12.22.09

Interview mit dem Rechtsphilosophen Reinhard Merkel über elektronisches und pharmakologisches Neuro-Enhancement

Posted in biotech, Deutschsprachige Seiten, Ethics, Human Enhancement, Neuro, Nootropics, Technology, Transhumanism at 10:51 am by rheil

Zwischen Selbstbestimmung und Selbstausbeutung

Telepolis, Jörg Auf dem Hövel 21.12.2009

“Interview mit dem Rechtsphilosophen Reinhard Merkel über elektronisches und pharmakologisches Neuro-Enhancement

Prof. Dr. Reinhard Merkel lehrt Rechtsphilosophie und Strafrecht an der Universität Hamburg. Von 2003 bis 2005 war er Mitglied der Enquete-Kommission “Ethik und Recht der modernen Medizin” des Deutschen Bundestags. Merkel war Sechster im 400 Meter Lagenschwimmen bei den olympischen Spielen 1968 in Mexico. Er ist Mitverfasser des vieldiskutierten Memorandums ‘Das optimierte Gehirn’, in dem sieben Wissenschaftler zu den Herausforderungen des “Neuro-Enhancements” Stellung nehmen . Im Interview mit dem Rechtsphilosophen von der Universität Hamburg geht es um die Grenze zwischen Therapie und Enhancement, das Recht auf mentale Selbstbestimmung und die Rolle der Ärzteschaft. ” [zum Originalartikel]

10.13.09

Chance verspielt? – Ein deutsches Expertengremium legt seine Empfehlungen zum Umgang mit “Neuro-Enhancement-Präparaten” vor

Posted in Deutschsprachige Seiten, Ethics, Human Enhancement, Nootropics, Politic, Technology, Transhumanism at 6:48 am by rheil

Chance verspielt?

Stephan Schleim, Telepolis, 12.10.2009

“Ein deutsches Expertengremium legt seine Empfehlungen zum Umgang mit “Neuro-Enhancement-Präparaten” vor

Sieben Expertinnen und Experten haben die geistige Leistungssteigerung sowie die Verbesserung der psychischen Befindlichkeit mithilfe pharmakologischer Mittel untersucht. Aus ethischer, medizinischer und rechtlicher Perspektive widmen sie sich dem “Neuro-Enhancement”, um eine gesellschaftliche Handlungsempfehlung abzugeben. Dabei bleiben jedoch viele Fragen offen. Ob der Liberalismus, der sich auf dem Papier gut macht, bei der tatsächlichen Entscheidung für oder gegen den Konsum der Substanzen aufgeht, darf bezweifelt werden. Schließlich wird in dem Dokument die Chance verspielt, die bestehenden Missverhältnisse unserer Leistungsgesellschaft einer kritischen Prüfung zu unterziehen. Dabei ist dieser gesellschaftliche Kontext für eine Bewertung der auf uns zukommenden Praxis und ihrer Probleme unerlässlich.” [zum Originalartikel]

07.28.09

Bedrohen die Roboter Mensch und Gesellschaft?

Posted in AI / Singularity, Deutschsprachige Seiten, Ethics, Technology, Transhumanism at 6:22 am by rheil

Bedrohen die Roboter Mensch und Gesellschaft?

Florian Rötzer 27.07.2009, telepolis

„Eine Gruppe von US-Wissenschaftlern will die Entwicklung der Künstlichen Intelligenz sichern, indem sie vor Gefahren warnen und Regeln für die Forschung fordern

Roboter werden nicht nur autonomer, klüger und geschickter, sie dringen auch in immer weitere Bereiche der Lebenswelt ein. Offenbar ist eine Gruppe von Computerexperten, KI-Forschern und Robotwissenschaftlern, die im Februar an einem Treffen der Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence – natürlich in Kalifornien – teilgenommen haben, um über die künftige Folgen fortgeschrittener Künstlicher Intelligenz auf die Gesellschaft zu sprechen und einen Bericht zu verfassen, durchaus beunruhigt.“ [zum Originalartikel]

07.15.09

Transhumanist Salvation or Judgment Day?

Posted in AI / Singularity, Ethics, Future, Nanotechnology, Technology, Transhumanism at 6:42 am by rheil

Transhumanist Salvation or Judgment Day? (By Lou Cabron, June 30th, 2009, 10 Zen Monkeys)

„We’re starting to brush up against real robots, real nanotech, and maybe even the first real artificial intelligence. But will emerging technologies destroy humankind — or will humankind be saved by an emerging transhumanism?“ [read original article]

06.21.09

Obama Plans to Replace Bush’s Bioethics Panel

Posted in Ethics, Politic, Transhumanism at 10:15 am by rheil

Obama Plans to Replace Bush’s Bioethics Panel

By NICHOLAS WADE, New York Times, Published: June 17, 2009

„Members of the President’s Council on Bioethics were told by the White House last week that their services were no longer needed and were asked to cancel a planned meeting, a council staff member said Wednesday.

The council was disbanded because it was designed by the Bush administration to be “a philosophically leaning advisory group” that favored discussion over developing a shared consensus, said Reid Cherlin, a White House press officer.

President Obama will appoint a new bioethics commission, one with a new mandate and that “offers practical policy options,” Mr. Cherlin said.“ [read original article]

06.20.09

Plan to teach military robots the rules of war

Posted in Ethics, Technology at 7:19 am by rheil

Plan to teach military robots the rules of war (NewScientist, 18.06.2009, Tom Simonite)

„Technology has always distanced the soldiers who use weapons from the people who get hit. But robotics engineer Ron Arkin at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, is working to imagine wars in which weapons make their own decisions about wielding lethal force.

He is particularly interested in how such machines might be programmed to act ethically, obeying the rules of engagement.

Arkin has developed an “ethical governor”, which aims to ensure that robot attack aircraft behave ethically in combat, and is demonstrating the system in simulations based on recent campaigns by US troops, using real maps from the Middle East.“ [read original article]

05.15.09

Will designer brains divide humanity?

Posted in biotech, Ethics, Evolution / Genetics, Human Enhancement, Neuro, Nootropics, Technology, Transhumanism at 6:10 am by rheil

Will designer brains divide humanity?

13 May 2009 by Andy Coghlan, NewScientist

„WE ARE on the brink of technological breakthroughs that could augment our mental powers beyond recognition. It will soon be possible to boost human brainpower with electronic “plug-ins” or even by genetic enhancement. What will this mean for the future of humanity?“ [read original article]

04.11.09

Neuroimplantate, pharmakologisches Menschendesign und Elitenzucht?

Posted in biotech, Deutschsprachige Seiten, Ethics, Evolution / Genetics, Future, Human Enhancement, Neuro, Nootropics, Technology, Transhumanism at 8:44 am by rheil

Neuroimplantate, pharmakologisches Menschendesign und Elitenzucht?

Jörg Auf dem Hövel (telepolis, 11.04.2009)

„Die Welt im Jahr 2070 – Teil 1

Die Cyborgs sind schon lange unter uns. Klinisch eingesetzte Implantate und künstliche Organe gehören zum Alltag der Krankenhäuser in den Industrienationen. Angefangen bei Linsen und Zähnen, zieht sich die Reihe über Knochenimplantate, künstliche Hüften, Gelenke, Sehnen und Brusteinsätze bis hin zu Membranen und Herzklappen. Dazu kommen in den letzten Jahren Methoden, die über Elektro-Stimulation und eingebaute Chips mehr oder minder direkt mit dem Gehirn Kontakt aufnehmen. Während die Ärzte forschen und operieren, diskutiert die techno-affine Öffentlichkeit die Phänomene dieser invasiven Technik unter Begriffen wie “Brain Computer Interface” oder Mensch-Maschine-Schnittstellen.“ [zum Originalartikel]

Die Welt im Jahr 2070 – Teil 2

“Der Erfolg der zukünftigen Implantat- und Pharma-Technik wird sich zum einen an dem praktisch Möglichen orientieren, zum anderen aber auch nach den Medien verhandelten Körperbildern richten. Diese Bilder wiederum entstehen in einem Meinungsraum, der den wirtschaftlichen Interessen der Medien, aber auch den realen Lebensverhältnissen Rechnung trägt. Anders formuliert: Je krisenhafter die Lebensbedingungen der Menschen (und das ist sowohl ökonomisch wie mental gemeint) sein werden, umso eher werden sie geneigt sein, den Verheißungen einer Technik zu glauben, die sie “weiter bringt”, nämlich “von hier weg”, und sie damit gleichsam erneuert.” [zum Originalartikel]

03.13.09

Workplace gene testing fears

Posted in biotech, Ethics, Technology, Transhumanism at 8:01 am by rheil

Workplace gene testing fears (The Sydney Mornig Herald)

Deborah Smith, March 11, 2009

„Genetic testing of employees could become more widespread and people need to be better informed of their rights to avoid genetic discrimination, experts have warned.

The director of the Centre for Law and Genetics at the University of Tasmania, Margaret Otlowski, said most Australian employers were not using genetic testing or other genetic information to monitor present or future employees.

But her research showed it was likely to become more of a concern. “At least some employers would be interested in using genetic testing in future if it were inexpensive and accessible,” Professor Otlowski said.” [read original article]

01.21.09

Wie Maschinen uns eines Tages versklaven könnten

Posted in Deutschsprachige Seiten, Ethics, Evolution / Genetics, Human Enhancement, Technology, Transhumanism at 12:12 pm by rheil

Wie Maschinen uns eines Tages versklaven könnten (Susan Blackmore, spiegelonline, 21.01.2009)

„Früher streuten wir nur Gene – dann begannen menschliche Gehirne, Meme zu verbreiten: Ideen, Gedanken, Wörter. Die Evolutionstheoretikerin Susan Blackmore glaubt, dass wir mit Computern und Internet eine neue Evolution in Gang gesetzt haben, die wir eines Tages bereuen könnten.“ [zum Artikel]

01.20.09

Stem cell stroke therapy assessed

Posted in biotech, Ethics, Future, Technology, Transhumanism at 7:20 am by rheil

Stem cell stroke therapy assessed (Pallab Ghosh, BBC News, 18.01.09)

A Glasgow team is to launch a major trial to assess whether stem cells can be used to treat stroke patients, the BBC has learned.

They hope it will put the UK at the forefront of developing stem cell therapy for incurable disease. Cells made from a human foetus will be injected into patients’ brains.It is hoped the cells will regenerate areas damaged by stroke, and increase patients’ movements and mental abilities.

However, the idea has in the past been described by anti-abortion groups as a “sick proposal”.[read original article]

01.15.09

My Genome, My Self

Posted in biotech, Ethics, Human Enhancement, Nootropics, Transhumanism at 7:48 am by rheil

My Genome, My Self (Steven Pinker, New York Times, Published: January 7, 2009)

„ONE OF THE PERKS of being a psychologist is access to tools that allow you to carry out the injunction to know thyself. I have been tested for vocational interest (closest match: psychologist), intelligence (above average), personality (open, conscientious, agreeable, average in extraversion, not too neurotic) and political orientation (neither leftist nor rightist, more libertarian than authoritarian). I have M.R.I. pictures of my brain (no obvious holes or bulges) and soon will undergo the ultimate test of marital love: my brain will be scanned while my wife’s name is subliminally flashed before my eyes. [...]“ [read original article]

01.10.09

Pillen fürs Stipendium

Posted in Deutschsprachige Seiten, Ethics, Human Enhancement at 8:22 am by rheil

Pillen fürs Stipendium

Von Heiko Oldörp, Boston | © ZEIT ONLINE 9.1.2009 – 20:33 Uhr

„Viele amerikanische Schüler manipulieren ihre sportliche Leistung mit verbotenen Mitteln. Es geht ihnen vor allem um die Chance auf ein bezahltes Studium.” [zum Artikel]

12.25.08

Enhancing the species

Posted in Ethics, Evolution / Genetics, Future, Human Enhancement, Nootropics, Technology, Transhumanism at 10:55 am by rheil

Enhancing the species (Anjana Ahuja, Times online, May, 17.)

Our correspondent meets the controversial philosopher John Harris, who argues that we have a moral and ethical duty to improve the human race by biologically enhancing our children

The whiteboard in John Harris’s office declares: “John is cool.” Many hold a different opinion of one of the most controversial philosophers in Britain. Here are some of his views: abortion and euthanasia are both fine, desirable even; parents should be allowed to create designer or cloned babies; there’s nothing wrong with a drug-fuelled Olympics; scientists and medics should strive to make us immortal, even on a crowded planet; our bodies should be routinely plundered after death for organs, even if the dead and bereaved do not wish it; it is morally justified to compel people to participate in scientific trials, just as we compel them to do jury service. […]

12.09.08

Ritalin für alle!

Posted in Deutschsprachige Seiten, Ethics, Human Enhancement, Neuro, Nootropics, Politic, Technology, Transhumanism at 8:21 am by rheil

Ritalin für alle!

Laurin Rötzer 08.12.2008 (TP)

Medikamente können unsere geistige Leistungsfähigkeit steigern. Ist das Einnehmen dieser „kognitiven Enhancer“ ethisch korrekt, sollte es jeder tun können?

Diese Fragen stellen sich die Autoren eines in Nature vorab online veröffentlichten Essays: [extern] Towards responsible use of cognitive-enhancing drugs by the healthy Es gibt einige Medikamente, die die geistige Leistungsfähigkeit steigern können. Das bekannteste dürfte Methylphenidat (Ritalin) sein, welches vor allem für Kinder mit dem Aufmerksamkeitsdefizitsyndrom (ADHS) verschrieben wird. Andere sind Amphetamine und Modafinil. Sie haben gemeinsam, dass sie die Konzentration von bestimmten Neurotransmittern im Gehirn variieren und so längere und intensivere Aufmerksamkeitsspannen ermöglichen. […]

Towards responsible use of cognitive-enhancing drugs by the healthy

Posted in Ethics, Human Enhancement, Neuro, Nootropics, Politic, Technology, Transhumanism at 8:17 am by rheil

Towards responsible use of cognitive-enhancing drugs by the healthy

Henry Greely, Barbara Sahakian, John Harris, Ronald C. Kessler, Michael Gazzaniga, Philip Campbell & Martha J. Farah

Society must respond to the growing demand for cognitive enhancement. That response must start by rejecting the idea that ‘enhancement’ is a dirty word, argue Henry Greely and colleagues.

Today, on university campuses around the world, students are striking deals to buy and sell prescription drugs such as Adderall and Ritalin — not to get high, but to get higher grades, to provide an edge over their fellow students or to increase in some measurable way their capacity for learning. These transactions are crimes in the United States, punishable by prison. […]

11.21.08

Flux Magazine

Posted in biotech, Ethics, Future, Human Enhancement, Nanotechnology, Neuro, Nootropics, Online Publications, Technology, Transhumanism at 12:49 pm by rheil

Flux Magazine

Flux will give you a taste of the torrent of new technological developments advancing on us: from the energy issue to human enhancement, from information technology to nanotechnology. This magazine is compiled on the occasion of the conference ‘Inspiring Future Politics’ to be held by the EPTA (European Parliamentary Technology Assessment) on Monday 27 October and Tuesday 28 October in The Hague, the Netherlands. The keynote speakers at this conference – chemist Michael Braungart, toxicologist Ellen Silbergeld, sociologist Nikolas Rose and climate expert Pier Vellinga – are interviewed in Flux. No one is more aware of the shifts taking place in our society. They have, furthermore, succeeded in formulating these issues aptly and getting them on to the (political) agenda. More information about the conference is available at www.eptaconference.eu. Because we want you to share in the speakers’ stories and the conference themes, you’ll find inspiring interviews, background stories and columns in ‘Flux’. […]

11.06.08

Guardians of the unborn

Posted in Ethics, Transhumanism at 7:41 am by rheil

Guardians of the unborn (Khaled Diab, guardian.co.uk)

The Dutch parliament is considering whether protecting unborn children should supersede the rights of parents to procreate

Women in the Netherlands who are deemed by the state to be unfit mothers should be sentenced to take contraception for a prescribed period of two years, according to a draft bill before the Dutch parliament.

The proposed legislation would further punish parents who defied it by taking away their newborn infant. “It targets people who have been the subject of judicial intervention because of their bad parenting,” explained the author of the bill Marjo Van Dijken of the socialist PvDA. “If someone refuses the contraception and becomes pregnant, the child must be taken away directly after birth.” [...]

11.11.07

Fuck Death Foundation

Posted in Ethics, Human Enhancement, Organisations, Transhumanism at 8:09 am by rheil

The Fuck Death Foundation

(»MISSION STATEMENT

The Fuck Death Foundation is an organization dedicated to the elimination of death through the generation and distribution of funds to strategically selected causes and initiatives worldwide.

Not only does the FDF effectively address the major precipitants of human demise worldwide, it also takes into consideration the most ruthlessly indiscriminate killer of all — oldness. [...]«)

11.03.07

In moral defence of Transhumanism

Posted in Ethics, Transhumanism at 7:05 am by rheil

In moral defence of Transhumanism

In contrast to our recent discussions on religious extremism, transhumanism offers an alternative position that is no less radical yet potentially rewarding. The ideology of transhumanism is comparable to secular humanism in that both advocate the importance of individuality and personal growth. However, where these two positions diverge is in regards to the future of human evolution. In this article I would like to firstly offer a broad definition of transhumanism, followed by the arguments both for and against its implementation. Finally, I would like to discuss the possibility of society adopting a transhumanist position in order to fully realise our human potential. [...]«)

10.11.07

Facing the Challenges of Transhumanism: Philosophical, Religious, and Ethical Considerations

Posted in Critics, Ethics, Evolution / Genetics, Human Enhancement, Nanotechnology, Technology, Transhumanism at 5:43 am by rheil

Facing the Challenges of Transhumanism: Philosophical, Religious, and Ethical Considerations

By Hava Tirosh-Samuelson

(»Introduction1

What is Transhumanism?

The term ‘transhumanism’ denotes a relatively young and still changing ideology that posits a new vision of humanity as a result of the confluence of advancements in the life sciences, neurosciences, genomics, robotics, informatics, and nanotechnology. These developments include new kinds of cognitive tools that combine artificial intelligence with interface technology, molecular nanotechnology, extension of human life span, genetic enhancing of human mental and physical capacities, combating diseases and slowing down the process of aging, and exercising control over desires, moods, and mental states. Those who enthusiastically promote these developments in biotechnology and bioengineering maintain that the accelerating pace of technological development and scientific understanding will usher in a new age in the history of the human species during which people will live longer, will possess new physical and cognitive abilities and will be liberated from suffering and pain due to aging and disease. In the transhuman age, humans will no longer be controlled by nature; instead they will be the controllers of nature. [...]«)

09.05.07

Mensch-Tier-Embryonen zur Forschung

Posted in Deutschsprachige Seiten, Ethics, Transhumanism at 6:28 am by rheil

telepolis: Mensch-Tier-Embryonen zur Forschung

(»Florian Rötzer 05.09.2007

In Großbritannien wird nach einer öffentlichen Anhörung vermutlich erstmals die Herstellung von klonierten Embryonen aus tierischen Eizellen und menschlichen Körperzellen zur Gewinnung von Stammzellen genehmigt werden

Die britische Regierung hatte bereits im Mai dieses Jahres beschlossen, die Herstellung von Mensch-Tier-Embryonen zu ermöglichen und einen entsprechenden [extern] Gesetzesentwurf vorgelegt. Die öffentliche Anhörung ist jetzt abgeschlossen, die [extern] Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) hat nun deren [extern] Ergebnis vorgelegt. Danach haben über 60 Prozent der Menschen keine Probleme mit der Schaffung von hybriden Embryos aus menschlichen und tierischen Zellen für die Forschung, nur ein Viertel wendet sich dagegen. [...]«)

04.09.07

The Future Is For Everyone (Or At Least, It Should Be)

Posted in Ethics, Transhumanism at 6:06 am by rheil

Anne C.: The Future Is For Everyone (Or At Least, It Should Be)

(»Recently, a short informational article was posted to the IEET site entitled, Autism Bad For Siblings And Society in response to an autism-spectrum-themed issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. This article referenced two studies: one on social and communication “problems” in siblings of autistic children, and one on the expenses incurred by autistic individuals over the course of their lifetime.

The article about siblings seems to indicate mainly that siblings of autistics can have autistic traits (or perhaps even be autistic themselves), which of course makes sense when you consider that autism has a strong genetic component. The characterization of this phenomenon as autism being “bad for siblings” is more than a bit misleading — it’s not as if, somehow, if the autistic sibling hadn’t been born, the children being studied would not have exhibited the same social and communication patterns. If someone is going to be autistic, or perhaps broader autistic phenotype, they’re going to be that way regardless of whether they have siblings or not. [...]«)

04.02.07

The Compatibility of Religious and Transhumanist Views of Metaphysics, Suffering, Virtue and Transcendence in an Enhanced Future

Posted in Ethics, Future, Human Enhancement, Transhumanism at 5:58 am by rheil

James J. Hughes: The Compatibility of Religious and Transhumanist Views of Metaphysics, Suffering, Virtue and Transcendence in an Enhanced Future

(»Abstract

Transhumanism – the proposition that human beings should use technology to transcend the limitations of the body and brain – is a product of the Enlightenment humanist tradition. As a consequence most avowed transhumanists are secular, and many religious are skeptical or hostile towards the transhumanist project. However there are also many religious transhumanists who find the project of human enhancement at least consistent with, and sometimes a fulfillment of, their metaphysics, soteriologies and eschatologies. Transhumanism appears to be especially compatible with religious traditions that emphasize human agency and evolution to a transcendent state, such as Buddhism, or that have incorporated Enlightenment values, such as liberal Christianity. But elements of the transhumanist worldview and enhancement technologies are compatible with one element or another of most world faiths, even the most fundamentalist. We can thus expect that human enhancement technologies will be adopted creatively into the theologies of groups within all the world’s faiths, producing many flavors of “trans-spirituality.” [...]«)

02.08.07

Democratic Transhumanism 2.0

Posted in Ethics, Future, Human Enhancement, Politic, Technology, Transhumanism at 7:48 am by rheil

James Hughes: Democratic Transhumanism 2.0

Abstract

(»Biopolitics is emerging as an axis of modern politics alongside economic politics and cultural politics. Transhumanists, people who embrace technologies that extend and enhance regardless of their effect on “natural” life spans, limitations or social institutions, are the progressive end of the new biopolitical continuum. BioLuddites, who call for bans on technologies that threaten the “natural,” are conservative end of the new biopolitics.

But biopolitics only complicates the preexisting political landscape, they doesn’t supplant it. There are Christian fundamentalists, centrists and socialist-feminists forming alliances to to oppose human genetic engineering and nanotechnology. But the transhumanists are, so far, much less diverse, mostly adhering to one or another flavor of libertarianism. Democratic transhumanists, pro-scitech social democrats or Left technoutopians are conspicuously absent from their theoretical niche in this new political landscape. This essay is an attempt to identify democratic transhumanists and urge their coalescence.

Read the rest of this entry »

« Previous entries Next Page » Next Page »