[tt] Emergence - IEET News for April 20, 2008

Sun Apr 20 21:29:52 UTC 2008

http://ieet.org

EMERGENCE

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

News for Apr 20, 2008

Editor: Dr. James J. Hughes

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LAST CHANCE TO
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CONTENTS

1. A Note From Dr. J.
2. IEET News
3. Articles
4. Latest from JET
5. Multimedia
6. TechEthx News
   - IEET-News List Posts
   - Trans-Spirit List Posts
7. Events 
   - with IEET Speakers
   - all events
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A NOTE FROM DR. J.

I just returned from a wonderful conference on the history and future of the theory of evolution. The conference was held at the BioPharmaceutical Technology Center Institute [btci.org/bioethics] in Madison Wisconsin, a beautiful facility that sponsors both hard science educational programs as well as programs like this one on social and ethical issues, for professionals, and high school and college students.

I gave two workshops and the closing keynote address. The first workship was on Buddhism and evolution with a local Buddhist monk Rev. George Churinoff. The second was on the emerging biopolitics, and my co-presenter for that one was Janet Staker Woerner, the CEO of Converging Communications and an IEET member and booster. My closing keynote address was on the future of human evolution, introducing ideas about our transition to posthumanity and the existential risks we face along the way. The slides are here if you are curious:

http://ieet.org/archive/20080418-Evolution-Madison.ppt

Among the many excellent speakers at the conference [btci.org/bioethics/speakers08.html] were folks like Eugenie C. Scott, Executive Director of the National Center for Science Education; Robert Pennock, a philosopher and a-life researcher at Michigan State University; and John Haught, a Teilhardian Catholic theologian and defender of evolution from Georgetown. I was thrilled to meet and be interviewed by one of best public affairs radio show producers in the world, Steve Paulson, the Executive Producer of To the Best of Our Knowledge [wpr.org/book/]. Over lunch I recruited two more IEET interns whom I hope to introduce shortly. So a successful 36 hours, and a big thank you to BTCI's executive director, Karin Borgh, for setting up such a great conference.

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IEET NEWS

Hughes Talk on H+ & Religion top-rated at Thoughtware.tv (Apr 16, 2008) 
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/thwtv08/
To toot my own horn, one of my favorite talks in recent memory was one I gave to the Templeton folks on the compatibility of religion and transhumanism. Andres put it up on Thoughtware.tv, and he wrote to let me know that it has been their top-rated talk there.  Listen to it here.  The slides associated with that talk are here, and the paper is here.

Russell's new book project, Voices of Disbelief (Apr 16, 2008) 
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/vofb08/
IEET Fellow and JET Editor Russell Blackford writes: Udo Schuklenk and I will be co-editing a book, provisionally entitled Voices of Disbelief, which will contain 50 to 60 relatively short essays by prominent people explaining why they are not religious believers - why they don't accept the existence of the Abrahamic God, or subscribe to other religious doctrines. 

Linda's Review of Dyson in Nature Biotechnology (Apr 14, 2008) 
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/lmg08nb/
Congrats to IEET's Linda MacDonald Glenn for getting a review of Freeman Dyson's latest book, A Many-Colored Glass: Reflections on the Place of Life in the Universe, in Nature Biotechnology.

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ARTICLES

Jamais Cascio: Roll +3 vs the Future (Apr 20, 2008) 
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/cascio20080420/
Dungeons & Dragons made me a professional futurist.

J. Hughes: Millennial Tendencies in Responses to Apocalyptic Threats (Apr 14, 2008) 
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/hughes20080414/
Abstract: Popular discussion of utopian possibilities and apocalyptic risks from new technologies is sometimes dismissed as ungrounded millennial hysteria. In this essay I reflect on the various types of historic, pancultural millennialism. I then suggest how contemporary forms of secular techno-utopian and techno-apocalyptic discourse reflect these millennialist types and their characteristic biases to over- or under-estimate catastrophic risks, and adopt fatalistic or inappropriate stances toward risk reduction. Then I suggest that awareness of these characteristic millennialist cognitive biases help us separate grounded assessments of catastrophic risks from their attendant psycho-cultural baggage. By carefully parsing our hopes and fears about the future from the characteristic dysfunctions of millennialism we can tap millennialism's energy without being led astray by it. (Download the PDF)

Russell Blackford: Do we want a truly liberal society? (Apr 14, 2008) 
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/blackford20080413/
The goal of a liberal society puts obligations on its citizens, that we practice reasonableness and openness to ideas, that we do not just tolerate one another but support one another to our fullest flourishing. A liberal society is not neutral about values like disease and health, sloth and effort, deceit and integrity, cowardice and courage. There are excellences that citizens of a liberal society must promote to survive. 

Mike Treder: Civilization's Demise (Apr 12, 2008) 
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/treder20080412/
Our global civilization is very fragile, and could crumble under the impact of catastrophic events. Wise use of emerging technologies could make our bodies, our communities and our civilization more resilient, or more vulnerable to collapse.

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THE LATEST FROM THE JOURNAL OF EVOLUTION AND TECHNOLOGY

JET 17(1) - March 2008 issue

http://jetpress.org/v17/manoj.htm 

Spiritual Transcendence in Transhumanism

V.R. Manoj (Anna University and IEET intern)

ABSTRACT  The evolution of science and technology to the next several levels must include a harmonious symbiosis between science and religion. Human civilization has so far shown a stereotyped conflict between either. Both science and religion must be regarded as equally important methods for spiritual transcendence in transhumanism. This paper discusses how religion can complement the ideals of transhumanism if looked from a new perspective. The paper draws primarily on Eastern religious thought, particularly Hinduism, to explain why it is important for transhumanists and progressive futurists of science and technology to find common ground with religion in order to evolve. It is important for transhumanism to extract the transcendent messages from different religions. It also becomes important for religious thinkers to draw from the ideals of transhumanist philosophies in order to allow the survival of progressive religious thought into the undefined future.

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MULTIMEDIA

Changesurfer Radio: Is War Inevitable? (04/13)
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/csrwar20080412/

Changesurfer Radio: Population Control's Sad History (04/13)
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/csrpopcon20080412/

MJSL2050: Colony 5 - Future - Technoprogressive Lyrics (04/11)
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/c5ftl/

Sentient Developments: Live Long and Worry (04/10)
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/sd20080410/

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ETHICS & TECH IN THE NEWS

Snarky Compliments from Will Saletan  (04/11) 
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/saletan0804/

Cognitive Enhancement by Scientists  (04/10) 
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/cebys08/

FROM IEET-NEWS LIST

[ieet] Thinkers Predict 2058
http://www.mailbucket.org/ieet-news-5944463.html

[ieet] Genetic enhancement in the news
http://www.mailbucket.org/ieet-news-5891419.html

[ieet] Kurzweil: Making the World A Billion Times Better
http://www.mailbucket.org/ieet-news-5879658.html

[ieet] Breakthrough on 'safe' human cloning
http://www.mailbucket.org/ieet-news-5870904.html

[ieet] FW: USBIG NEWSLETTER VOL. 9, NO. 48 SPRING 2008
http://www.mailbucket.org/ieet-news-5869955.html

FROM TRANS-SPIRIT LIST

The End of the World as We Know It? (Science & Spirit)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Trans-Spirit/message/1290

NYTimes: "Maybe Money Does Buy Happiness After All" - D. Leonhard
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Trans-Spirit/message/1289

Can the Brain Be Rebooted to Stop Drug Addiction?
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Trans-Spirit/message/1288

(False) authenticity and antidepressants
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Trans-Spirit/message/1287

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IEET SPEAKER EVENTS

Miah @ Olympic Legacy Conference
London, UK
2008 May 8-9
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/miah20080508/

Bainbridge @ Convergence of the Real and the Virtual: First Scientific Conf in World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft
2008 May 9-11
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/convwow08/

Miah @ Enhancement Medicine
Brussels, Belgium
2008 May 9-10
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/miah/

Treder, Cascio @ SciVestor Disruptive Technologies Conference
New York City
2008 May 22-22
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/sdtc08/

Hughes @ World Humanist Congress
Washington, DC
2008 Jun 6-8
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/hughes20080606/

Aubrey @ Bioengineering Approaches to Aging
UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
2008 Jun 27-29
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/uabba08/

Hughes, Bostrom, Treder @ Global Catastrophic Risks Conference
Oxford University, Oxford, UK
2008 Jul 17-20
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/gcr20080717/

Treder @ World Future Society
Washington, DC
2008 Jul 26-28
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/trederwfs2008/

Treder @ Basque Country Program on Globalization
San Sebastian, Spain
2008 Sep 3-5
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/treder20080903/

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ALL EVENTS

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis
Barcelona, Spain
2008 Apr 23-26
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/pgd20080423/

Max More on Emerging Technologies
Palo Alto, CA USA
2008 Apr 29-29
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/more20080429/

Ethical, Legal, Social Implications of Genomics
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
2008 May 1-3
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/elsi2008/

Knowledge Politics and Converging Technologies
Brussels, Belgium
2008 May 6-8
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/eunbic2008/

Miah @ Olympic Legacy Conference
London, UK
2008 May 8-9
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/miah20080508/

Bainbridge @ Convergence of the Real and the Virtual: First Scientific Conf in World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft
2008 May 9-11
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/convwow08/

Miah @ Enhancement Medicine
Brussels, Belgium
2008 May 9-10
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/miah/

Treder, Cascio @ SciVestor Disruptive Technologies Conference
New York City
2008 May 22-22
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/sdtc08/

Reproductive Ethics
Cape Town, South Africa
2008 May 26-28
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/repro08sa/

Hughes @ World Humanist Congress
Washington, DC
2008 Jun 6-8
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/hughes20080606/

Neural Interfaces Conference
Cleveland
2008 Jun 15-18
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/neural_interfaces_conference/

Ethics, Technology and Identity
Delft, Netherlands
2008 Jun 18-20
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/eti2008/

Online Deliberation and Advanced Computing
Berkeley, CA USA
2008 Jun 26-29
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/ocadel/

Aubrey @ Bioengineering Approaches to Aging
UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
2008 Jun 27-29
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/uabba08/

Hughes, Bostrom, Treder @ Global Catastrophic Risks Conference
Oxford University, Oxford, UK
2008 Jul 17-20
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/gcr20080717/

EuroScience Open Forum
Barcelona, Spain
2008 Jul 18-22
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/esof2008/

Treder @ World Future Society
Washington, DC
2008 Jul 26-28
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/trederwfs2008/

International Philosophical Congress
Seoul, South Korea
2008 Jul 30-5
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/ipcxii/

Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Montreal, Canada
2008 Aug 2-7
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/augaltcom2008/

Governing Emerging Technologies
Big Sky, MT
2008 Aug 17-22
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/20080817gordon/

Treder @ Basque Country Program on Globalization
San Sebastian, Spain
2008 Sep 3-5
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/treder20080903/

9th World Congress of Bioethics
Rijeka and Opatija, Croatia
2008 Sep 3-8
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/9wcbioethics/

Science in the 21st Century
Waterloo, Ontario Canada
2008 Sep 8-12
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/sci21c08/

International Congress of AI & Nano
Bogotá, Colombia
2008 Sep 25-26
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/incainano08/

Psychiatry and Freedom
Dallas, Texas USA
2008 Oct 6-8
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/psychfree08/

World Academy of Art And Science
Hyderbad, India
2008 Oct 16-20
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/waas2008/

Singularity Summit 2008
San Jose, CA
2008 Oct 17-18
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/singsum2008/

Bioethics Futurism - Am Soc for Bioethics and Humanities
Cleveland, OH, USA
2008 Oct 23-26
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/asbh2008/

H+ & Religion session at American Academy of Religion
Chicago, IL USA
2008 Nov 1-3
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/aarh08/

Philosophy and Engineering
London, England.
2008 Nov 10-12
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/philosophy_and_engineering/

Neuroethics Society meeting
Washington, DC
2008 Nov 13-14
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/ns2008/

Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness
Portland, Oregon
2009 Apr 1-5
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/anthcon09/

First World Congress on Positive Psychology
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
2009 Jun 18-21
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/pospsycon2009/

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Contact: 
Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies 
http://ieet.org/ 
Executive Director, 
Dr. James J. Hughes
Williams 229B, Trinity College
300 Summit St.
Hartford CT 06106 USA
Email: director @ ieet.org 
Phone: 860-297-2376 

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Emergence encourages submissions for publication. Please send submissions to: director at ieet.org. Submissions will be reviewed by the IEET staff, and final determinations regarding publication are at the sole discretion of the IEET. 