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Sociologist James Hughes shares his thoughts on how libertarian transhumanism allows for cognitive liberty and bodily autonomy, the ethical implications of using enhancement technologies to amplify human virtues, and the challenge of being a techno-optimist. James Hughes, the Executive Director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, is a bioethicist and sociologist who serves as the Associate Provost for Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning for the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMB), and as Senior Research Fellow at UMB's Center for Applied Ethics. He holds a doctorate in Sociology from the University of Chicago where he taught bioethics at the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics. Dr. Hughes has taught health policy, bioethics, medical sociology and research methods at Northwestern University, the University of Connecticut, and Trinity College. Dr. Hughes is author of Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future (2004) and is co-editor of Surviving the Machine Age: Intelligent Technology and the Transformation of Human Work (2017). In 2005 Dr. Hughes co-founded the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET) with Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom, and since then has served as its Executive Director. Dr. Hughes serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Evolution and Technology, and as co-founder of the Journal of Posthuman Studies. Find out more: futurespodcast.net CREDITS Produced by FUTURES Podcast Recorded, Mixed & Edited by Luke Robert Mason FOLLOW Twitter: twitter.com/futurespodcast Facebook: facebook.com/futurespodcast Instagram: instagram.com/futurespodcast
James Hughes is an American sociologist and bioethicist. He is the Executive Director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies and teaches health policy at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut in the United States. He is the author of Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future and is currently writing a book about moral bioenhancement tentatively titled Cyborg Buddha: Using Neurotechnology to Become Better People. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/out-of-the-blank-podcast/support
New technologies are coming in the near future that will push the boundaries of what we understand to be human and that will radically change what it means to be human. Cybernetic and biomedical technologies such as cloning, genetic engineering and nanotechnology are just a few of those and could make life better for everyone. What this could mean is the elimination of most diseases, babies free of genetic defects, the creation of non-human sentient beings that may have legal rights and the possibility of near immortality. All of these technologies hold great promise, but they also pose profound challenges to our culture, to our health and our democratic political systems. When humans become more than human - "post-human" or "transhuman" - these new technologies will require new answers for questions, such as: What limits should we place on the freedom of individuals to control their own bodies? Who should own genes or other living things? And which technologies should be mandatory, which voluntary and which forbidden? Democracies must assess and respond to these possibilities now and recognize the tremendous opportunities as well as the dangers, in order to actively decide what kind of society we want for ourselves and our children. My guest today has devoted his life and career to pondering and answering these questions. James Hughes Ph.D., the Executive Director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, is a bioethicist and sociologist who serves as the Associate Provost for Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning for the University of Massachusetts Boston. Dr.. Hughes holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Chicago, and is author of Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future. In this discussion, you'll learn...-Technology enhancements we can we expect in the near future...02:45Concerns: The issues we face with the emergence of these new technologies Trends: increasing control over our bodies, brains and reproduction The moral questions around controlling the brain -How the moral dilemma plays out in the political arena...08:25-Bioconservatism vs libertarian transhumanism and the 'third' way: democratic transhumanism...15:30Book: Citizen Cyborg Bioluddism (bioconservatism) vs. libertarian transhumanism (techno progressivism) How being positive about these technological futures and not being anxious about social change is correlated with other social attitudes, particularly gender roles -Transhumanism and religion...21:551600-1700: aspirations of healing the sick, raising the dead, achieving enlightenment, etc. Religious views and transhumanistic views -How James' Buddhist background informs his work...26:20Buddhism discusses the idea of transcending the human condition Meta-ethical question: Why do we believe that any particular argument for right and wrong is the right argument? -The Self, explained...31:15Buddhism = the rejection of a centralized self, we are verbs, not nouns Debate of patterns in authentic personality "The self is something real, but it's not a real thing. It's a vision" Artificial intelligence may completely lose the thread of the illusion of "self" -Will choosing to remain "biological" be considered a handicap in the future?...37:00Concerns and questions about people having "superpowers" -The utilization of psychedelic drugs in transhumanism ...42:55The inclusion of plant medicine, MDMA, ketamine, LSD and DMT in enhancements Creating lasting changes in open-mindedness, reduces fear response, increasing our sense of connection Article: Tripping Our Way to Social Democracy -When a being has the right to moral personhood...43:15Top 10 things that give a being moral personhood John Locke: Enlightened Thinker (We're just our memories) Moral personhood in animals as the next big debate Cognitive enhancements of great apes Mainstreaming the bioethics conversation in the political space...
What are the moral criteria for triaging patients when the healthcare system is overwhelmed? How is Massachusetts thinking about this? And, more broadly, what is the appropriate balance between preserving public health and limiting an economic meltdown? Please note: the last 3 minutes of this conversation are missing due to a Zoom malfunction. So it ends a bit abruptly. But the important stuff is all there! James Hughes is a senior research fellow at the UMass Boston Applied Ethics Center. He is a bioethicist and sociologist who serves as the associate provost for institutional research, assessment, and planning at UMass Boston. He holds a doctorate in sociology from the University of Chicago where he taught bioethics at the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics. Since then, he has taught health policy, bioethics, medical sociology, and research methods at Northwestern University, the University of Connecticut, and Trinity College. He is the author of Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future (2004) and is the co-editor of Surviving the Machine Age: Intelligent Technology and the Transformation of Human Work (2017). In 2005 he co-founded the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET) with Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom, and since then has served as its executive director. Hughes serves as associate editor of the Journal of Evolution and Technology, and as co-founder of the Journal of Posthuman Studies. He is also a fellow of the World Academy of Arts and Sciences, a member of Humanity+, the Neuroethics Society, the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities, and the Working Group on Ethics and Technology at Yale University, and served on the State of Connecticut’s Regenerative Medicine Research Advisory Committee. He speaks on medical ethics, health care policy, and future studies worldwide. Readings: Massachusetts Crisis Standards of Care for Covid 19: https://d279m997dpfwgl.cloudfront.net/wp/2020/04/CSC_April-7_2020.pdf When Can America Reopen From its Corona Virus Shutdown? https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/04/02/coronavirus-economy-reopen-deaths-balance-analysis-159248
How will the rise of AI change state and federal bureaucracies? Are AI mediated politics more democratic? More fair? What does post human governance look like? James Hughes is a senior research fellow at the Applied Ethics Center at Mass Boston. He is a bioethicist and sociologist who serves as the associate provost for institutional research, assessment, and planning at UMass Boston. He holds a doctorate in sociology from the University of Chicago where he taught bioethics at the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics. Since then, he has taught health policy, bioethics, medical sociology, and research methods at Northwestern University, the University of Connecticut, and Trinity College. He is the author of Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future (2004) and is the co-editor of Surviving the Machine Age: Intelligent Technology and the Transformation of Human Work (2017). In 2005 he co-founded the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET) with Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom, and since then has served as its executive director. Hughes serves as associate editor of the Journal of Evolution and Technology, and as co-founder of the Journal of Posthuman Studies. He is also a fellow of the World Academy of Arts and Sciences, a member of Humanity+, the Neuroethics Society, the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities, and the Working Group on Ethics and Technology at Yale University, and served on the State of Connecticut's Regenerative Medicine Research Advisory Committee. He speaks on medical ethics, health care policy, and future studies worldwide. J will be giving a talk on this topic at UMass Boston on February 20th at 2PM. Please join us! email nir.eisikovits@umb.edu for details.
In this installment of the Future Grind podcast, host Ryan O'Shea sits down with Dr. James Hughes. James is a bioethicist and serves as the Executive Director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, which he founded alongside Nick Bostrom in 2004. Dr. Hughes is the author of Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future, and has previously served as the Executive Director of the World Transhumanist Association, which is now known as Humanity Plus. James is well known for his contributions to the technoprogressive movement, and was previously a Buddhist monk. They discuss the potential of a technoprogressive future, ideas for the regulation of transformative technologies, the controversies around brain augmentation and animal uplift, and more! Show Notes: https://futuregrind.org Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/future-grind-podcast-science-technology-business-politics/id1020231514 Support: https://futuregrind.org/support Follow along - Twitter - https://twitter.com/Ryan0Shea Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ryan_0shea/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/RyanOSheaOfficial/ If you have any questions or are interested in supporting or sponsoring Future Grind, you can reach us at hello@futuregrind.org.
James Hughes joins Phil and Stephen for a discussion of the meaning of technoprogressivism. How does it differ not only from mainstream porgressivism but also from alternative transhuman philosophies such as technolibertarianism? What are the differences and why do they matter? And what are the similarities and why do THEY matter? Score yourself on the 14-point technoprogressive self-diagnostic to determine how well this political philosophy aligns with your own views. About our Guest: James Hughes is the Executive Director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies. He is a bioethicist and sociologist who serves as the Associate Provost for Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning, for the University of Massachusetts, Boston. He holds a doctorate in sociology from the University of Chicago, where he also taught bioethics at the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics. James is author of Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future, and is working on a second book tentatively titled Cyborg Buddha. He is also a contributor to our book, Visions for a World Transformed. From 1999-2011 he produced the syndicated weekly radio program, Changesurfer Radio. James is a Fellow of the World Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a member of Humanity+, the Neuroethics Society, the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities, and the Working Group on Ethics and Technology at Yale University. He serves on the State of Connecticut Regenerative Medicine Research Advisory Committee. When not doing all that, James speaks on medical ethics, health care policy, and future studies worldwide. WT 324-633
Can we program ourselves to be better people? Phil and Stephen welcome James Hughes to discuss his concept of a Virtues Control Panel: "What I imagine is a virtues control panel with sliders that determine the balance of moral impulses, cognition and behavior in different situations, governed by a morality operating system. When we are working on tasks that require focus and care we would turn up concentration, conscientiousness and prefrontal control. We could also flag specific behaviors, words or even thoughts to be suppressed, and others to be enhanced. When our metabolic monitor indicates we have reached maximum calories for the day or reached peak inebriation, the sub-routines would tell us we can't eat another bite and that we don't want that next drink. " From: Visions for a World Transformed About our Guest: James Hughes is the Executive Director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies. He is a bioethicist and sociologist who serves as the Associate Provost for Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning, for the University of Massachusetts, Boston. He holds a doctorate in sociology from the University of Chicago, where he also taught bioethics at the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics. James is author of Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future, and is working on a second book tentatively titled Cyborg Buddha. He is also a contributor to our book, Visions for a World Transformed. From 1999-2011 he produced the syndicated weekly radio program, Changesurfer Radio. WT 323-632
James Hughes is a bioethicist and sociologist. He’s the Executive Director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, and author of Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future.’ He holds a doctorate in sociology from the University of Chicago, where he also taught bioethics at the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics.
James Hughes is the Executive Director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies and the author of "Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future". Continuing in our series On Ethics, James joins host Vincent Horn to discuss the ethical frameworks that underpin our social systems. From economics and social justice to conservative vs liberal values, to a newly emerging technoprogressivism, James and Vincent deconstruct and explore various ethical operating systems. Episode Links: James Hughes on Twitter - https://twitter.com/citizencyborg "Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond To The Redesigned Human Of The Future" - https://www.amazon.com/Citizen-Cyborg-Democratic-Societies-Redesigned/dp/0813341981?ie=UTF8&qid=1165506115&sr=8-1&tag=instforethiin-20 Technoprogressive Declaration - http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/tpdec2014 BG 077: Transhumanism and the Authentic Self - http://www.buddhistgeeks.com/2008/06/bg-077-transhumanism-and-the-authentic-self/ ] Jonathan Haidt - http://people.stern.nyu.edu/jhaidt/ Alexander Bard and The Syntheist Movement - http://syntheism.org
UNIVERSITY OF EXCELLENCE WWW.UOFE.ORG Prince Handley President / Regent TRANSHUMANISM AND THE ANOINTING: EMBRYO TO DESTINY WITH A PROPHECY BY PRINCE HANDLEY You can listen to this message NOW. Click on the pod circle at top left. (Allow images to display.) Or, listen here >> LISTEN NOW Email this message to a friend. Subscribe to this Ezine teaching by Email: princehandley@gmail.com (Type “Subscribe” in the “Subject” line.) 24/7 release of Prince Handley teachings, BLOGS and podcasts > STREAM Text: “follow princehandley” to 40404 (in USA) Or, Twitter: princehandley NOTICE:Listen to podcast as there is much more content than in written material below. _________________________________ TRANSHUMANISM AND THE ANOINTING: EMBRYO TO DESTINY Dr. James Hughes is executive director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies and teaches at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. He is the author of Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future, a humanist manifesto for transhumanist values. Dr. Hughes belongs to an emerging group of academics, sociologists and bio-ethicists who support: Large-scale genetic and neurological engineering of ourselves…[a] new chapter in evolution [as] the result of accelerating developments in the fields of genomics, stem-cell research, genetic enhancement, germ-line engineering, neuro-pharmacology, artificial intelligence, robotics, pattern recognition technologies, and nanotechnology…at the intersection of science and religion [which has begun to question] what it means to be human.1 Many bio-tech experts predict human-enhancement may be initiated after 2012.2 In 2007 National Geographic magazine proferred a guess that within 10 years, the first “human non-humans” would be operative upon Planet Earth. Now retired SDSU (San Diego State University) professor and computer scientist Vernor Vinge gave his presentation, “The Coming Technological Singularity,” at Vision-21 Symposium sponsored by NASA Lewis Research Center and the Ohio Aerospace Institute in 1993. He said recently that we are approaching the era when questions like “What is the meaning of life?” will be nothing more than an engineering question. Nick Bostrom, Oxford philosophy professor and co-founder of the World Transhumanism Association, writes that posthumans will realize eternal youth and health, gain complete control over their minds and emotions, and “experience novel states of conscious-ness” that present human minds cannot imagine.3 Posthumans may even choose to discard their bodies in favor of life as “information patterns on vast super-fast computer networks.”3 The USA government, via the National Institute of Health, recently granted Case Law School in Cleveland $773,000 (money appropriated from USA tax payers) to develop guidelines that will be used for establishing government policy with respect to the next phase of human evolution—“genetic enhancement.” NOTICE: The references / quotes above are from years ago upon first writing of this podcast teaching. How far do you think we have "traveled" since? For a more recent overview of Artificial Intelligence, See "Resources" below. Also a key player in the arena is the area of Transgenics. Transgenics allow scientists to develop organisms that express a novel trait not normally found in the species (including humans); for example, a type of rice known as golden rice has elevated levels of vitamin A. Scientists have also developed sunflowers that are resistant to mildew and cotton that resists insect damage. Possible transgenic combinations can be broken down generally into three categories: 1) plant-animal-human combinations; 2) animal-animal combinations; and 3) animal-human combinations.4 And, toward the side of “normalcy”? (for medical reasons) we now have the “Three people – one baby” consultation, where two embryos are fertilised with sperm, creating an embryo from the intended parents and another embryo from the donor(s).5 Recently, while preparing a session on “Stem Cell Research” for the University of Excellence in the course module “New Ideas and Science,” I was meditating on God's calling of the Prophet Jeremiah while he was in the womb of his mother. “Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 'Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet unto the nations.'” (Jeremiah 1:4-5) Notice four things that God said: “I formed you in the belly.” “I knew you before I formed you in the belly.” “Before you came forth out of the womb, I sanctified you.” “Before you came forth out of the womb, I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” The Hebrew word used above for “formed” is the word “yatzar” and has the meaning “to mold into a form (as a potter); to fashion.” Psalm 139:16 tells us, “Your eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Your book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” I heard a medical doctor once say that “substance, yet being unperfect, with all my members being in continuance fashioned, when as yet there was none of them,” was the best description he had ever heard on the formation of the life in the womb. If you will check a concordance, you will find there are many references in the Holy Bible where God says “I formed” the life in the womb. In addition, the beautiful truth is that God knows the life in the womb intimately BEFORE He forms it. In Jeremiah 1:4, the Hebrew for “knew” is a primitive root “yada” and means “to be acquainted with (closely),” as a man knows his wife. All lives are unique, but in the life of special servants of God there is a setting apart – a sanctification – for a particular destiny, such as in Jeremiah's life. It is the same with ALL who have experienced the New Birth through Mashiach Yeshua (Messiah Jesus). There are NO unimportant people in God's Kingdom … and NO trivial jobs. Only super humans for super destinies … designed BY and anointed FOR a Creator from beyond TIME and SPACE. If you have exercised your FREE WILL to repent of sin and receive Messiah Jesus as your LORD, the anointing of God will guide you at the coordinates of: x. your obedience; and, y. God's will for your life. _______________________________ PROPHECY Soon (some are already living now) … 144,000 Jewish prophets will arrive on the arena of Israel-centric international geopolitics. They have been called for such a time as this to guide the remnant of the House of Israel – believing Jews – to a knowledge of their Mashiach. They will dominate the media and cyber space … both legally and illegally: in the public marketplace, in governmental and business concourses, and underground. No one can stop them until they are finished! _______________________________ Baruch haba b'Shem Adonai. Your friend, Prince Handley President / Regent University of Excellence Podcast time: 9 minutes, 11 seconds RESOURCES: New Ideas and Science: Stem Cell Research - Module 5 - Section 1 New Ideas and Science: Stem Cell Research - Module 5 - Section 2 08/11/2018 - There's More Than Artificial Intelligence - Part 7: Synthetic Biology 07/21/2018 - There's More Than Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Part 6: Technological Singularity 07/13/2018 - There's more than Artificial Intelligence - Part 5: Nanotechnology 06/30/2018 - There's more than Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Part 4: Information Technology 06/19/2018 - There's more than Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Part 3: Robotics 06/14/2018 - There's more than Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Part 2 06/12/2018 - There's more than Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Part 1 BIBLIOGRAPHY: Jerome C. Glenn, “The State of the Future” (7/14/10) www.kurzweilai.net/the-state-ofthe-future. Dr. Thomas R. Horn, Chuck Missler, “The Hybrid Age,” February, 2012, Personal Update News Articles. Nick Bostrom, “The Transhumanism FAQ,” #1.2, World Transhumanism Association, http://www.transhumanism.org/. Steve Elwart, “(Un)Natural: The Ethics of Transgenics,” Koinonia House, http://khouse.org/articles/2011/993/. BBC News, “'Three people – one baby' public consultation begins,” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19597856 _______________ 24/7 Prince Handley BLOGS, teachings, and podcasts Click the Dove above Copyright © Prince Handley 2012, Revised 2018 All rights reserved. NOTE: Scroll down for ALL previous podcasts last 10 years. ___________________________ Rabbinical & Biblical Studies The Believers’ Intelligentsia Prince Handley Portal(1,000’s of FREE resources) Prince Handley Books DONATE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE RECEIPT WILL BE SENT TO YOU___________________________
Dr. James J. Hughes (author, professor and transhumanist) is today's featured guest. Topics: his doubts about the probability of the Singularity; Techno-Progressive Transhumanism verses Libertarian Transhumanism; Embracing Change with All Four Arms: A Posthuman Defence of Genetic Engineering; his new book Cyborg Buddah; Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future; Terry Shivo and brain death; the recent protests in the middle east for more freedom and reform; the politics of science fiction; and the personhood of clones and genetically engineered people. Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the March 2, 2011 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 46 minutes] This interview was recorded as a Skype-to-Skype call on February 18, 2011. Dr. James J. Hughes is the Executive Director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies. He is also a bioethicist and sociologist at Trinity College in Hartford Connecticut where he teaches health policy and serves as Director of Institutional Research and Planning. He holds a doctorate in sociology from the University of Chicago, where he also taught bioethics at the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics. Dr. Hughes is author of Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future , and is working on a second book tentatively titled Cyborg Buddha. Since 1999 he has produced a syndicated weekly radio program, Changesurfer Radio. He is a Fellow of the World Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a member of Humanity+, the Neuroethics Society, the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities and the Working Group on Ethics and Technology at Yale University. Dr. Hughes speaks on medical ethics, health care policy and future studies worldwide. News Item: Telomere loss, scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute say, is the root molecular cause of a variety of ills brought on by advanced age. Ills including: waning energy, failure of the heart and other organs, and metabolic disorders like diabetes. The scientists included faculty members from Dana-Farber, the Belfer Institute for Applied Cancer Science at Dana-Farber; Boston University School of Medicine; Brigham and Women's Hospital; Harvard University; University of Massachusetts, Worcester; Harvard Medical School; and St. Vincent's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Australia.
Dr. James J. Hughes (author, professor and transhumanist) is today's featured guest. Topics: challenges facing transhumanism today; the many flavours of transhumanism; fighting for the rights of the non-human person; and his expriences interviewing guests for his show Changesurfer Radio. Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the February 23, 2011 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 42 minutes] This interview was recorded as a Skype-to-Skype call on February 18, 2011. Dr. James J. Hughes is the Executive Director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies. He is also a bioethicist and sociologist at Trinity College in Hartford Connecticut where he teaches health policy and serves as Director of Institutional Research and Planning. He holds a doctorate in sociology from the University of Chicago, where he also taught bioethics at the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics. Dr. Hughes is author of Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future , and is working on a second book tentatively titled Cyborg Buddha. Since 1999 he has produced a syndicated weekly radio program, Changesurfer Radio. He is a Fellow of the World Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a member of Humanity+, the Neuroethics Society, the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities and the Working Group on Ethics and Technology at Yale University. Dr. Hughes speaks on medical ethics, health care policy and future studies worldwide. News Items: The audio book edition of Bones Burnt Black is now complete. The tenth and final segment is now online for everyone to listen to and enjoy for free. It can be found in the same place you find the episodes of this show.
James Hughes (Trinity College) is currently Associate Director of Institutional Research and Planning at Trinity College in Hartford, where he teaches Health Policy, Drug Policy, Infectious Disease Policy, and Research Methods in Trinity’ Graduate Public Policy Studies program. In 2004, Hughes was appointed the Executive Director of the World Transhumanist Association and he became Executive of the affiliated think tank, the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies. He is a Fellow of the World Academy of Arts and Sciences, a member of the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities, and a member of the Working Group on Ethics and Technology at Yale University. Dr. Hughes speaks on medical ethics, health care policy and future studies worldwide. His work is characterized by a hopefulness that technology and democracy can help citizens overcome some of the root causes of inequalities of power. He is the author of Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future in which he explores many of the issues and possibilities as technology increasingly changes the nature and character of being human. He also produces the weekly syndicated public affairs talk show Changesurfer Radio and contributes to the Technoliberation project and the Cyborg Democracy blog.