How should humanity steer the future? / Anthony Aguirre, Brendan Foster, Zeeya Merali, editors.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Aguirre, Anthony (Anthony Nicholas), editor.

Foster, Brendan (Brendan Zdon), editor.

Merali, Zeeya, editor.

Series:

Frontiers collection

The Frontiers collection

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Humanity.

Future life.

Physical Description:

viii, 175 pages.

Place of Publication:

Cham : Springer, 2016.

Summary:

The fourteen award-winning essays in this volume discuss a range of novel ideas and controversial topics that could decisively influence the course of human life on Earth. Their authors address, in accessible language, issues as diverse as: enabling our social systems to learn; research in biological engineering and artificial intelligence; mending and enhancing minds; improving the way we do, and teach, science; living in the here and now; and the value of play. The essays are enhanced versions of the prize-winning entries submitted to the Foundational Questions Institute (FQXi) essay competition in 2014. FQXi, catalyzes, supports, and disseminates research on questions at the foundations of physics and cosmology, particularly new frontiers and innovative ideas integral to a deep understanding of reality, but unlikely to be supported by conventional funding sources.

Contents:

Preface; Contents; 1 Introduction; References; 2 How to Save the World; 2.1 The Problem; 2.2 The Solution; 2.3 Science Matters; 2.4 A Five Step Plan; 2.5 Summary; References; 3 Humanity Is Much More than the Sum of Humans; 3.1 Introduction; 3.2 Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881

1955); 3.3 Wolfram, Chaitin, Tononi; 3.4 A Foggy Digital Future; 3.5 Humanity In Silico; References; 4 Crucial Phenomena; 4.1 Introduction; 4.2 Aim for a Large Future; 4.3 Crucial Phenomena; 4.4 Steering the Future; References; 5 The Leverage and Centrality of Mind; 5.1 Background; 5.2 Immature Science

5.3 A Mind Lost in Time 5.4 A Fundamental and General Solution; 5.4.1 The Path to the New Mind; 5.5 Comment And Summary; References; 6 A Participatory Future of Humanity; 6.1 The Humean Condition; 6.2 Trans2humanism: Why Technology Just Isn't Enough; 6.3 QBism and the Participatory Universe; 6.4 Time, Selves, and Humanity; 6.5 Out with the Amygdala!; References; 7 The Cartography of the Future: Recovering Utopia for the 21st Century; References; 8 Enlightenment Is Not for the Buddha Alone; 8.1 Time and the Inanimate World; 8.2 Time, Living Beings, and the Human Mind

8.3 The Timeless Consciousness8.4 Towards a Conscious Humanity; 8.5 Why Is It so Difficult to Make This Work?; 8.6 Concluding Remarks; 9 Back to the Future: Crowdsourcing Innovation by Refocusing Science Education; 9.1 Science and Science Education; 9.2 Ptolemy and Copernicus; 9.3 Dalton and Avogadro; 9.4 Past, Present, and Future; References; 10 Recognizing the Value of Play; 10.1 Introduction; 10.2 Playful Learning Landmarks; 10.3 Child-Like, Adolescent, and Adult Play; 10.4 Teaching Lifelong Learning; 10.5 Concluding Remarks; 10.6 Reflections and Observations; References

11 Improving Science for a Better Future11.1 Introduction; 11.2 Can We Predict the Future?; 11.3 Choosing the Path to the Future; 11.3.1 Transcending Traditional Disciplines; 11.3.2 Creating New Specializations; 11.3.3 Big Science Versus Small Science; 11.3.4 The Relation Between Science and Technology; 11.3.5 University Labs Versus Industrial Labs; 11.3.6 Improving the Publishing Process; 11.3.7 Publishing Negative Results; 11.3.8 Reproducing Research Findings; 11.3.9 Managing Research Literature; 11.3.10 Encouraging Multiple Research Approaches

11.3.11 Encouraging Innovation in Global Problems11.3.12 Funding Research and Development; 11.3.13 The Role of Scientists in Global Decisions; 11.3.14 Raising the Public Understanding of Science; 11.3.15 Improving Education; 11.3.16 Empowering All Humanity to Participate; 11.4 Conclusions; References; 12 How to Avoid Steering Blindly: The Case for a Robust Repository of Human Knowledge; 12.1 Introduction; 12.2 Benefits of the Repository on Different Time Scales; 12.2.1 Near Future; 12.2.2 Intermediate Future; 12.2.3 Far Future; 12.3 Fundamental Requirements; 12.3.1 Semi-autonomy

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Vendor-supplied metadata.

ISBN:

3319207164

9783319207162

OCLC:

910412152