Freedom's Philosopher Blogspot

  This is Spencer Hawkins’ English translation of the original German book On Transhumanism by Stefan Lorenz Sorgner. Hawkins’ stated purpose is to introduce transhumanism to an American audience. This review will evaluate both the original book and the “Translators Introduction.” The term “transhumanism” was originally introduced as a disparaging concept employed by European critics of unfettered biotechnological innovation, which is dubbed “the most dangerous idea.” The underlying theme is that there are some biotechnologies that, over the long run, threaten “natural” human life, as we now know it. However, Hawkins points out that this naturalistic approach implies that human life can be rigidly defined and that human technology ought-not transcend those objective natural limits. The main biotechnologies defended by Sorgner are those that are intended to increase human health, reproductive capacity, longevity, cognitive ability, and/or athletic ability via genetic modification. S...

  Peter Toohey, Hold On: The Life, Science, and Art of Waiting (Oxford University Press: 2020) Reviewed By: Ronald F. White, PhD. Professor Emeritus Mount St. Joseph University The title of this book tells you a lot about it’s contents. However, aside from a few forays into Science (biology and psychology) it is mostly about various works of art (paintings and drawings) and how they depict/interpret the “art of waiting.” It includes a brief, but highly informative prologue, four chapters, and a summarizing epilogue. There are twenty-five black and white illustrations. Previous recent publications by Toohey include analyses of “Jealousy (2014) and “Boredom” (2011). We are all familiar with the phenomenon of waiting. The contexts for “waiting” are resplendent. We wait for future pleasures and future pain. For example, when we are at boring/unpleasant work, many of us “wait” to go home, wait for the weekend, and wait for retirement. When we wait, “patience” is usually r...

       Philosophers have long debated the question of " personal identity ." Is there one single set of characteristics that comprise your identity? Or is your identity relative to the perceptions of other persons and/or other groups of persons. Was your identity established at birth or has it evolved over time?  Is your identity the product of your body (genes) or your mind (ideas)?  Is your identity contained in your conscious mind and memory via introspection, or in the minds, consciousness, and memories of  other persons? How much control do you have over your identity?  Are you the same person you were 10-30 years ago? Obviously, our bodies change over time...at the cellular level, therefore (strictly speaking) our bodies constantly change. Some bodily features are the product of growth: height, weight etc. Others are age-related such as mobility, memory etc. Do you identify yourself based on your job (professor of philosophy) or job status (...

Global Health Impact: Extending Access to Essential Medicines (Oxford University Press: 2020) By: Nicole Hassoun Reviewed for Choice Magazine by Ronald F. White This interdisciplinary book argues that all human beings have a right to access the “essential medicines” that restore and/or maintain health. With nearly 100 pages of footnotes and references, this book’s target audience is interdisciplinary scholars who have (at least) a working knowledge of rights-based ethics and health policy. Most critics will agree that this book is not easily accessible to a popular audience. Ch apter 1 claims that all human beings ought to have an enforceable legal right to health, including access to essential medicines for diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS in order to live a minimally good life. Chapter 2 suggests that this legal right will foster “creative resolve” on the part of duty-bearers who address shortcomings. Chapter 3 presents creative new ways to use data on...

"Schuyler's Brain" ...... Deep River Blues and Cannonball Rag .....

In recent months the mass media has replicated the meme "Black Lives Matter" into national prominance. In the United States, it initially went viral in light of televised police brutality against (mostly) black males. Many black leaders observe that sociopolitical reality suggests the "black lives do not matter." Thus the phrase "Black Lives Matter" has become increasingly popular among black activists and replicated by social media outlets. So what can a 69 year old, white, retired philosopher say about "Black Lives Matter?" In order to diagnose any "viral infection" (bodily or mental) we must be able to: 1. Identify the conditions that contributed to the emergence of that virus. 2. Measure it's level of toxicity. (mild/serious/fatal) 3. Measure the rate of contagion within and between various populations (old/young, male/female...

Back in 2009, Richard Brodie published a highly popular book: Virus of the Mind: The New Science of the Meme . The over-riding theme was that "memes" (or ideas) evolve over time, based on the evolutionary principles of replication, variation, and selection. Over time, some "ideas" are progressive, and therefore, increase human happiness and/or survival, others are regressive and therefore, decrease human happiness and/or survival, and other ideas maintain the status quo. Viruses of the mind decrease individual and group survival. In all societies, authorities influence the viral status of ideas, especially: religious authorities, scientific authorities, and political authorities. Today, the emergence of the most contagious viruses of the mind are media-driven and exhibit variable degrees of "toxicity," and "contagion" among the most and "vulverable populations." Viruses of the mind emerge, spread, and/or suffer extinction within various...