CALL FOR PAPERS: Bio-enhancement, Emerging Technologies and Social Responsibilities (Dubrovnik, Croatia - Sept 10-14, 2012)

*ENHANCEMENT, EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES!

**10 - 14 September 2012 at the Inter-University Center, Dubrovnik, Croatia.

CFP DEADLINE: July 1st 2012

Major topics include:

BIOENHANCEMENT, TECHNOLOGY AND ETHICS, TRANSHUMANISM, POSTHUMANISM, AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITES.

The University of Zagreb, The New York Institute of Technology, University

the 4thConference on Beyond Humanism: Trans- and Posthumanism. The 1 st Conference took place in April 2009 at the University of Belgrade (Humanism and Posthumanism), the 2nd Conference in September 2010 at the University of the Aegeans (Audiovisual Posthumanism), and the 3rdConference in October 2011 at Dublin City University (Transforming Human Nature).

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*This year, the conference topic is ENHANCEMENT, EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES. The conference will be held at the Inter-University Center, Dubrovnik, Croatia from 10th until the 14th of September 2012. We invite papers and panel proposals. See www.transformingthehuman.org <about:blank>

the rapid development of emerging technologies. In order to guarantee a systematic treatment of the topic we will particularly focus on the following five topics:

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*1. Enhancement as social challenge: As part of this topic, we will be concerned with the social challenges related to moral enhancement; genetic enhancement; neuroenhancement; cyborg enhancement.

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*2. Enhancing Evolution. As part of this topic both historical as well as systematic treatments are being dealt with. Hence, we will be concerned both with the historical debate between Aldous and Julian Huxley which lead to the publication of the influential books "Brave New World" and "New Bottles for New Wine". The relationship between Nietzsche, Transhumanism and the contemporary eugenics debates will also be covered as part of this course. However, contemporary systematic topics like the social challenges related to the Movie "Gattaca" or the John Harris monograph "Enhancing Evolution" will not be neglected, either.

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*3. Bioarts, Body Art and Performance Art. Questions such as the following will be tackled: Which social challenges are related to Kac's works of art?

Does Orlan's Carnal Art raise significant questions concerning the challenges of plastic surgery? How does Nyman's opera "Facing Goya" address central questions concerning eugenics? Are his worries plausible?; Does Jaime del Val's performance convince of the need to move beyond a duality of sexes towards a plurality of sexes?

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*4. Human Dignity. Several questions need to be considered in this context.

Is it possible to accept the theory of evolution and to also affirm the special status of human beings as categorically separate from other natural beings? Which characteristics are necessary for distinguishing the dignityof humans, metahumans, transhumans and posthumans? Do posthumanists, and transhumanists put forward plausible challenges concerning human dignity? Is the concept of the embodied mind compatible to that of human dignity? Will there be the need to introduce the concept of post-persons, whereby post-persons have a higher moral status as persons?

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*5. Enhancement and Health Insurance Companies. In this context the following questions will be addressed: Are vaccination a type of enhancement? What is a disease and what ought to be referred to as merely a special trait?; Is it possible to introduce regulations concerning health insurances such that the issue of global justice is being considered? Does a liberal state necessarily lead to structures which neglect social justice?

The aim of this multidisciplinary conference is to bring together voices and perspectives from a variety of academic disciplines as well as fields of public practice and application concerning the development and

challenges. We invite papers from across the disciplines that will shed light on the state of affairs, especially the consequences of enhancement and

Papers will be selected and arranged according to related topics. Equal voice will be given, if possible, for presentations from the arts, humanities, sciences, and technological fields.

POSSIBLE TOPICS could include, but are not limited to:

 

theory

 

dystopian/utopian literature

SUBMISSIONS and DEADLINES:

We invite abstracts of up to 500 words, to be sent in MS Word format to Professor Curtis Carbonell (ccarbo04@nyit.edu<https://service.gmx.net/de/cgi/g.fcgi/mail/new?CUSTOMERNO=4236116&t=de101741866.1336131735.aa943f52&to=ccarbo04%40nyit.edu>).

Files should be

named and submitted in the following manner:

Submission: First Name Last name. docx (or .doc)