scholarly journals Synthetic Biology: Old and New Dilemmas—The Case of Artificial Life

BioTech ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 16
Author(s):  
Nikolaos Kolisis ◽  
Fragiskos Kolisis
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
General Public ◽  
Artificial Life ◽  
Virtue Theory ◽  
Moral Reasons ◽  
Ethics Of Science ◽  
Engineering And Technology ◽  
The Future ◽  
Biotechnological Inventions ◽  
Moral Questions

This article aims to examine some of the ethical questions emerging from the use of already existing biotechnological tools and the issues which might occur by synthetic biology’s potential future possibilities. In the first part, the essence of synthetic biology and its relation to the contemporary biotechnological research is analyzed. In the second part, the article examines whether the new biotechnological inventions pose new or revive old moral questions about the ethics of science, engineering, and technology in general. After briefly addressing some of the various issues which are raised by experts, philosophers, but also the general public, concerning synthetic biology in general, it focuses on the topic of “artificial life creation” and presents moral reasons which may or may not allow it. The topic is approached by referring to consequentialist, deontological, but also, virtue theory arguments for and against it and the possibility of a partial permission of “artificial life” experiments, asking whether the benefits outweigh the risks and moral implications is explored. Finally, it proposes an argument in favor of the future exploration of biological innovation, underlying the need for a more balanced access to its beneficial results.

Synthetic Biology

1998 ◽  
pp. 46-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Sullins
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Computer Simulations ◽  
Artificial Life ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Essential Step ◽  
The Future ◽  
Shed Light

This paper uses the theory of technoscience to shed light on the current criticisms against the emerging science of Artificial Life. We see that the science of Artificial Life is criticized for the synthetic nature of its research and its over reliance on computer simulations which is seen to be contrary to the traditional goals and methods of science. However, if we break down the traditional distinctions between science and technology using the theory of technoscience, then we can begin to see that all science has a synthetic nature and reliance on technology. Artificial Life researchers are not heretical practitioners of some pseudoscience; they are just more open about their reliance on technology to help realize their theories and modeling. Understanding that science and technology are not as disparate as was once thought is an essential step in helping us create a more humane technoscience in the future.

PERANCANGAN ARSITEKTUR RUANG LIMINAL ANTARA SEBUAH DUALISME (BERTANI DAN MELAUT)

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1087
Author(s):  
Michael Gideon Josian ◽  
Maria Veronica Gandha
Keyword(s):  
General Public ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Common Space ◽  
Special Character ◽  
Ideal System ◽  
The World ◽  
The Future ◽  
Letting Go

The future of dwelling has a very board context and will continue to be discussed, it is possible that the discussions about “dwelling” is come from the environment of farming and fishing. Things that are not much cared for but still have a role in the survival of the world. Therefore this matter will be discussed using the role of architecture as space, to be able to create an ideal system by paying attention to the quality of farming and fishing for the future, and leaving a trace or memory to be able to carry messages for the future. Talking about the future of an interaction that occurs between the general public and farmers and fishermen, especially considering that farmers and fishermen themselves can be compared to two different poles, a liminal space is needed, which may already exist indirectly in the environment. By letting go of individual egos and emphasizing ego to the point of view of farmers and fishermen. To present a common space, or a place that contains a special character of a city that contains a message for the future. Keywords:  dualism; hope; liminal; trace;  Abstrak Masa depan cara berhuni memiliki konteks yang sangat luas dan akan terus diperbincangkan. Tidak menutup kemungkinan datang dari pembahasan mengenai cara berhuni dengan bertani dan melaut. Hal yang tidak banyak dipedulikan tetapi tetap memiliki peran dalam kelangsungan dunia. Oleh karena itu, masa depan berhuni ini akan dibahas dengan menggunakan peran arsitektur sebagai ruang, untuk dapat menciptakan sistem yang ideal dengan memperhatikan kualitas bertani dan melaut bagi masa depan, dan meninggalkan sebuah jejak atau kenangan untuk dapat membawa pesan bagi masa depan. Berbicara mengenai masa depan dari sebuah interaksi yang terjadi antara masyarakat umum dengan para petani dan nelayan, apalagi mengingat para petani dan nelayan itu sendiri dapat diibaratkan berada pada kedua kutub yang berbeda, maka dibutuhkanlah sebuah ruang liminal, yang mungkin sudah hadir secara tidak langsung pada lingkungan masyarakat. Dengan cara melepaskan ego individual dan menekankan ego kepada sudut pandang para petani dan nelayan. Untuk menghadirkan sebuah ruang bersama, atau sebuah tempat yang mengandung sebuah karakter tersendiri dari sebuah kota yang berisi pesan bagi masa depan.

Shaping the future of synthetic biology

Science ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 348 (6232) ◽  
pp. 296-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Kuiken
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
The Future

scholarly journals Carbon Ruins: Engaging with Post-Fossil Transitions through Participatory World-Building

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Stripple ◽  
Alexandra Nikoleris ◽  
Roger Hildingsson
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
General Public ◽  
Ways Of Knowing ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Political Tradition ◽  
Civil Society Organisations ◽  
Physical Presence ◽  
The Future ◽  
Ways Of Being

While many pathways to post-fossil futures have been articulated, most fail to engage people in imagining themselves as being part of those futures and involved in the transition. Following recent calls for more immersive experiences, the 2019 initiative “Carbon Ruins—An Exhibition of the Fossil Era” (Carbon Ruins) is a performance set around a historical museum from the future, which uses recognisable, culturally powerful physical objects to bridge the gap between abstract scenarios and everyday experiences. Through its physical presence and extensive media coverage, Carbon Ruins struck a chord with scientists, activists, creative professionals, policy makers, civil society organisations, and the general public. Like other imaginary worlds, Carbon Ruins is not finished. It is an open-ended process of narrating, imagining, and representing (the transition to) a post-fossil future. In this article we reflect upon Carbon Ruins as a participatory form of world-building that allows for new ways of knowing, and new ways of being, in relation to post-fossil transitions. We discern three different kinds of authorship that were taken on by participants: as originators, dwellers, and explorers. While the originator makes the future world a recognisable place, the dweller can engage active hope in place of a passive sense of urgency, and the explorer can transform resignation into commitment, with a fresh determination to leave the fossil era behind. Situating Carbon Ruins within a critical political tradition, we find post-fossil world-building to be a form of critique that destabilises accustomed ways of thinking and opens up new fields of experience that allows things to be done differently.

Pandora's Dreams

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-31
Author(s):  
Peter Beaumont ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Short Story ◽  
General Public ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Government ◽  
Wrong Action

Should we be held accountable for what we imagine, but choose not to actually do? Does wrong thought always lead to wrong action? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, scientists have discovered a way to record dreams and make them available for playback. This quickly gives rise to the bootleg sale of horrible and wonderful dreams to a general public interested in ever-more spectacle. It also creates a market for buying and watching the dreams of celebrities. Finally, it brings about the government subpoenaing dreams to use as evidence in trials and, later, in helping it discover crimes that have not, but might, happen in the future.

Changing of the Guard

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Webster ◽  
David Shirley
Keyword(s):  
Media Coverage ◽  
General Public ◽  
Advocacy Effort ◽  
Citizen Groups ◽  
Project Plan ◽  
The Future

Tells the story of a change in the BBPC’s leadership and their successful advocacy effort to incorporate the area between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges into the future park. Further south, planning begins on the piers area of the park with the hiring of an elite architectural firm to plan and oversee construction of the Park, publication of General Project Plan providing the general public with the first glimpse of what the actual Park might involve, disillusion and dissent among some early supporters and other citizen groups, and the beginnings of some negative media coverage of the Park.

Amazon Blockchain Enabling Commercial and Governmental Applications

2021 ◽  
pp. 143-197
Author(s):  
Stephen E. Arnold
Keyword(s):  
Web Services ◽  
Information Flow ◽  
General Public ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
The Future ◽  
Amazon Web Services ◽  
The Many

The COVID-19 pandemic created significant problems for everyone and every business, but a few enterprises thrived, and Amazon was at the top of the list. Through their AWS (Amazon Web Services), Amazon controls many companies' information flow and data of all sizes. But what the general public does not know is that Amazon has been working on several blockchain and AI initiatives for over a decade. This chapter will provide a detailed narrative about Amazon's activity, patents, databases, and services that will leverage blockchain technology. The many patents filed by Amazon will greatly benefit Amazon both now and in the future.

Life as It Could Be

2020 ◽  
pp. 101-114
Author(s):  
Luis Campos
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Molecular Biology ◽  
The Future ◽  
Forms Of Life ◽  
Life On Earth ◽  
The Universe

This chapter explores the intersection between two related fields: synthetic biology and astrobiology. Pushing the engineering of life past traditional limits in molecular biology and expanding the envelope of life to forms never before extant, synthetic biologists are now beginning to design experimental ways of getting at what astrobiologists have long suspected: that the life known here on Earth is but a subset of vast combinatorial possibilities in the universe. The resonances between the future engineered possibilities of this world and speculations about possible biologies on habitable others are not merely happenstance. Indeed, there is a curious and compelling deeper history interlinking scientific speculation about new forms of life elsewhere in the universe with visions for the human-directed engineering of new forms of life on Earth. For decades, the astrobiological and the synthetic biological have mutually inspired each other and overlapped in powerful genealogical ways.

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