From the New Zealand Herald’s technology section – New Zealand Herald – Medical students learn on ‘breathing’ robots
MEXICO CITY – Faced with a growing number of medical students and few training hospitals, a Mexican university is turning to robotic patients to better train future doctors.
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Off on Friday night to hear this public lecture at BCNZ by biblical scholar Joel Green. I’ve referred to some of his work in my thesis so it’ll be nice to put a voice to the articles. More details at Bible College of New Zealand – Events – Joel Green – What are They Saying About the Soul?
Green’s got an article online over at Catalyst that touches on some of what I’m expecting him to talk about. It’s available at Catalyst: Body and Soul, Mind and Brain: Pressing Questions. From that article he raises some of the following questions:
Some good questions, especially the ones about mission. One of the good things about teaching the course “Humanity and Hope” last year was the space to ponder how the combination of our understandings of eschatology and of Christian anthropology shapes our activism.
On the issue of human cloning in “Human Cloning: Religious Responses” Ronald Cole-Turner says,
There is something far worse than theological disagreement, and that is theological silence.
Something to think about with respect to a great many other issues too.
In his introduction to the collection of essays in the book “Understanding Artificial Intelligence” Rodney Brooks raises the following five questions relating to A.I. Having noted that much of the inspiration for A.I. research (and the related fields of A-life etc.) comes from people – that they walk, talk, see, think and do, he asks,
More in his books and interviews,
Went to the cinema, saw the film, loved it. For the uninitiated – watch all the Firefly episodes in the order on the DVD set, read the comics, go to Serenity. (Repeat)
So much for it being a relatively unknown film. It sold out the Megascreen at the Village on Queen (400+ seats) and we had to queue for ages to get in (some tickets were up for sale on TradeMe too). I can’t remember the last time I queued to get into a film. The clientele looked decidedly geeky (so we fitted right in, though we didn’t go as far as wearing suits and blue gloves like some!). Felt like I was back in a computer science department with some of my old colleagues. A good night out.
Off to see the pre-release screening of Serenity tonight in town. After a day of cold, wet rain, hail and strong winds (& snow in Christchurch) it’s a nice way to end the day – especially as I’m going with a couple of other enthusiasts. Managed to get the first two of the comics that bridge the gap between TV and movie – was hoping the last would be in today in the reorder but no such luck. The comics capture the atmosphere of the show really well, as well as the style of dialogue.
The Ballad of Serenity (Firefly theme)
Take my love, take my land
Take me where I cannot stand
I don’t care, I’m still free
You can’t take the sky from meTake me out to the black
Tell them I ain’t coming back
Burn the land and boil the sea
You can’t take the sky from meThere’s no place I can be
Since I found Serenity
But you can’t take the sky from me(MP3 version available here)
The special issue of the Journal of Evolution and Technology focusing on religion and transhumanism is now online. An interesting collection of papers from various perspectives (e.g. sociological, theological and historical). The introduction by Mark Walker and Heidi Campbell makes for interesting reading as they track some of the previous history of interaction between transhumanism and religion. See,
Campbell, Heidi, and Mark Walker. “Religion and Transhumanism: Introducing a Conversation.” Journal of Evolution and Technology 14, no. 2 (2005): i-xiv. (HTML / PDF)
My paper looking a transhumanism through the lens of Christian social concern is up there as part of the issue. See,
Garner, Stephen R. “Transhumanism and Christian Social Concern.” Journal of Evolution and Technology 14, no. 2 (2005): 29-43. (HTML / PDF)
From the introduction to the issue.
Garner is concerned with social discourse and investigating what religion and transhumanism have to offer society in terms of narratives of hope and justice for the future. He strongly addresses the techno-optimistic tendencies he sees within transhumanism, yet calls for the Christian community to consider more seriously the role technology has to play in the alleviation of suffering and improvement of the quality of life. While detailing a tight Christian theological framework of reflection be entertained for contextualizing technological use, Garner states “engagement with the transhumanist technologies is demanded by this social visionâ€. He also stresses that “democratic transhumanismâ€, which addresses human dignity and personhood, offers a more complete perspective to the technological project of enhancement and the place where Christian social concern might find more consonance in dialogue.
A very windy and wet day here. Went out to Riverhead to preach on Ps 13 and the role of lament this morning. I enjoyed the service and the sermon seemed to go well. Apart from that a lazy Sunday afternoon watching “Robots” with the kids and thinking about the next week. The smell of Kim’s chocolate chip and oat biscuits cooking has just reached the office. Mmmmm.
