Memo8

Thomas Solley STSH 4980-01 Senior Thesis Costelloe-Kuehn 9/7/2014

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__ Memo8 -- Three Literatures, Thirty References + Short Annotations __

// Waiting for feedback from Professor feedback on Memo7. Literatures; > While I might not see the ready connections between "cyborgs" and "women's experiences" in the sociotechnical world, I can perhaps grasp the gist of what is being said [though her use of jargon is, to my way of thinking, overbearing]. From chapter 18 [available online] her arguments seem to embody and relate modern culture as "cyborgs" -- elements of ideals and technology as one. She seems to fashion modern female-relations in society (discourse, politics) as being elements of this "organic-synthetic hybrid", a world where humans and technology have ebcome inextricably entwined. Arguments are also made for the "irrational" connotations Westerns oceity holds behind the idea of "cyborgs," and the ramifications these daydreams hold for social interaction and cultural values... > Taken from ; > Scratch that. Missing references. > I only have chapter 13 available from his book.. Thus my summary must be brief. However, the author's points can be summarized as his own words follow, "The main points of this book can be summarized as follows: 1) We humans are presently the dominant life form on earth because of our overall intelligence. 2) It is possible for machines to become more intelligent than humans in the reasonably near future. 3) Machines will become the dominant life form on Earth." Thus the author's novel focuses on warning readers against the progression of technology. > >> --> I could use this as a counter-point? That Warwick's novel (from 2004) is accurate to a point. The "rogue AI" fears of the early 2000s have become less-common, as advances in AI technology have encountered barriers. [//I think there is an article from my Backlog which talks about the differences between AI advances and the hindrances to reaching true AI? An article on SingularityHub, discussing the Intel "quantum" chip?//] The more interesting "social question" that comes to my mind is; how do we define "intelligence," in a world where Glass and brain-imlants may become common? When "internet access" promises to everyone the ability to have access to the "entire knowledge of the human race," in theory? [that //Interest originally came from considerations of how Project Glass would affect teaching curriculums in the US -- conclusion was that more "analysis" of problems would be required, when access to the raw formulas and data-sheets would be possible. ALso emphasis on "critical thinking".//]. > > Dyson's short presentation addresses the social impact that emerging technologies have on society -- from the immediate "positive" impacts to the lesser-seen "negative" ones, encouraging entrepreneurs and social analysts to be mindful of the full scope that technologies play on our world. A large undercurrent of his speech seems to focus on warning listeners against the "unintended consequences" of developing technology, however (rather than focusing on the positives). >> --> While an interesting piece, this does not seem to contain the "workplace ethics" work I was hoping for. Granted this speech was from 1997. >> >> > > The author discusses the overall stregth of the transhumanist community (how that group has amassed size over the eyars), as well as the opponents of the transhumanist community (by name). The author goes on to describe the various methods f describing "future generations" as the product of technology -- posthumanism, evolutionary humanism,. The author seems to take the approach of describing transhumanism whilst debunking the "bioconservative" arguments in a non-biased way -- mentioning the arguments of both sides while supporting claims from the transhumanism side. >> Background info >> Background info >> Background info >> Background info >> Background info > Author's abstract includes a brief history of the origins of transhumanism from religious roots (e.g. "pre-'Enlightenment'"), the diversities fo current neo-religious sects of transhumanism, and how religions today seem to be incorporating transhumanist/posthumanist ideas into their "End Times scenarios." According to the author, "with all sides believing that the fate of humanity hangs in the balance, there is a growing likelihood of violent confrontation." > >> --> I may reference this as a more "religious" piece. Certainly the predictions and views of religious groups may serve a purpose, though I am not yet certain what thay may be. > > Uncertain of what this fully is? However there are commentaries on Agar's article, so this may serve a good counter-check.... > Part of the novel "The Transhumanist Reader," this is essay #38 of that novel. The author here seems skeptical, if even hesitant, about the forward-thinking arguments made by transhumanists... Another "counter-view", perhaps, to include in my work. >
 * 1) Arthur C. Clarke, "Childhood's End" [Singular work]
 * 2) Donna Harroway's "Cyborg Manifesto", , [piece is useful for info on human rights?][ch. 18 online].
 * 1) Anthanasiou, T. (1987) 'High-tech politics: the case of artificial intelligence", //Socialist Review// 92:7-35.
 * 2) Busch, L., and Lacy, W. (1983) //Science, Agriculture, and the Politics of Research//, Boulder, CO: Westview.
 * 3) Cowan, R.S. (1983) //More Work for Mother: The Ironies of Household Technology from the Open Hearth to the Microwave//, New York: Basic.
 * 4) Gordon, R. (1983) 'The computerization of daily life, the sexual division of labor, and the home-work economy', Silicon Valley Workshop conference, University of California at Santa Cruz.
 * 5) Gordon, R., and Kimball, L. (1985) 'High-tehcnology, employment and the challenges of education', Silicon Valley Research Project, Working Paper, no.1.
 * 6) Gregory, J. and Nussbaum, K. (1982) 'race against time: automation of the office', //Office: technology and People// 1:197-236.
 * 7) Haraway, D.J. (1991) //Simians, Cyborgs, and Women: The Reinvention of Nature//, London: Free Association Press.
 * 8) Microelectronics Group (1980) //Microelectronics: Capitalist Technology and the Working Class//, London: CSE.
 * 9) Ong, W. (1982) //Orality and Literacy: The Technologizing of the Word//, New York: Methuen.
 * 10) Park, K. and Daston, L.J. (1981) 'Unnatural conceptions: the study of monsters in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century France and England', //Past and Present// 92: 20 54.
 * 11) Rich, A. (1978) //The Dream of a Common Language//, New York: Norton.
 * 12) Rose, S. (1986) //The American Profile Poster: WHo Owns What, Who Makes How Much, Who Works Where, and Who Lives wit Whom?// New York: Pantheon.
 * 13) Rothschild, J. (ed) (1983) //Machina ex Dea: Feminist Perspectives on Technology//. New York: Pergamon.
 * 14) Sandoval, C. (1984) 'Dis-illusionment and the poetry of the future: the making of oppositional consciousness', University of California at snata Cruz, PhD qualifying essay.
 * 15) Science Policy Research unit (1982) //Microelectronics and Women's Employment in Britain//. University of Sussex.
 * 16) Sussman, V. (1986) 'Personal tech. Technlogy lends a hand', //The washington Post Magazine//, 9 November, pp. 45 56.
 * 17) Traweek, S. (1988) //Beamtimes and Lifetimes: The World of High Energy Physics//. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
 * 18) Weizenbaum, J. (1976) //Computer Power and Human Reason//. San Francisco: Freeman.
 * 19) Winner, L. (1977) //Autonomous Tecnology: Technics out of Control as a Theme in Political Thought//. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
 * 20) Winner, L. (1980) 'Do artifacts have politics?', //Daedalus// 109(1): 121~36.
 * 21) Winner, L. (1986) //The Whale and the Reactor//. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
 * 22) Winograd, T. and Flores, F. (1986) //Understanding Computers and Cognition: A new Foundation for Design//. Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
 * 23) Wright, S. (1982, July/August) 'Recombinant DNA: the status of hazards and controls', //Environment// 26(6): 12-20, 51-53.
 * 24) Wright, S. (1986) 'Recombinant DNA technology and its social transformation, 1972-82', //Osiris//, 2nd series, 2: 303-60.
 * 25) Young, R.M. and Levidow, L. (eds) (1981, 1985) //Science, Technology and the Labour Process//, 2 vols. London: CSE and Free Association Books.
 * 26) Yoxen, E. 91983) //The Gene Business//. New York: Harper & Row.
 * 27) Solley, "A Modest Proposal" [2011], paper contains references in transhumanism and technoscience, in trying to describe an "ideal world" from the mind of an engineer.
 * 1) Kevin Warwick, "March of the Machines," [rogue AI?]
 * 1) Freeman Dyson, "Technology and Social Justice," [ethics and workplace management?]
 * 1) Agar, Nicholas. "Whereto Transhumanism? //The Literature Reaches a Critical Mass//" 
 * 1) World Transhumanist Association
 * 1) Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford
 * 1) Nick Bostrom, "Transhumanist FAQ"
 * 1) James Hughes, //Changesurfer Radio//
 * 1) Gregory Stock, //Redesigning// //Humans//
 * 1) Ronald Bailey, author, proponent of transhumanism
 * 2) Simon Young, author, proponent of transhumanism. Perhaps naive, prosaic.
 * 3) Hughes, James. "The Politics of Transhumanism and the Techno-Millennial Imagination, 1626-2030", 
 * 1) "The Transhumanist Reader", an online article/web-series?
 * 2) , "Human vs. posthuman", letters to the editor?
 * 1) Max More, "The Great Transition", 
 * 1) Max More, "Transhumanism and Personal Identity", essay 23 of "The Transhumanist reader", .