Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/1161
Human Futures: Art in an Age of uncertainty Andy miah, editor FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology), Liverpool university Press December 11, 2008 This Book's For You The fi rst thing that hits you when you open up Human Futures: Art in an Age of uncertainty are the visuals — they are stunning. And then you look at the content and are amazed. And then you realize it's an academic book, and you are perplexed. And let me tell you a little something, it was put together in around six months or so. Now look again. Human Futures is a compilation of creative essays from leading scientists, designer artifacts, and artistic works. some of the best and the brightest weigh in on topics that address "NBIC (nano-, bio-, info-, cogno-) sciences, ethics and aesthetics of human enhancement, the future of biological migration and transgressions, the emergence of systems and synthetic biology, ecosystem responsibility, global catastrophic risk, and outer space." And if one of these topics doesn't rock your world, and you're an h+ reader, I'm stunned. Academics will use this book as a point of reference, but it's also a damn good read (and it will look good on your coffee table.) With titles like: "Will Human enhancement make us Better? ethical refl ections on the enhancement of human capacities by means of biomedical technologies" by ruud ter meulen, "embracing the unknown Future: In Defense of New Technology" by russell Blackford, and "Flesh to Data/ subject to Data: examining Processes of Translation" by marilène Oliver, this book's for you! WHere TO BuY h t t p: // w w w. am a zo n .c om / Hum an - Fu tures - A r t- Ag e - un c er t ain ty/ dp/1846311810 "Genetically modifi ed athletes will simply be those people who gave value to enhancements that are most suitable for athletic performances." Our conversation turned to controversial headliner and amputee sprinter, Oscar Pistorius. miah said that he wanted to see Pistorius be allowed to compete, if he would have qualifi ed, amidst the fantastic architecture of the Beijing stadium, saying that, "there's so much conceptual overlap when thinking about the future" and seeing these two images together. It may surprise you to know that miah has written papers for the British Olympic Association, the International Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Academy, and the Brazilian Olympic Committee. But he doesn't seem to expect to win his point with the Olympic authorities. "For the anti-doping authorities, they have little option but to press on full steam. It's getting a bit out of control in my view, how much they will do for so- called clean sport." I asked miah about the notion of having two separate venues — one for enhanced athletes and another for clean (au natural, if you will) athletes, He's somewhat skeptical. "The problem is that, in this scenario, you'd still have the enhanced trying to get into the clean.… I think people like Pistorius will allow us to confront some important issues." refl ecting on it a bit, miah conceded, "It all depends on whether the enhanced could achieve adequate prominence to rival the clean. It's ultimately about trying to build symbolic value around a new series of competitions. I actually think the way it'll go is that we end up with just the enhanced.… I argue that sports authorities are obliged to invest into creating safer forms of enhancement for athletes to use." We seem to be witnessing the wisdom of miah's way when we look at the borderline hysteria and the apparent