds: most readers will find at least one book that they have already read. Like many belief systems, Extropian practitioners offer differing explanations of explanations of what Extropianism actually is. Authors explain how Extropianism relates to their daily life. Some practitioners exaggerate or misrepresent the intentions of the Extropian movement.