Humanity 2.0 : what it means to be human past, present and future / Steve Fuller.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Fuller, Steve, 1959-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Social sciences--Moral and ethical aspects.

Social sciences.

Social ethics.

Physical Description:

vii, 265 pages ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire ; New York : Palgrave Macmillan, 2011.

Summary:

Social thinkers in all fields are faced with one unavoidable question: what does it mean to be 'human' in the 21st century? As definitions between what is 'animal' and what is 'human' break down, and as emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and nano- and bio-technologies develop, accepted notions of humanity are rapidly evolving.

Humanity 2.0 is an ambitious and groundbreaking book, offering a sweeping overview of key historical, philosophical and theological moments that have shaped our understandings of humanity. Tackling head on the twin taboos that have always hovered over the scientific study of humanity - race and religion - Steve Fuller argues that far from disappearing, they are being reinvented.

Fuller argues that these new developments will force us to decide which features of our current way of life - not least our bodies - are truly needed to remain human, and concludes with a consideration of these changes for ethical and social values more broadly. Book jacket.

Contents:

Humanity Poised Between Biology and Ideology

Defining the Human: The Always Ready - Or Never To Be - Object of the Social Sciences?

A Policy Blueprint for Humanity 2.0: The Converging Technologies Agenda

A Theology 2.0 for Humanity 2.0: Thinking Outside the Neo-Darwinian Box.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780230233430

0230233430

OCLC:

713185483