Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 16, No. 91.
Centre for Computing in the Humanities, King's College London
<http://www.princeton.edu/~mccarty/humanist/>
<http://www.kcl.ac.uk/humanities/cch/humanist/>
[1] From: Arun-Kumar Tripathi (31)
<tripathi@amadeus.statistik.uni-dortmund.de>
Subject: Speaking Cyborg
[2] From: Arun-Kumar Tripathi (29)
<tripathi@amadeus.statistik.uni-dortmund.de>
Subject: Artificial Intelligence and the Image of God
[3] From: Arun-Kumar Tripathi (16)
<tripathi@amadeus.statistik.uni-dortmund.de>
Subject: Materiality Has Always Been in Play
--[1]------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Jun 2002 08:54:56 +0100
From: Arun-Kumar Tripathi
<tripathi@amadeus.statistik.uni-dortmund.de>
Subject: Speaking Cyborg
The article on "Speaking Cyborg: Technoculture and Technonature" is
published IN Zygon, June 2002, vol. 37, no. 2, pp. 279-288(10) The article
is written by A. Kull, University of Tartu, Estonia --might interest to
Humanist Scholars.
Abstract:
---------
According to author, [T]wo ways of self-interpretation merged in Western
thought: the Hebrew and the Greek. What is unique, if anything, about the
human species? The reinterpretation of this problem has been a constant
process; here I am referring to Philip Hefner and the term created
co-creator, and particularly to Donna Haraway and the term cyborg.
Simultaneously, humans have been fascinated by the thought of
transgressing the boundaries that seem to separate them from the rest of
nature. Any culture reflects the ways it relates to nature. Our nature is
technonature, and our culture is technoculture. Our reality can be best
approached by the metaphor and symbol cyborg. Donna Haraway.s cyborg is
not just an interesting figure of speech, it is also a description.of
ourselves and our culture. Also, contemporary fiction reflects the return
of ontological questions: What is a world? What is the self? The cyborg
acknowledges our mode of existence and destabilizes the traditional
procedures of identity construction."
((Keywords are created co.creator; cyborg; Donna Haraway; Philip Hefner;
human being; Bruce Mazlish; technoscience))
Feeback is always welcome!
Best regards,
Arun
--[2]------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Jun 2002 08:55:48 +0100
From: Arun-Kumar Tripathi
<tripathi@amadeus.statistik.uni-dortmund.de>
Subject: Artificial Intelligence and the Image of God
An interesting article on "Creating in Our Own Image: Artificial
Intelligence and the Image of God" is published in the Zygon, June 2002,
vol. 37, no. 2, pp. 303-316(14) --written by N. Herzfeld, St. John.s
University, Collegeville.
Abstract:
There is remarkable convergence between twentieth-century interpretations
of the image of God (imago Dei), what it means for human beings to be
created in God.s image, and approaches toward creating in our own image in
the field of artificial intelligence (AI).
Both fields have viewed the intersection between God and humanity or
humanity and computers in terms of either (1) a property or set of
properties such as intelligence, (2) the functions we engage in or are
capable of, or (3) the relationships we establish and maintain. Each of
these three approaches reflects a different understanding of what stands
at the core of our humanity. Functional and relational approaches were
common in the late twentieth century, with a functional understanding the
one most accepted by society at large.
A relational view, however, gives new insights into human dignity in a
computer age as well as new approaches to AI research.
((Keywords are: artificial intelligence; Karl Barth; creation; image of
God; imago Dei; robots; Gerhard von Rad))
Your ideas are most welcome.
Thanks in advance.
Best,
Arun
--[3]------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Jun 2002 08:56:32 +0100
From: Arun-Kumar Tripathi
<tripathi@amadeus.statistik.uni-dortmund.de>
Subject: Materiality Has Always Been in Play
Hello, this might be an interesting venture for humanist scholars --An
Interview with N. Katherine Hayles by Lisa Gitelman is available at
<http://www.uiowa.edu/~iareview/tirweb/feature/hayles/NKHinterview.pdf>
Her most recent book, How We Became Posthuman: Virtual Bodies in
Cybernetics, Literature and Informatics, won the Rene Wellek Prize for the
best book in literary theory for 1998-99. Prof. Hayles is currently at
work on two books on electronic textuality, Writing Machines (MIT Press)
and Coding the Signifier: Rethinking Semiosis from the Telegraph to the
Computer.
Thanks in advance.
Best regards,
Arun Tripathi
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