Transhumanism: Societal Revolution

Transhumanism: Societal Revolution   Krishtina Amatya This report will consider the ways transhumanism will revolutionize society whether that be via cyborg integration, life extension, or the singularity, and how ethics dictates a lot of what happens in scientific fields of research. Technology such as prosthetic limbs, telomerase expression and CRISPR-Cas9 will be explored and discussed, as well as the morality behind the advancements of biotechnology and what it could mean in terms of classism. This research was supported by Dekkel Simmons and Andre Mostert, Centre for Innovation Management and Enterprise, University of East London. Society is constantly changing with the inventions of new technologies that impact the way humans interact with each other and communicate, as well as how they go about their daily lives. Transhumanist theory dictates that the only way for the human race to evolve and move on from our current societal state is by transforming the human condition so much so as to create an era of post-humans; beings whose basic vital capacities exceed those of present humans by so much that they can no longer be classified as humans by current standards. [DS1]This report is going to delve into future of transhumanism (H+) such as its effects on biotechnology, life extension, and the introduction of the singularity. This report is based off of only secondary data; methods of obtaining this data includes critiquing texts, piecing through events/incidents, using documents such as online journals and articles, and analysing official data in order to draw conclusions. This means that there is no need for a research budget as no primary data needs to be collected.[DS2] The first known use of the term Singularity in this context was by John von Neumann in 1958; when speaking with Stanislaw Ulam they made note of how the progress of technology was accelerating, constantly changing human life (Dvorsky, 2010). Now, nearly 60 years later, this is even more apparent and relevant in day-to-day life; the majority of people carry smartphones in their pockets all day, thinking it impossible to leave the house without them. However, the concept of the singularity itself is heavily disputed between technological luminaries and is considered controversial when it comes to its plausibility. Professor of Psychology at Harvard, Steven Pinker, does not believe the singularity will ever occur, stating that there is no reason to even believe such an event should take place (Pinker, 2008), whereas Vernor Vinge, Professor of Mathematics at San Diego State University, believes that the singularity will occur soon, before the year 2030, and that once it does, itll be the rise of humankind (Vinge, 1993). Whilst it is interesting to read discussions on others views on the singularity, it is important to approach it from an unbiased frame of reference; its practicality must be considered as well as the current advances that are being made in that area of study and the directions theyre going. Current evidence in favour of the singularity includes a woman, unable to use her arms and legs, who is able to control a prosthetic arm with just her mind via two chips being implanted directly onto the neurons in her brain (Stibel, 2015). This shows how if a woman who is unable to move herself can move another object, surely someday humans themselves will be able to merge with technology and AI in order to become post humans, triggering the start of what is currently known as the singularity. The process of developing the idea that humans will one day be able to merge with computers is already underway. Although the ability to implant chips into ones brain is a risky and arduous one, as it does involve intricate brain surgery, there are currently many brainwave sensors being developed that can be used outside of the skull; helmets that allow you to interact with and manipulate virtual reality in video games, sleep monitoring headbands, and caps that measure the alertness of a driver. These inventions could lead to things like implantable nanochips that would give humans access to centuries worth of data. At the moment, however, the human beings are perhaps slowly edging towards becoming cyborgs what with about 59,000 people having received some type of neurological prosthetics since 2002 such as eye glasses, cochlear implants, pace makers, heart valves, and artificial limbs (University of Adelaide, 2016). ­ Alongside the medical benefits of humans slowly turning into cyborgs comes the possible consequences of such technology. The divide between the rich and the poor could substantially increase as those with more money would easily enhance their personal attributes to their hearts desires as a more advanced form of plastic surgery whilst those without money continue to suffer from plague and hunger. Another consequence would be the inevitable use within the military in order to engineer super-soldiers with faster reflexes, better accuracy, and improved resistance to fatigue and hunger. Although this type of soldier seems ideal, theres nothing stopping these soldiers from turning on their creators who have, in turn, become their inferiors. (Mizrach, 2001) The main argument against cyborg technology is the potential risk towards human health and safety in regards to the actual merging of human and machine. For example, although there are high hopes when it comes to implanting nanochips into the brain, many people doubt that this will be possible due to the human nervous systems inability to regenerate so will most likely not be able to accept the chip within its system (Mizrach, 2001). It is also plausible to question whether the human body will even accept the chip and whether itll have any adverse reactions to it. There have been many times when this has been the case such as during the 1960s when pregnant mothers were given thalidomide in order to treat morning sickness. This resulted in the babies being born with multiple limb deformities (Cullen, 1964). Although this is an extreme case of the human body reacting with technology, it still calls into question the safety of modern technology. One of the main goals of the transhumanist movement is the ability to acquire superlongevity. There are currently many different theories regarding the means in which this is to be achieved however well-known theories include anti-aging drugs, stem cell research, and gene therapy. An example of life extension through anti-aging drugs is the possibility of human endothelial cell life extension by using telomerase expression. Expression of the catalytic component of human telomerase, human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), extends the life span of human fibroblasts and retinal pigment epithelial cells beyond senescence (loss of a cells power of division and growth) without causing neoplastic transformation (Yang, et al., 1999). Stem cells aid in the quest for immortality as they can either replicate or differentiate into many cell types. This is useful to replace dead cells, repair damaged organs/cells, regenerate and renew biological functions, and to rejuvenate cells by making them healthier and younger (Cell Malaysia, 2012). However, the use of stem cells has been met with controversy as the main source of stem cells is via human embryos. Many people disagree with the use of embryonic stem cells as it forces them into an ethical dilemma: whether to value the person who is using the stems in comparison to the belief that the embryo itself is also a human; that the embryos life must also be respected (EuroStemCell, 2015). Gene therapy is the delivery of nucleic acid polymers into a patients cells in the form of a drug to treat disease. A renowned type of gene therapy known as CRISPR-Cas9 has been considered when it comes to life extension as the Cas9 component of the CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) is a protein that is able to modify DNA. Once CRISPR has been perfected, old cells may never age again as the CRISPR technology allows for scientists to reprogram cellular DNA in order to get rid of unfavourable genetic changes (Faloon, et al., 2016). This report has considered the ways transhumanism will revolutionize society whether that be via cyborg integration, life extension, or the singularity, and how ethics does dictate a lot of what happens in scientific fields of research. Technology such as prosthetic limbs, telomerase expression and CRISPR-Cas9 have all been explored and mentioned and discussed, as well as the morality behind the advancements of biotechnology and what it could mean in terms of classism. Transhumanism (H+): an intellectual movement that aims to transform humanity by developing and using sophisticated technology that will be widely available in order to enhance human intellectual, physical, and psychological capabilities. The Singularity: the hypothesis that the invention of artificial superintelligence will trigger runaway technological growth, resulting in drastic changes to human civilization. Biotechnology: technology that is developed according to cellular and biomolecular processes that helps to improve the health of the planet and peoples lives. Cyborg: a hypothetical person whose physical abilities are advanced beyond normal human capabilities by mechanical elements built into the body. Life Extension: the study of slowing down/reversing the processes of aging to extend the average and maximum lifespan. References Cell Malaysia, 2012. How adult stem cell therapy do the reverse/anti aging ?, s.l.: Youtube. Cullen, J. F., 1964. OCULAR DEFECTS IN THALIDOMIDE BABIES. British Journal of Ophthalmology, March, 48(3), pp. 151-153. Dvorsky, G. P., 2010. Theres More to Singularity Studies Than Kurzweil. [Online] Available at: http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/print/4168[Accessed 03 September 2016]. EuroStemCell, 2015. Embryonic stem cell research: an ethical dilemma. [Online] Available at: http://www.eurostemcell.org/factsheet/embyronic-stem-cell-research-ethical-dilemma[Accessed 7 September 2016]. Faloon, W., Fahy, G. M. Church, G., 2016. Age-Reversal Research at Harvard Medical School. [Online] Available at: http://www.lifeextension.com/Magazine/2016/7/Age-Reversal-Research-at-Harvard-Medical-School/Page-01[Accessed 7 September 2016]. Mizrach, S., 2001. Should there be a limit placed on the integration of humans and computers and electronic technology?, s.l.: s.n. Pinker, S., 2008. Tech Luminaries Address Singularity [Interview] (1 June 2008). Stibel, J., 2015. The Coming Merge of Human and Machine Intelligence, s.l.: s.n. University of Adelaide, 2016. Cyborgs closer to becoming a reality of human evolution, s.l.: s.n. Vinge, V., 1993. The Coming Technological Singularity: How to Survive in the Post-Human Era, s.l.: s.n. Yang, J. et al., 1999. Human Endothelial Cell Life Extension by Telomerase Expression. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 10 September, 274(37), p. 26141-26148.

Key Features of Lavertys Father and Son :: Bernard Mac Laverty

Describe the key features if a short story you have enjoyed, saying what has impressed you most about it. â€Å"Father and Son† is written by Bernard Mac Laverty. One of the main themes of â€Å"Father and Son† is the breakdown of a family relationship. A main feature of â€Å"Father and Son† is repetition and this feature helps to show the relationship between the father and son. Another feature is tones, each character reveals different examples of tones. The son has an aggressive tone, while the father has a caring and almost frail tone. These key features help the reader to enjoy the short story â€Å"Father and Son†. â€Å"Father and Son† helps to highlight the theme of family breakdown after the boss of a family member. This can be shown by â€Å"I love him so much it hurts but he won’t talk to me†. This shows the father tries to keep a close bond between them both. However, the son wants to create a large distance between them this maybe because of him growing up and wanting to become an adult. These helps most readers to relate to the characters and enjoy this book as most readers have been teenagers or are parents and can sympathize with their situation. This father and son relationship is very strained. A previous incident it is suggested that the son was close to death. The reader can pick this up with the quotation â€Å"Look, Da, I have not touched the stuff since I came back†. This helps to explain why the father has became so needy to be a part of his son’s life, because they have already lost a family member and almost losing his son scared him deeply, however this incidentally pushes his son further away. The father cares greatly for his son. The writer helps us to understand this by not naming the son. This encourages the repetition of â€Å"my son†, which shows the pride and love this father has for his son. This helps us to comprehend the pain the father feels about the distance in his relationship with his son. The pleasure of understanding and empathizing with the father helps us to enjoy â€Å"Father and Son†. The tone is very important in this short story as it helps to increase the knowledge of each character. The son, for instance, has a very aggressive tone as the reader may expect from a young frustrated man, an example of that is â€Å"I would like to slap his face and make a man out of him†.

Change Initiative Paper Essay

Introduction Perhaps one of the greatest triumphs in United States history, World War II was essentially ended upon the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The boom heard around the world was not the only important outcome but rather what came after which was the baby boom. Many weary husbands that were coming home to eager wives caused one of the biggest statistical jumps of birth rates following the war. Often referred to as the â€Å"baby boomers†, this generation becomes especially important to the medical field in the present day. This is where hospice comes into play, allowing individuals the choice of obtaining this benefit upon reaching a 6 month or less terminal diagnosis. Hospice gives the individual a chance to die comfortably in a nursing facility, a general impatient hospital, or their own home. As an individual who used to work for Vitas Innovative Hospice, I ran the Telecare department which was responsible for the after-hours phone lines available to the patients and families. Patient Care Secretaries were assigned to handle calls and create tickets based on the customer needs whether it is a symptom or equipment failure. Nurses were similar, however, they were to receive the call from the secretary or call back the patient in order to triage the symptom properly. Vitas Telecare must adapt to be ready for the incoming flux of new patients from not only the baby boomers but from future generations to come. The Need for Change The change to be delivered is not a specific target but rather a broad change to efficiency to maximize profits while still maintaining Vitas’ core values â€Å"patients and families come first†. In the past decade, hospice in general has been coming under fire for keeping patients too long in their services should their prognosis improve. According to the Union Tribune, it was announced on February 13 of 2013; San Diego Hospice had filed bankruptcy and closed due to the Medicare audits that investigated patient eligibility. This type of publicity not only brought a negative light upon San Diego hospice but all across San Diego including Vitas. While the change may not come too easily, steps must be taken toward reshaping the public view in order to regain their trust to put their loved ones into Vitas services. Additionally, with the economy still not in a great state, lack of efficiency is costing the company. As the Patient Care Administrator of Telecare, I was responsible for maintaining a smooth flow of calls without tying up the customers on hold for too long. One of the biggest flaws that contributed to high call volume was the lack of both communication and following of scheduled breaks. Too often, employees were all taking lunches or breaks around the same time creating a heavy back up of calls as the only remaining employees could not handle them all. Vitas recently implanted a break management system called Workforce Management that not only observes peak and down call flow, but also manages break times accordingly to maximize efficiency. The problem, however, is the lack of employee discipline to follow the suggested break times. Several changes must be enacted including following of Workforce Management, focus on customer service, and continued efforts towards preparing for the future. The Change Model One of the most influential men today, John Kotter from Harvard Business School developed the Kotter’s Eight-Step Change Model as the most effective way to implement a change within an organization. The eight steps in order is as follows: create urgency, form a powerful coalition, create a vision for change, communicate the vision, remove obstacles, create short-term wins, build on the change, and anchor the changes in corporate culture. Kotter believed following these steps in the correct order created long lasting and successful change in any business if done correctly. This change model was selected based on several factors including success rate, concrete order of directions, and its ability to build upon existing success. The Role of the Leader in the Change Initiative In order for this success to commence, there are several leaders that must be in place during this re-creation of the Telecare department. The most important idea to realize is that everyone plays a part and that the leaders are just there to lead by example. This must be reiterated time and time again to assure the employees that everyone is included regardless of position. Sometimes during change, individuals feel left out just purely out  of their position in the matter or not being notified of everything going on. In order for employees to buy in initially, a sense of belonging must be established. The several leaders other than the Patient Care Administrator (PCA) would include supervisors under the PCA, a senior Patient Care Secretary (PCS) and a senior triage Registered Nurse (RN). The supervisor would walk around throughout the shift to make sure breaks and lunches are being followed as well as address any concerns of any of the employees. The senior PCS and senior RN would be in charge of holding a pre-shift meeting prior to taking the phone calls making sure to reiterate important do’s and do not’s of the job. Anytime employees of the same discipline would have a question, they could address it to their senior. Finally, the role of PCA is to assist the supervisors or seniors in any way or if any individual needs additional help. Meetings lead by the PCA must be held monthly to address progress and award individuals for their hard work. Process of Change As mentioned above, adopting Kotter’s Eight Step Change Model requires a strict following of the steps in order to generate long term change success. The first order of business is to establish a sense of urgency among all the employees in Telecare. A meeting would be called by the PCA in order to introduce the concept of the change and the reasons behind it. The meeting will be mandatory but also offer food and beverages or even encourage a potluck to involve them. Several concerns for the company would start broad pointing out how hospitals are starting their own hospices and continue to threaten the current status quo of Vitas. A good example would be Scripps Hospice or Sharp Hospice. Additionally, address the economic downturn that has not improved too much over the last decade and that job security is a must due to the depleting social security funds. Lastly, ask individuals one by one why they work this job, what is important to them and what can they do to help it. Next is to create a guiding coalition to direct others in the right direction towards the change. Change can be chaotic but when directed others will follow. As stated earlier, there is no hierarchy of bosses but rather a string of leaders to drive and lead by example. Employees must know that the supervisors and seniors are there to encourage them and address any problems they may come across during a phone call. For example, a PCS receives an angry caller and ends up becoming frustrated themselves so they put the caller on hold. Rather than allow the PCS to continue the call, the senior PCS could take the call and allow the PCS to take a short break to gather their thoughts. The beginning of the change is all about employee buy in. After the initial shock of starting the change, another meeting would be called to describe and communicate the vision, hoping that previous efforts have started to get employees to buy into the change. The main purpose of the change is to keep Vitas strong and competitive among other rising hospices by superior customer service and employees that we ll taken care of especially for their hard work. The next step requires others to empower the broad based change, meaning that every individual must feel like they are always involved and an important aspect of the process. The constant reiteration of this by the seniors and supervisors should continue this effort. If a pre-shift is finished early, the seniors may ask individuals about their daily lives and allow them to connect with each other. Working alone is a preference for some but being able to come to work with friends just gives them another incentive. Kotter’s next step is planning for and creating short-term wins. If there is something that causes an individual to work hard, it’s something they want. The PCA should create an incentive system based on an individual’s consistency and dedication. This all depends on the discipline since a PCS does not handle the medical work of a RN. An example of an incentive for a PCS would be a small raise for having a consistently high calls answered through several months. Additionally, an RN would receive a small raise based on customer satisfaction surveys or recommendation from a supervisor for observation of great work. The last two steps involve improving on previous successes and maintaining a bar by addressing the state of the call center every monthly meeting. Awards should be continued to recognize individual efforts but also continued awareness of each employee’s efforts. Overcoming Barriers to Change and Sustaining Change There will be always some resistance to change despite the hardest efforts but there are several ways that will encourage a shift. One reason a person works is for the money to pay and enjoy the lifestyle they have chosen. With the incentive already addressing this through incremental raises, employees should continue to look for ways to be consistent and work hard. Additionally, many people have families, personal days or things they would  like to do on certain days. Vitas may address this through hiring of employees in order to be flexible with schedules. Lastly, in order to feel involved, the PCA should look to meet with individual employees to communicate the vision and address any concerns they may have. Sustaining change requires the efforts of everyone including the PCA. Continued reinforcement means fixing problems as they appear or prepping for future conflicts. Conclusion Despite the new technology to save more and more lives daily, so too does the technology to destroy them. E-cigarettes and processed foods are just to name a few. Vitas Hospice should be ready for the many years to come and the health problems that cause terminal diagnosis’ to arise. With this change in place, Vitas will be ready. References Sisson, P. (2014). SD Hospice to Close; Scripps Steps in. Union Tribune. Retrieved September 9, 2014, from http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/feb/13/san-diego-hospice-closing/Webster, M. (2014). Successful Change Management – Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model. Retrieved September 9, 2014, from http://www.leadershipthoughts.com/kotters-8-step-change-model/

The Foundations Of Human Development - 783 Words

There are three foundations of human development. The foundations are the biological development, psychological development, and social development. The concept of human diversity and cultural competences demonstrates how different people can be. General systems theory and social order are connected in some way. There are several incidents or situations that can affect a person physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. Some of the biological aspects include problematic pregnancy, fetal development and prenatal care. Problems can occur right at the time of conception. There are test that can be done to determine if a fetus can have a life altering conditions. There are many factors that can affect the developmental process. Having the knowledge of the developmental milestones can better help the human service professional with helping and understanding their client. â€Å"There are guides to give the information needed for each milestone that a child should reach by a certain age† (Zastrow Kirst-Ashman, 2010). Understanding the biological development will help a person understand the physiological dimensions because they work together in understanding the human development. Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. â€Å"Personality, self-concept, emotion, and cognition are parts of the human psychological development† (Zastrow Kirst-Ashman, 2010). The psycho-dynamic theory, Neo-Freudian psychoanalytic theory, phenomenological theory, and feminist theories are someShow MoreRelatedThe Foundations of Human Development Essays799 Words   |  4 PagesThe Foundations of Human Development in the Social Environment Janice Alleyne BSHS 325 May 13, 2013 Sandra Knepp The Foundations of Human Development in the Social Environment Introduction) Human development is the biological, psychological, and social process that a human being must go through to reach full maturity. It defines who we are and how we interact with and view the environment around us. Understanding human development and how it affects an individual is an essential theme inRead MoreFoundations of Human Development in the Social Environment Essay828 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ Foundations of Human Development in the Social Environment BSHS 325 Foundations of Human Development in the Social Environment The foundation of human development, responds to the breakdown of its commitment to the development of attitudes and skills, which facilitate authentic personal, spiritual, and social development and the transformation throughout an individual’s life span. During an individual’s life span, the foundations of human development begin to change, as the directRead MoreEssay on Bshs 325 Complete Course1471 Words   |  6 PagesWeek 1 DQ 2 BSHS 325 Week 1 Individual Assignment Foundation of Human Development Paper BSHS 325 Week 1 Individual Assignment Foundation of Human Development Worksheet BSHS 325 Week 2 DQ 1 BSHS 325 Week 2 DQ 2 BSHS 325 Week 2 Individual Assignment Adoloscent Self Potrait Presentation BSHS 325 Week 2 Individual Assignment Bullying Report BSHS 325 Week 3 DQ 1 BSHS 325 Week 3 DQ 2 BSHS 325 Week 3 Individual Assignment Physical Development in Middle Adulthood BSHS 325 Week 3 Individual AssignmentRead MoreIslamic World View Beyond Islamic Development Strategy Essay1463 Words   |  6 PagesIslamic World View Beyond Islamic Development Strategy, Is It There? Introduction Allan Bullock and S.Trombley (1999) refer ‘worldview’ to a general conception of the nature of the world, particularly as containing or implying a system of value-principles. What constructs such a system of value-principles may vary depending on each fundamental belief. It becomes essential to know the various type of worldview as it helps us to comprehensively understand our own worldview and gain insight from othersRead MoreAnalysis Of Emporia State University s Masters Degree873 Words   |  4 Pagesprogram has opened my eyes to theoretical foundations and roles. The skills, knowledge, and dispositions acquired over the past two years have shaped my influence and effectiveness in a classroom, as well as my long-term goals as a professional. The ultimate goal of any strong curriculum is to outline what the student should know and be able to do. Curriculum is built on four major foundations: history, philosophy, psychology, and sociology. Historical foundations of curriculum are important as we oftenRead MoreEarly Childhood Development : Child Welfare1640 Words   |  7 Pages Early Childhood Development Rossy Sical SWK 346 Child Welfare Professor Carew February 3, 2015 Early Childhood Development Early childhood development is a fundamental key to a full and productive life. This stage of development is not only important because of its rapid development but also because it is the foundation of children’s future cognitive, behavioral and emotional well-being. Children during this stage require love and physical and verbal stimulationRead MoreThe Human Resource Management ( Hrm ) Position Specific Education1595 Words   |  7 Pageson a human resource management (HRM) position specific education and requirements need to be meet. A bachelor’s degree is the education needed to obtain a job for this occupation. Most bachelor programs for human resource management take four years to complete (Human Resources Management Degree, 2003). With a bachelor’s degree it will give the tools that are expected to enter a variety of business settings (7 Essential Questions, 2015). A bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science in human resourceRead MoreThe Similarities Of A dult Education ( Ae ) And Human Resource Development819 Words   |  4 Pages The similarities of Adult Education (AE) and Human Resource Development (HRD) out weigh the differences. Both AE and HRD seek learning that advances the ability of individuals to improve and progress, which is the main objective of both. The fact that both seek to advance the abilities of individuals through learning there is no doubt in my mind that AE can provide a foundation. An important foundation that HRD can take from AE is the control it provides a learner over his or her own self-determinationRead MoreThe Woodson Foundation and Its Problems with Low Student Performance 790 Words   |  4 Pages The Woodson Foundation, which is a nonprofit organization, after months of negotiation will be developing a new agency with the National Coalition for Parental Involvement in Education (NCPIE) that will help improve the organization. The main improvements mainly are focused on the teachers. The teacher employee turnover rate is high and they are losing their enthusiasm for helping the students. Low student performance and crime are also areas that need to be improved amongst the school system. Read MoreEssay on Bshs 325 Entire Course Week 1-5 ( a Graded )1547 Words   |  7 Pagesthat damage her child be punished as a criminal? Explain your reasoning with references to support your thoughts and ideas. (2) How does general systems theory influence human services delivery? BSHS 325 Week 1 Assignment Foundation of Human Development Paper BSHS 325 Week 1 Assignment Foundation of Human Development Worksheet BSHS 325 Week 2 Course Description] (1) What are the social constructs associated with early and late pubertal maturation on boys and girls? How can they affect