The Philosophy department hosts a series of talks that might be of interest to you. Here's the announcement for this week's event:
Our colloquium this week, the last one before Spring Break, will feature the Chuck Siegel, whose topic is
"Transhumanism and the Epic of Evolution." Please joins us on Friday March 7th, EESAT room 115.
Abstract: Since Darwin first presented evolutionary theory’s grand view of life, we have sought in it as much meaning as we have scientific fact. Leopold, for example, recognized in evolutionary theory a source for a “sense of kinship with fellow creatures,” and, an ethical foundation for valuing ecological processes. In contrast, mainstream transhumanists, such as Bostrom and Kurzweil, find in evolutionary theory much for humans to transcend, including organic evolution itself. Each approach has philosophical implications with regard to extant biodiversity. I suggest the latter approach, transhumanist philosophy, lays a foundation of disregard for extant biodiversity, and, as such, should be a source of concern to environmentalists. I will also suggest that it is not too late to remediate transhumanist philosophy with a “greener” understanding of evolution.
You can get on the mailing list for the philosophy dept. colloquium by contacting george.james
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