CONTEMPORARY SCIENCE AND HUMAN LIFE

The article explores how artificial intelligence is constructed in a female body and showcases the boundaries between human and technological traits, as well as the relationship between human beings and technology. The article defines the notion of artificial intelligence and discusses how artificial intelligence is portrayed in science fiction films. The article does not attempt to provide new theoretical insights into artificial intelligence but, instead, to show how artificial intelligence is characterised in the context of modern science fiction films. Two contemporary science fiction films, which focus on the artificial intelligence in the female body, are analysed: Alex Garland’s Ex Machina (2014) and Spike Jonze’s Her (2013). The analysis of the films showcases the blurred lines between being a human and being a robot: AI in the female body is portrayed as having adequate cognitive abilities and an ability to experience or to realistically imitate various mental states. The AI embodiment found in the films explores different narratives: the anthropomorphic body (Ex Machina) motivates to get to know the world and thus expands one’s experience, while the partial embodiment (Her) “programs” intellectual actions and development beyond the human body. Ex Machina highlights the anti-humanity of the female robot: another (human) life is devalued in order to pursue a goal. On the contrary, Her highlights the hyper-humanity of the operating system: continuous improvements exceed the boundaries of communication with other people.

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‘If You Prick Us Do We Not Bleed?’: Marvel Comics’ Vision: Director’s Cut Re-Evaluating What It Means to Be Human

Law, Technology and Humans ◽

10.5204/lthj.1640 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 133-149

Author(s):

Leah Henderson

Keyword(s):

Artificial Intelligence ◽

Science Fiction ◽

Life Form ◽

Human Life ◽

Merchant Of Venice ◽

Human Community ◽

The Merchant Of Venice ◽

Contemporary Science ◽

Social Ostracism ◽

Suburban Life

Vision: Director’s Cut (2017) is a short comic series about Vision, a lonely robot Avenger superhero who builds his own robotic family out of his desire for love and happiness. The story focuses on the Vision family as they struggle to lead a ‘normal’ suburban life under Vision’s tutelage. As beings of artificial intelligence (AI), they are subject to social ostracism and abuse by a neighbourhood that refuses to accept them as part of the human community. In doing so, Director’s Cut enters into the long-standing literary debate about humanness versus monstrousness, what it means to be a human, and who gets to dictate the definition. The storyline is a contemporary science-fiction rendition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818), which dramatises the dangers of trying to artificially create a human life. Both texts are in agreement that once these beings are created, because they are sentient and self-aware, then they ought to be treated with dignity, respect and equality. Director’s Cut is additionally comparable to Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice in exploring the act of vengeance by the traumatised outsider, and how said acts ironically prove their humanness because revenge is a motive inimitable by any other life form.

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GODNOŚĆ CZŁOWIEKA W ŚWIETLE ORZECZENIA OLIVER BRÜSTLE PRZECIWKO GREENPEACE EV (C-34/10)

Zeszyty Prawnicze ◽

10.21697/zp.2013.13.4.09 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 193 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jędrzej Maśnicki

Keyword(s):

Human Life ◽

Embryonic Stem ◽

Human Person ◽

Fundamental Rights ◽

Commercial Application ◽

The European Union ◽

Technological Potential ◽

European Public ◽

Contemporary Science ◽

Charter Of Fundamental Rights

HUMAN DIGNITY IN THE JUDGMENT IN CASE C-34/10 OLIVER BRÜSTLE V GREENPEACE EV Summary The judgment in Case C-34/10 Oliver Brüstle v Greenpeace eV. has not defined limits to the development of biomedicine, nor has it demarcated a boundary to science’s admissible intervention in a human life. However, a few of its consequences, not only the legal ones, call for special emphasis. First of all, it was the first time that the question of boundaries to progress in biomedicine was put to European public opinion. Embryonic stem cells were recognised as having the potential to develop into a human being, which gives sufficient grounds for a prohibition on their commercial destruction; thereby an effective barrier was laid down to further development in the commercial application of embryonic stem cell research, on the grounds not only of secondary law (directives), but also of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The C-34/10 judgment has thus ruled out all concepts of dignity which adopt an instrumental approach to the integrality (inviolability) of the human person. However, the task of making ethical and valueoriented distinctions is still a problem facing judges and legislators in their everyday legal practice, since they now have to abide not only by the provisions of their respective national constitutions, but also by the supranational EU law. The dilemma which has emerged in connection with progress in contemporary science has put the European Union in a situation where it has to make a choice between the integral concept of human life covering all the stages of human development, and the notion of the human individual as the outcome of technological potential.

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Biosensing Stress

Living Data ◽

10.1332/policypress/9781447348665.003.0003 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 67-92

Author(s):

Celia Roberts ◽

Adrian Mackenzie ◽

Maggie Mort ◽

Theresa Atkinson ◽

Mette Kragh-Furbo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stress Responses ◽

Clinical Medicine ◽

Human Life ◽

Emotional Life ◽

Physical Sense ◽

Financial Trading ◽

Contemporary Science ◽

Human Stress ◽

Multiple Uncertainties ◽

The Military

Stress is a notoriously slippery concept and experience: something many of us talk a lot about, and have a strong physical sense of, but which is difficult to grasp scientifically or medically. Human stress responses are complex and can be traced in multiple physical processes and changes, as well as in mental and emotional life. Attempts to biosense the physical signs of stress are inevitably bound up with these complexities, and reflect the multiple uncertainties of contemporary science and clinical medicine on this issue. Despite this, devices to monitor stress are increasingly available and are being taken up in various contexts, including workplaces such as the military and financial trading. In this chapter we explore how biosensing platforms articulate ‘stress’ and suggest how these devices and platforms might be used to further a bio-psycho-social understanding of human and non-human life.

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Transdisciplinary Approach in Modern Psychology

Main Issues Of Pedagogy And Psychology ◽

10.24234/miopap.v18i2.375 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 11-22

Author(s):

Marina GUSELTSEVA

Keyword(s):

System Development ◽

Human Life ◽

Cognitive Activity ◽

Mathematical Expression ◽

Transdisciplinary Approach ◽

Disciplinary Boundaries ◽

Contemporary Science ◽

Key Characteristics ◽

Intellectual Capacity ◽

Evolution Of Science

The paper looks at key transformations of the contemporary situation requiring new methodological strategies in psychology, and evolution of science in the 20th century from interdisciplinary to trans-disciplinary. The latter takes the form of a strategy for analyzing complex and dynamic phenomena with the help of combined methods and contextual application of research optics borrowed from related disciplines. Methodologically trans-disciplinarily serves as the basis for the integration of cognitive practices and research techniques, development of the holistic outlook, with the expansion of intellectual capacity as its educational side-effect. Conceptually trans-disciplinarily is expressed in several interpretations. Piaget, one of the founders of the approach, viewed it as a higher and more complex stage of integration of knowledge than interdisciplinarity. Contemporary interpretations of trans-disciplinarily vary from emphasizing the fluidity of cognitive space to general principles of cognitive activity seeking mathematical expression. The trans-disciplinary start of contemporary science is characterized by the fact that each discipline is viewed as both a sovereign and open system; development of cognition takes place in the antinomies of tradition and innovation: changes and breakthroughs happen by means of borrowing experience from related disciplines while preserving own scientific identity. Key characteristics of trans-disciplinarily are cognitive movement through disciplines; transparence of disciplinary boundaries: the dissolution of dominant paradigms. Human life space in a transitive society, which is variable, multi-dimensional and complex, can only be understood on the basis of comparison and integration of knowledge within the framework of the transdisciplinary approach.

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Biosecurity: tools, behaviours and concepts

Emerging Topics in Life Sciences ◽

10.1042/etls20200343 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (5) ◽

pp. 449-452

Author(s):

Alan MacLeod ◽

Nicola Spence

Keyword(s):

Plant Protection ◽

Human Life ◽

Animal Health ◽

Early Warning Systems ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Recent Developments ◽

Surveillance Programs ◽

Harmful Organisms ◽

The One ◽

Biosecurity Practices

COVID 19 has raised the profile of biosecurity. However, biosecurity is not only about protecting human life. This issue brings together mini-reviews examining recent developments and thinking around some of the tools, behaviours and concepts around biosecurity. They illustrate the multi-disciplinary nature of the subject, demonstrating the interface between research and policy. Biosecurity practices aim to prevent the spread of harmful organisms; recognising that 2020 is the International Year of Plant Health, several focus on plant biosecurity although invasive species and animal health concerns are also captured. The reviews show progress in developing early warning systems and that plant protection organisations are increasingly using tools that compare multiple pest threats to prioritise responses. The bespoke modelling of threats can inform risk management responses and synergies between meteorology and biosecurity provide opportunities for increased collaboration. There is scope to develop more generic models, increasing their accessibility to policy makers. Recent research can improve pest surveillance programs accounting for real-world constraints. Social science examining individual farmer behaviours has informed biosecurity policy; taking a broader socio-cultural approach to better understand farming networks has the potential to change behaviours in a new way. When encouraging public recreationists to adopt positive biosecurity behaviours communications must align with their values. Bringing together the human, animal, plant and environmental health sectors to address biosecurity risks in a common and systematic manner within the One Biosecurity concept can be achieved through multi-disciplinary working involving the life, physical and social sciences with the support of legislative bodies and the public.

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