内容教程ryerson课件lecture four technology and the body sec021v

1、POL 507 Power and Change in Technological SocietyLecture: Technology and the BodyRobert MarshallPolitics/Public AdministrationRyerson UniversityWith this topic we will:Explore the relationship between technology and the gendered body;Look in particular at the gendered impact of technology; and,Explo

2、re the idea of “post-humanism”.2Technology and the Body:Bringing the body into discussions of technology is relevant for three reasons.3Technology and the Body:Technologies are often treated as neutral objects as though they are designed with neither a specific gender or person in mind.Technologies

3、are perceived as impacting women and men equally, without taking into account the differences between the two.Debates around gender issues are often initiated only after the design of a toll or artifact in completed, instead of it passing all aspects of development, use, and implications.4Technology

4、 and the Body:There are three perspectives on feminism and technology:Liberation;Oppression; and,Inclusion.5Technology and the Body: Genetics and NRTThe fundamental scientific insight underlying many emerging medical technologies is that the growth and reproductive mechanisms of each cell are govern

5、ed by the basic unit of heredity the gene.In 1953 James Watson and Francis Crick discovered that the molecular structure of DNA consisted of bases which are attached to sugar-phosphates which form the double-helix.Their discovery was the foundation for.6Technology and the Body: Genetics and NRTRepro

6、ductive autonomy the ability and right to control fertility is fundamental to womens health and well-being.More over, it is fundamental to issues of power and control over ones body.Reproductive technologies can both empower and disempower women, depending on how they are used and on the social cont

7、ext in which they are used.7Technology and the Body:Most reproductive technologies fall into three general categories.8Fritz Lang Metropolis 1927 9Trans Humanism (H+):Trans humanism is a philosophical and intellectual movement that aims to transform the human condition by developing and creating sop

8、histicated technologies to enhance human intellectual, physical and psychological capacities.H+ sees the continued evolution of human life beyond its current human form as a result of science and technology guided by life-promoting principles and values10The Matrix 11Trans Humanism (H+):The H+ movem

9、ent argues that we have sound reasons to affirm a right to what they call morphological freedom.As a philosophy H+ does not intrinsically mend specific technologies.While 1990 is often taken to be a moment of fundamental shift in human existence by the H+ community the ideas that have fed into it ha

10、ve much earlier roots.12Vernor Vinge 1944-13The Technological Singularity:14Some think that the pace of technological innovation is accelerating so rapidly and that over the next 30-50 years a technological singularity will occur which will fundamentally alter the nature of human beings.Vernor Vinge

11、 is one of the most important modern thinkers on the topic and did much to help popularize it.Vinge predicted a number of ways that the singularity could occur.Ray Kurzweil 1948-15The Technological Singularity:The futurologist Ray Kurzweil has probably done the most to bring the idea of a singularity to the publics attention via his 2005 best selling book The Singularity is Near.He believes the singularity will occur .16Transhumanist Evolution:17Future Classes:Next week is Reading Week: Feb 20-24Tuesday Feb 28 is the midterm test 90 minutes in len