posthuman designs (2006)
DESCRIPTION
Guest Lecture for Royal College of Art, Design Interactions Master Degree, 2006TRANSCRIPT
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POSTHUMAN DESIGNS| CYBORGS| TRANSHUMANS| rca/[email protected]
dr andy miah | www.andymiah.net | andymiah.wordpress.com
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| CYBORGS| TRANSHUMANS| POSTHUMANS
How are science & technology
re-shaping priorities/ questions about culture?
Some examples: human cloning, genetic enhancement, artificial intelligence computer mediated communications, nanotechnology
Everyday contexts and mediaVideo gaming; science-fiction; popular press; art; weblogs; scientific documentary; cinema;
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| CYBORGS| TRANSHUMANS| POSTHUMANS
How are science & technology
re-shaping priorities/ questions about culture?
Some examples: human cloning, genetic enhancement, artificial intelligence computer mediated communications, nanotechnology
Everyday contexts and mediaVideo gaming; science-fiction; popular press; art; weblogs; scientific documentary; cinema;
human cloning
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human cloning
THERAELIANS
2001/2003
SEVERINO ANTINORI
2001
KOREAN TEAM
1998/2002
PANOSZAVOS
March 2004
Not (just) erroneous journalismBut, consider how different moral views are characterised
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| CYBORGS| TRANSHUMANS| POSTHUMANS
How are science & technology
re-shaping priorities/ questions about culture?
Some examples: human cloning, genetic enhancement, artificial intelligence computer mediated communications, nanotechnology
Everyday contexts and mediaVideo gaming; science-fiction; popular press; art; weblogs; scientific documentary; cinema;
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| CYBORGS| TRANSHUMANS| POSTHUMANS
How are science & technology
re-shaping priorities/ questions about culture?
Everyday contexts and medianew
technology as culture
More than just studies
of digital/cyber culture
Although…
Nayar (2004) Virtual WorldsAll new technology must be understood as a digital innovation
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technology as culturetheoretical roots
| CYBORGS| TRANSHUMANS| POSTHUMANS
| CYBORGS| TRANSHUMANS| POSTHUMANS
Philosophy of technology
The nature of technology [technique]
Bioethics
How new technology raises moral questions about life
Cultural Theory
How technology disrupts our sense of self
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14 // brandon ballange
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17 // eli gur-arie
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What kind of life is worth living?How does technology disrupt our humanness?Should we be fearful of a ‘slippery slope’?
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Miah, A. (2003). "Be Very Afraid: Cyborg Athletes, Transhuman Ideals, and Posthumanity." Journal of Evolution and Technology, 13(2)
| CYBORGS| TRANSHUMANS| POSTHUMANS | The Other
| Aliens| Monsters
| Enhancement| Medicine| Technology
| Politics| Rights| Citizenship
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| CYBORGS| TRANSHUMANS| POSTHUMANS
| Politics| Rights| Citizenship
Chris Hables Gray (2002)Freedom to travel
Freedom to electronic speechRight of Electronic privacy
Freedom of consciousness (right to modify)Right to life/death
Right to political equalityFreedom of information
Freedom of family, sexuality, genderRight to peace
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| CYBORGS| TRANSHUMANS| POSTHUMANS
| Enhancement| Medicine| Technology
Developed by the ExtropiansClaims a philosophical
backgroundAdvocates the use of human
technology for human betterment
Interest in radical new technologies”
Life extension, genetic engineering,
space travel, artificial intelligence
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| CYBORGS| TRANSHUMANS| POSTHUMANS | The Other
| Aliens| Monsters
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science and technology are always embedded in cultural, economic and political contexts
“the posthuman reveals an interesting interplay between the
world of scientific, bioethical theorizing and the world of the
cultural imagination – myth, SF, popular culture and religion”
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“the posthuman reveals an interesting interplay between the
world of scientific, bioethicsal theorizing and the world of the
cultural imagination – myth, SF, popular culture and religion”
Why an interest in ethics?
New technologies, New ethical issuesNeed for new ethics
E.g1. Association for Internet Researchers
Eg2. UN Declaration on Human Rights
and the Human GenomeReconsider the ethical foundation of research
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Dance Dance Revolution
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Liverpool biennial 200651
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READING
Bendle, M. F. (2002). "Teleportation, Cyborgs and the Posthuman Ideology." Social Semiotics 12(1): 45-62.
Smith, C. J., G. Klock, et al. (2004). "Post.hum.an.ous." Reconstruction 4(3): http://www.reconstruction.ws/043/editorial.htm [see entire volume]
Lewis, B. E. (2003). "Prozac and the Post-human Politics of Cyborgs." Journal of Medical Humanities 24(1/2): 49-63 [medicine]
Zurbrugg, N. (1999). "Virilio, Stelarc and 'Terminal' Technoculture." Theory, Culture and Society 16(5): 177-199 [artists].
Elton, M. (1997). "Robots and Rights: The ethical demands of artificial agents." Ends & Means: Journal of the University of Aberdeen Centre for Philosophy, Technology, and Society 1(1) Online. Available HTTP: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/cpts/cpts/as3.hti [intelligence].
Gray, C. H. (2003). "Posthuman Soldiers in Postmodern War." Body and Society 9(4): 215-226 [politics].
Miah, A. (2003). "Be Very Afraid: Cyborg Athletes, Transhuman Ideals, and Posthumanity." Journal of Evolution and Technology, 13(2) [athletes]
Google: andy miah; bioethics and sport; posthumanism