scholarly journals Human Enhancement Ethics and Uncertainty

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Grzegorz Holub
Keyword(s):  
Human Enhancement ◽  
Philosophical Thinking ◽  
New Horizons ◽  
Substantial Level ◽  
High Level ◽  
Radical Enhancement ◽  
Human Destiny

This article deals with some uncertainties associated with human enhancement ethics. It presents the latter as a kind of a narrative made up of scientific and philosophical concepts. In the paper it is shown that scientific notions underpinning the human enhancement tendency are burdened with a substantial level of uncertainty, especially when the radical enhancement is considered. On the level of philosophical thinking, we encounter many unresolved questions concerning the understanding of the good and our post human destiny, namely who we want to become and why. This amounts to a high level of uncertainty. However, uncertainties are not utterly useless and destructive. They can play roles of stimulating factors or, at least, they can be helpful in discovering new horizons for our existence. In some situations they can also lead us to realize and appreciate what we possess already.

scholarly journals ROMANIAN HUMANISM IN THE PHILOSOPHICAL VISION OF CONSTANTIN MICU STAVILA

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 889-895
Author(s):  
Frăguța Zaharia
Keyword(s):  
World Wide ◽  
Meaning Of Life ◽  
Human Being ◽  
Philosophical Thinking ◽  
European Context ◽  
Philosophy And Religion ◽  
The World ◽  
Romanian Folklore ◽  
Human Destiny

The present European context challenges us to approach the issues of Romanian dignity, humanity and humanism. The purpose of this essay is to emphasize the interpretative and explanatory dimensions of Constantin Micu Stavila’s philosophical thinking focused on the meaning of life and the human destiny, no less on the significance of the Christian personalism that the Romanian-French philosopher has cultivated it. Some questions arise: What is the role of philosophy and religion in understanding the meaning of life? How do we have to consider the human being and by especially the characteristics defining the Human within the Romanian culture? Trying to provide an honest, coherent and enlightening response, the paper is organized into two parts: 1. The mission of Romanian philosophy – attempting to demonstrate that the Romanian culture is integrating itself in the world-wide one seeing that there is an intimate complementarity of philosophy and religion; and 2. Romanian cultural messianism – developing an interpretation of the Romanian folklore according to the topic of the paper.

scholarly journals The case of transhumanism: The possibility of application of Nietzsche’s ethics and critique of morality today

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 429-439
Author(s):  
Milos Agatonovic
Keyword(s):  
Human Enhancement ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Radical Enhancement

Transhumanism, the movement that promotes radical enhancement by non-traditional means based in scientific and technological advances, has contributed to contemporary interest in Nietzsche?s philosophy. In this paper, we are going to claim that transhumanists? references to Nietzsche?s philosophy are unfounded. Moreover, we will make a few remarks about Nietzsche?s ethical doctrine in order to show that his conception of enhancement, contrary to transhumanist conceptions, relies on traditional means, such as upbringing and education. Although Nietzsche?s positive ethical doctrines cannot be used to justify transhumanist goals, his critique of morality can be used as a critique of the transhumanist conceptions of human enhancement.

scholarly journals O niektórych kategoriach filozoficznych w twórczości administracyjnoprawnej profesora Jana Bocia

Prawo ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 327 ◽  
pp. 385-401
Author(s):  
Marek Bratuń ◽  
Aleksandra Szadok-Bratuń
Keyword(s):  
Legal Culture ◽  
Administrative Law ◽  
Philosophical Thinking ◽  
Philosophical Reflection ◽  
Comparative Aspect ◽  
Basic Facts ◽  
Legal Contexts ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Very High

On certain philosophical categories in the administrative and legal output of professor Jan BoćThe authors of this article analyze selected philosophical categories contained in administrative and legal publications by professor Jan Boć. In this way they want to focus the reader’s attention on the presence of philosophical reflection in the works of a representative of the Wrocław school of cameralistics. The basis for the considerations are the following texts by the professor: monographs entitled Obywatel wobec ingerencji współczesnej administracji Citizen against the interference of modern administration and Gmina w Belgii Commune in Belgium, the author’s entries contained in the legal dictionary of difficult words, as well as the article entitled “Normatywizacja wartościw prawie administracyjnym” Normativization of values in administrative law co-authored with Piotr Lisowski.The article begins with a reminder of basic facts from the biography of professor Jan Boć.Then, the concept of a “citizen” is examined, analyzed in the historiosophical and administrative-legal contexts. The following categories of philosophy, considered in the comparative aspect, are discussed: “autonomy”, “heteronomy”, “ethical naturalism”, “ethical relativism”, “value” and “axiology”.In the conclusion of their investigations, the authors emphasize the objective praise of the axiormormality of professor Jan Boć that appears in his studies, as well as of the very high level of their substantiveness, originality and constant, deepened philosophical reflection. In a special way they highlight the fact that the relationship between philosophical thinking and administrative law was a valuable asset of the legal culture of Jan Boć.

scholarly journals Reading Posthuman Ethics in Daniel Wilson’s Amped

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-90
Author(s):  
Omar M. Abdullah ◽  
Hardev Kaur
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Human Dignity ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Human Enhancement ◽  
Human Mind ◽  
Human Form ◽  
New Horizons ◽  
Technological World ◽  
Enhancement Technologies

In 20th century and beyond, humans have witnessed numerous advances in technology which have opened new horizons. Science and technology redesigned human life exponentially and humans always search for a more technological world and hence more comfort and ease. As such, going past human confinement could be accessible through a few changes in human form, but these changes posture a contentious point since people grow into being more reliant on technology in order to execute their desires and needs. What will happen to humanness and humanity? What will happen to their moralities and behaviors? In this manner, technological development could have both promising and discouraging pictures within the human mind. The current study cites Daniel H. Wilson’s Amped (2013) to discuss the clash of views between Transhumanists and Bioconservatives. Transhumanists believe that human improvement advances should be made broadly accessible, where people could adopt these innovations and apply them to themselves to have a better life. In particular, bioconservatives consider human enhancement technologies as ‘dehumanizing’ for these technologies might weaken human dignity and affect something that is profoundly valuable about being human. As such, Posthuman theory is consulted in order to analyze the ethical and moral concerns of human enhancement technology in Wilson’s Amped.  The findings are summed in the importance of ethics in any kind of enhancement and conclude that the trustworthy source is a priority to ensure success.

scholarly journals Role of diplomacy in the formation of Saint-Petersburg collections of Chinese cultural monuments (1802–1917)

2020 ◽  
pp. 51-56
Author(s):  
O. A. Korotkova ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Material Culture ◽  
Scientific Work ◽  
General Staff ◽  
New Horizons ◽  
Saint Petersburg ◽  
Xixth Century ◽  
High Level ◽  
Private Collections ◽  
Cultural Monuments

The paper investigates connections between development of Russian diplomacy and formation of collections of Chinese cultural monuments in Saint-Petersburg in 1802–1917, years when Ministry of Foreign Aff airs of Russian Empire was operating. It is shown that intensifi cation of diplomatic relations led to many diff erent researches and collecting of Chinese cultural monuments in museums. Members of Russian Spiritual Mission in Beijing brought manuscripts and books, works of art, ethnographic materials from China to Saint-Petersburg in the fi rst half of the XIXth century. These objects were transmitted to museums, scientifi c organizations or stayed in private collections for some time. Special attention is given to scantily explored practice of storing Chinese written and material culture monuments in rooms of Asian department of Ministry of Foreign Aff airs in General Staff building. Private collections of diplomats working in China started to form in the second half of the XIXth century. Research in form of expeditions with the help of Russian diplomatic missions in China became possible by the end of the century. Diplomatic success that led to establishing international relations on a new high level helped to gain a lot of diplomatic gifts from China that came to tsars’ collections. Exhibitions in General Staff building of the State Hermitage show how modern exhibition activity with these monuments opens new horizons for scientific work.

Transcription factor/DNA interactions visualized by electron spectroscopic imaging

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 450-451
Author(s):  
David P. Bazett-Jones ◽  
Mark L. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Phosphorus Content ◽  
Spectroscopic Imaging ◽  
Electron Spectroscopic Imaging ◽  
Dna Backbone ◽  
Two Parameters ◽  
High Level

A multisubunit RNA polymerase enzyme is ultimately responsible for transcription initiation and elongation of RNA, but recognition of the proper start site by the enzyme is regulated by general, temporal and gene-specific trans-factors interacting at promoter and enhancer DNA sequences. To understand the molecular mechanisms which precisely regulate the transcription initiation event, it is crucial to elucidate the structure of the transcription factor/DNA complexes involved. Electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI) provides the opportunity to visualize individual DNA molecules. Enhancement of DNA contrast with ESI is accomplished by imaging with electrons that have interacted with inner shell electrons of phosphorus in the DNA backbone. Phosphorus detection at this intermediately high level of resolution (≈lnm) permits selective imaging of the DNA, to determine whether the protein factors compact, bend or wrap the DNA. Simultaneously, mass analysis and phosphorus content can be measured quantitatively, using adjacent DNA or tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) as mass and phosphorus standards. These two parameters provide stoichiometric information relating the ratios of protein:DNA content.

Advances in Stem Instrumentation for Biology

1990 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 362-363
Author(s):  
J. S. Wall
Keyword(s):  
Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope ◽  
Carbon Films ◽  
Specimen Preparation ◽  
Material Deposition ◽  
Active User ◽  
Percent Improvement ◽  
Scanning Transmission ◽  
The Moment ◽  
Film Substrate ◽  
High Level

The forte of the Scanning transmission Electron Microscope (STEM) is high resolution imaging with high contrast on thin specimens, as demonstrated by visualization of single heavy atoms. of equal importance for biology is the efficient utilization of all available signals, permitting low dose imaging of unstained single molecules such as DNA.Our work at Brookhaven has concentrated on: 1) design and construction of instruments optimized for a narrow range of biological applications and 2) use of such instruments in a very active user/collaborator program. Therefore our program is highly interactive with a strong emphasis on producing results which are interpretable with a high level of confidence.The major challenge we face at the moment is specimen preparation. The resolution of the STEM is better than 2.5 A, but measurements of resolution vs. dose level off at a resolution of 20 A at a dose of 10 el/A2 on a well-behaved biological specimen such as TMV (tobacco mosaic virus). To track down this problem we are examining all aspects of specimen preparation: purification of biological material, deposition on the thin film substrate, washing, fast freezing and freeze drying. As we attempt to improve our equipment/technique, we use image analysis of TMV internal controls included in all STEM samples as a monitor sensitive enough to detect even a few percent improvement. For delicate specimens, carbon films can be very harsh-leading to disruption of the sample. Therefore we are developing conducting polymer films as alternative substrates, as described elsewhere in these Proceedings. For specimen preparation studies, we have identified (from our user/collaborator program ) a variety of “canary” specimens, each uniquely sensitive to one particular aspect of sample preparation, so we can attempt to separate the variables involved.

A Questionnaire Survey of Current Rehabilitation Practices for Adults With Normal Hearing Sensitivity Who Experience Auditory Difficulties

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 738-761
Author(s):  
Tess K. Koerner ◽  
Melissa A. Papesh ◽  
Frederick J. Gallun
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Questionnaire Survey ◽  
Patient Population ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Auditory Training ◽  
Training Methods ◽  
Hearing Sensitivity ◽  
Considerable Benefit ◽  
High Level

Purpose A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect information from clinical audiologists about rehabilitation options for adult patients who report significant auditory difficulties despite having normal or near-normal hearing sensitivity. This work aimed to provide more information about what audiologists are currently doing in the clinic to manage auditory difficulties in this patient population and their views on the efficacy of recommended rehabilitation methods. Method A questionnaire survey containing multiple-choice and open-ended questions was developed and disseminated online. Invitations to participate were delivered via e-mail listservs and through business cards provided at annual audiology conferences. All responses were anonymous at the time of data collection. Results Responses were collected from 209 participants. The majority of participants reported seeing at least one normal-hearing patient per month who reported significant communication difficulties. However, few respondents indicated that their location had specific protocols for the treatment of these patients. Counseling was reported as the most frequent rehabilitation method, but results revealed that audiologists across various work settings are also successfully starting to fit patients with mild-gain hearing aids. Responses indicated that patient compliance with computer-based auditory training methods was regarded as low, with patients generally preferring device-based rehabilitation options. Conclusions Results from this questionnaire survey strongly suggest that audiologists frequently see normal-hearing patients who report auditory difficulties, but that few clinicians are equipped with established protocols for diagnosis and management. While many feel that mild-gain hearing aids provide considerable benefit for these patients, very little research has been conducted to date to support the use of hearing aids or other rehabilitation options for this unique patient population. This study reveals the critical need for additional research to establish evidence-based practice guidelines that will empower clinicians to provide a high level of clinical care and effective rehabilitation strategies to these patients.

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