Impact of science and technology on society Books

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe digital age we now live in is fundamentally changing how we relate to our perceptions and images. Daniel O''Shiel provides the first comprehensive phenomenology of virtual technology in order to show how the previously well-established experiential lines and structures between three basic categories of phenomenal experience our everyday perceptions of reality; our everyday fantasies of irreality; and our everyday engagements with external images, not least digital ones are becoming blurred, inverted or are even collapsing in a new era where a specific type of virtuality is coming to the fore. O'Shiel examines in depth just what this means for the phenomenology behind it, as well as the concrete practical consequences going forward. The work is divided into two main parts. In the first O'Shiel fully investigates the phenomenological natures of perception and imagination through close textual analyses of the relevant works by Edmund Husserl, Eugen Fink and Jean-Paul Sartre. In eachTrade ReviewHow to interpret the relation between the infinite of our actual and real world, and the infinite of the digital and virtual world of social media? Not in terms of “transition”, but in terms of transformation. Daniel O’Shiel describes meticulously the very nature of it: i.e. as form of “irrealization”. This loss of the “real”, he shows, is at the core of the passions and experiences generated by virtual reality. Is this a problem? Read the book, and judge for yourself. * Roland Breeur, Professor of Philosophy, KU Leuven, Belgium *We live in a world dominated by the power of the image, wherein the boundaries between the real and the virtual are increasingly blurred. What happens to the self, to the other, and to values in such a situation? Mining crucial insights of classical phenomenology and applying his findings to a variety of contemporary virtual technologies, O’Shiel has produced a valuable monograph not only for scholars of phenomenology, but also for anyone who wishes to think seriously about what it means to perceive and to imagine in the digital age—and about how to do so with greater discernment. * Ian Alexander Moore, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Loyola Marymount University, USA *O’Shiel’s book is a major achievement. It offers a masterful survey of the contributions of major phenomenological thinkers to the conceptualisation and analysis of the virtual which could serve equally well as a point of entry for a phenomenologist curious about the virtual, or a researcher of the virtual seeking to grasp phenomenology. Ultimately O’Shiel’s project is a syncretic one, and this overview of phenomenological contributions to the understanding of the virtual serves as a springboard to the production of his own framework. The fecundity of which is amply demonstrated by its application to various forms of virtual technology, such as social media, online gaming, and virtual reality. This book is a treasure trove of phenomenological insights into the virtual. It is engagingly written, conversational without being superficial. The author has made a major contribution to contemporary phenomenology, and this book will undoubtedly become the go to text for those teaching and researching the phenomenology of the virtual. * Gregory Swer, Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements List of Abbreviations Introduction PART I. PERCEPTION, IMAGE AND THE CHALLENGE OF VIRTUALITY 1. Husserl 1.1. Husserl’s Perception 1.2. Presentation, Presentification and Phantasy 1.3. The Problem of Image-Consciousness 2. Fink 2.1. Fink’s ‘Presentification and Image’ 2.2. Presentation, Depresentation and the Types of Presentification 2.3. Image-Consciousness, Again 3. Sartre 3.1. Perception and the Imaginary 3.1.1. Experiencing and Evoking Absence: Perception, Imagination and the Analogon 3.1.2. Sartre’s Imaginary: Between Perception and Concept 3.1.3. An Ambiguity in Sartre’s Conclusion? 3.2. Sartre’s Answer for Image-Consciousness .. 3.3. Recapitulation and Discussion 4. The Challenge of Virtuality 4.1. Heidegger and Our Forked Being 4.2. Bergson and Deleuze 4.3. Perception and Image: a Difference in Kind or Degree? 4.4. Real Virtualities: Self, World, Others and Values PART II. IRREAL VIRTUALITY: THE CASE OF VIRTUAL TECHNOLOGY 5. Social Media 5.1. The Significance and Influence of Social Media 5.2. Changed Selves, Worlds, Others and Values in Social Media 5.3. Breeur’s Challenge: A Possibility for Real Engagement On or Through Social Media? 6. Online Gaming 6.1. Games Are Not (Straightforward) Perceptions 6.2. The Online Gaming Experience 6.3. Changed Selves, Worlds, Others and Values in Games 6.4. Reality, Irreality, Superreality and Addiction 7. VR, AR and MR Technologies 7.1. A Summary of VR, AR and MR Technologies 7.2. Changed Selves, Worlds, Others and Values in VR, AR and MR Technologies 7.3. ‘Pure’ MR and the Case of Holograms 8. Considerations and Consequences 8.1. Virtual Technology: Its Current Status and Scope 8.2. Blurrings, Inversions and Collapses? Current Trends and Future Possibilities Conclusion Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisOne of Time magazine''s ''32 Books You Need to Read This Summer'' -- ''a riveting read''.''Intensely readable, downright terrifying, and surprisingly uplifting.''Vanity Fair''A fascinating work of imaginative futurology, a science journalist takes a look at our current technologies and anticipates the human-robot future that could await us - one full of warrior bots, politician bots, doctor bots and sex bots.''One of Barbara VanDenburgh''s ''5 Books Not to Miss'', USA TodayOne of the best summer reads of 2019, according to top authors David Baldacci and Elizabeth Acevedo on USA Today''s Today programme. ''A refreshing variation on the will-intelligent-robots-bring-Armageddon genre . . . this colorful mixture of expert futurology and quirky speculation does not disappoint'' Kirkus ReviewsWhat robot and AI systems are being built and imagined right now? What do they say about usTrade ReviewA refreshing variation on the will-intelligent-robots-bring-Armageddon genre . . . this colorful mixture of expert futurology and quirky speculation does not disappoint. * Kirkus *Duncan writes the way good teachers teach, conversational, yet informed . . . [he] is a popularizer and storyteller. * USA Today *A riveting read. * Time Magazine *A brilliant chronicle of encounters with our future selves. -- Andrei Codrescu, bestselling author and NPR commentator'Intensely readable, downright terrifying, and surprisingly uplifting.' * Vanity Fair *'A fascinating work of imaginative futurology, a science journalist takes a look at our current technologies and anticipates the human-robot future that could await us - one full of warrior bots, politician bots, doctor bots and sex bots.' -- Barbara VanDenburgh * ‘5 Books Not to Miss’, USA Today *One of the best summer reads of 2019. -- David Baldacci and Elizabeth Acevedo * USA Today’s Today programme *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWinner of the International Federation for Family Development Award.When Dr Tom Harrison, a leading expert in the field of character education and the Internet, bought his daughter her first smartphone, a major milestone had been reached: she had entered the ''cyber-world''. Harrison no longer needed to know what to think; he needed to know what to do. This is the first practical book of its kind to show parents and teachers how to develop character as the foundation for helping young people to thrive in their online interactions. It answers the question: How do we prepare our children to do the right thing when no one is watching?Based on his own experience as a parent, more than a decade of research and thousands of conversations with parents, teachers, children and policymakers, the REACT and THRIVE models have been developed to engage with character, wellbeing, social and emotional learning, ethics and digital citizenship - all the ingredients for Trade ReviewEvery parent is nervous about how their child will cope with the online world. Based on his work on building character and a desire for every child to flourish, Tom Harrison is just the right person to show us how the next generation can navigate cyberspace and thrive in doing so -- The Rt Hon Baroness Nicky MorganIn the fourth industrial revolution it is vital our children develop the character and human strengths that will enable them to flourish online. This book makes a compelling case for why character matters, as well as clearly showing how parents and teachers can help their children to use digital technologies wisely -- Sir Anthony SeldonAs a parent, I know how important it is to help young people flourish in the increasingly digital world in which they're growing up. In his new book, Tom Harrison shows us how the theory of character development - which can be traced back to the ancients - is more relevant to this task than ever. The book provides a practical guide for parents and young people on how to develop the wisdom and skills needed to navigate the internet, with all the opportunities and risks it provides. I highly recommend this book to all parents and teachers -- Lord O'ShaughnessyWhile guides to keeping children safe on the internet abound, children deserve more - they deserve to flourish in the online spaces that form part of everyday life in the twenty-first century. Tom Harrison's THRIVE is a much-needed guide for parents, teachers and others seeking to help children cultivate the habits, virtues and practical judgment needed to live wisely and well in digital environments -- Professor Shannon Vallor, Baillie Gifford Chair in the Ethics of Data and Artificial IntelligenceTHRIVE seamlessly weaves together timely insights from research on digital life, timeless ethical principles and actionable advice to help parents guide their children on the path to cyber-wisdom and, ultimately, to thrive. Tom Harrison draws from his own experiences raising children in a connected world and his deep expertise in virtue ethics and character education to create a compelling "how to" guide for parents -- Dr Carrie James, Principal Investigator at Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of EducationTHRIVE demonstrates the need for parents and teachers to take an active part in helping children to develop into good "cyber-citizens." The Internet offers temptations to a new generation that their parents and teachers may not have encountered. This sentence stayed with me: "Many children I interviewed said they had been involved with saying nasty things to others online because their friends encouraged them to." That's how easy it can be. Fortunately, Dr Harrison's work offers us strong and positive ways to "reclaim the language of virtue" -- Naomi Stadlen, author of What Mothers LearnTHRIVE is practical, realistic and sound. Tom Harrison's ideas resonate with my own experiences as a mother and educator of adolescents and his parenting tools will be as effective in everyday life as in the digital world. Your child will thank you for reading this -- Kim McCabe, founder of Rites for Girls and author of From Daughter to WomanFinally, a practical guide that not only tells us why our kids need to learn to become good cyber-citizens, but actually gives us the tools for how to do it! In two easy-to-remember acronyms, REACT and THRIVE, Tom empowers parents to enter our children's cyber worlds with pro-activity and positivity rather than fear and negativity. He shows us how we can practically foster the wisdom in our kids that is so necessary in making good decisions in the cyber world on their own. This book is extremely relevant and I highly recommend it for parents and teachers -- Jessica Joelle Alexander, bestselling author of The Danish Way of Parenting

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis collection is framed through Deleuze's symptomalogical approach which creates the ideal terrain for architecture and medical technologies of care to meet with robotics, alongside the newly emerging 'materialist landscape.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis pioneering interdisciplinary collection works across mainstream and alternative spaces such as Twitter, Youtube, Facebook, Grindr and gay men's health websites. These digital platforms are then situated within the socio-political situation in India, offering a new way of understanding queerness and Indian-ness.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAshley Woodward demonstrates what a new generation of scholars are just discovering: that Lyotard s incisive work is essential for current debates in the humanities. Lyotard s ideas about the arts and the confrontations between humanist traditions and cutting-edge sciences and technologies are today known as `posthumanism .

Read more less

Book SynopsisCritical and Clinical Cartographies' rethinks medical and design pedagogies in the context of both the Affective and Digital Turns that are occurring under the umbrella of New Materialism and framed through Deleuze's symptomalogical approach.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA bold defense of the internet, arguing attempts to fix and regulate it are often misguided —'essential reading for anyone who cares about the future of the internet' (Taylor Lorenz, author of Extremely Online) The internet stands accused of dividing us, spying on us, making us stupid, and addicting our children. In response, the press and panicked politicians seek greater regulation and control, which could ruin the web before we are finished building it.   Jeff Jarvis is convinced we can have a saner conversation about the internet. Examining the web’s past, present, and future, he shows that many of the problems the media lays at the internet’s door are the result of our own failings. The internet did not make us hate; we brought our bias, bigotry, and prejudice with us online. That’s why even well-intentioned regulation will fail to fix hate speech and misinformation and may instead imperil the

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisFifty of the world’s most creative people share their stories, their inspirations, and their unique takes on science and education, all inspired by the Exploratorium science museum.What do music visionary Brian Eno, kinetic sculptor Theo Jansen, science writer Mary Roach, Mythbuster Adam Savage, and Pulitzer-winning journalist Thomas Friedman have in common? They are all game-changers: scientists, artists, entertainers, and activists who revolutionized their fields with bold new perspectives and approaches—and they all had transformative, course-setting experiences at the Exploratorium. Join them and 45 more brilliant thinkers and doers in a wonderfully playful, insightful, and sometimes incredibly moving journey to see how you, too, can harness your powers of observation, inquiry, and engagement to be the change you want to see in the world—regardless of who you are or what you do. Interviewees and Subjects Include: Oscar-Winning Sound Designer Walter Murch on observation Laurie Anderson on art as a way of knowing Memory Expert Elizabeth Loftus on how we learn Oliver Sacks on perception Mary Roach on how she learned to ask the right questions Adam Savage on the fun of finding things out Mickey Hart on the art of playing to learn, and learning to play California Governor Gavin Newsom on the importance of science Community activist Randy Carter on finding joy in the worst of places . . . and dozens more interviews, insights, and activities suggested by artists, scientists, poets, and politicians, in a book that’s guaranteed to make you a more creative person. And maybe just change the world.

Read more less

Book SynopsisOur planet's elliptical orbit around the Sun and its billions-of-years existence are facts we take for granted, matters every literate high school student is expected to grasp. But humanity's struggle towards these scientific truths lasted millennia. Few of us have more than the faintest notion of the path we have travelled. Hubert Krivine tells the story of the thinkers and scientists whose work allowed our species to put an age to the planet and pinpoint our place in the solar system. It is a history of bold innovators, with a broad cast of contributors - not only Copernicus, Galileo and Kepler, but Halley, Kelvin, Darwin and Rutherford, among many others. Courage, iniquity, religious dogmatism, genius and blind luck all played a part. This was an epic struggle to free the mind from the constraints of cant, ideology and superstition. From this history, Krivine delineates an invaluable philosophy of science, one today under threat from irrationalism and the fundamentalist movements of East and West, which threaten both what we have attained at great cost and what we still have to learn. Scientific progress is not a sufficient condition for social progress; but it is a necessary one. The Earth is not merely a history of scientific learning, but a stirring defence of Enlightenment values in the quest for human advancement.Trade ReviewHubert Krivine's book is not only a fascinating history of how humanity came to understand the age and motion of the Earth - it is also an object lesson in the philosophy of science, which will upset religious fundamentalists and extreme-social-constructivist sociologists in equal measure. -- Alan Sokal, Professor of Physics at New York University and Professor of Mathematics at University College LondonKrivine's new book should be read, distributed, and defended: it outlines-allowing only for the uncertainties of science inquiry-how we know what we know about the earth. * Flavorwire *"An excellent book of popular science, written in a straightforward, accessible style." -- Jean Bricmont * Le Monde Diplomatique *Clear and fascinating. * La Quinzaine Litteraire *A wonderful reflection on science. * Mediapart *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe internet has profoundly shaped how Muslims perceive Islam, and how Islamic societies and networks are evolving and shifting within the twenty-first century. While these electronic interfaces appear new and innovative in terms of how the media is applied, much of their content has a basis in classical Islamic concepts, with an historical resonance that can be traced back to the time of the Prophet Muhammad. "I-Muslims" explores how these transformations and influences play out in diverse cyber Islamic environments, and how they are responding to shifts in technology and society. This book discusses how, in some contexts, the application of the internet has had an overarching transformational effect on how Muslims practice Islam, how forms of Islam are represented to the wider world, and how Muslim societies perceive themselves and their peers. On one level, this may be in terms of practical performance of Islamic duties and rituals, or on the interpretation and understanding of the Qur'an. On another level, cyber Islamic environments have exposed Muslims to radical and new influences outside of traditional spheres of knowledge and authority, causing long-standing paradigmatic shifts at a grassroots level within societies. "I-Muslims" looks at how these changes are taking place, including through social networking sites and the blogosphere. This book also explores how the internet has dramatically influenced jihad-oriented campaigns by networks such as al-Qaeda, and has made a significant difference to how forms of Islamic activism and radicalization have been engendered. This book concludes by determining the way forward for the articulation of diverse understandings of Islam online, and how Muslim networks will be further shaped through their relationships with the internet.Table of Contents1. iMuslims and Cyber Islamic Environments 2. Accessing Cyber Islamic Environments 3. De-coding the Sacred: Islamic Source Code 4. The Islamic Blogosphere 5. The Cutting-edge: Militaristic Jihad in Cyberspace 6. Digital Jihadi Battlefields: Iraq and Palestine 7. The Transformation of Cyber Islamic Environments

Read more less

Book SynopsisA new, updated edition, with a new foreword of Andrew Keen's witty and provocative polemic against the rise of user-generated content and the anything goes standards of much online publishing, which set the blogosphere and media alight on publication. Dubbed the 'anti-christ' of Silicon Valley and a dot-com apostate, Andrew Keen is the leading contemporary critic of the Internet. and The Cult of the Amateur is a scathing attack on the mad utopians of Web 2.0 and the wisdom of the crowd. Keen argues that much of the content filling up YouTube, MySpace, and blogs is just an endless digital forest of mediocrity which, unconstrained by professional standards or editorial filters, can alter public debate and manipulate public opinion.Trade ReviewAndrew Keen has had the temerity to point out that our search for instant wisdom through, say, Google and Wikipedia provides not necessarily what is most true or reliable—merely what is most popular. I read it in one sitting then went outside to fish for our supper, firmly believing that the poor fish that swallows my squirming worm on a barbed hook is infinitely smarter than the idiot on the other end holding the rod. -- Ralph Steadman * The Observer - “That’s the best thing we’ve read all year” *A staggering new book by Andrew Keen. He is an English-born digital media entrepreneur and Silicon Valley insider who really knows his stuff and he writes with the passion of a man who can at last see the dangers he has helped unleash. His book will come as a real shock to many. It certainly did to me. -- A. N. Wilson * Daily Mail *Keen deserves to be taken seriously... I admire his bravery in arguing against the vociferous IT crowd. -- Luke Johnson * Management Today - Books of the Year *The Cult of the Amateur needed to be written and it needs to be read. * Management Today *This is a powerful, provocative and beautifully written stop-and-breathe book in the midst of the greatest paradigm shift in information and communications history. -- Chris Schroeder, CEO, Health Central Network and former CEO, WashingtonPost/Newsweek onlineAndrew Keen is a brilliant, witty, classically-educated technoscold—and thank goodness. The world needs an intellectual Goliath to slay Web 2.0’s army of Davids. -- Jonathan Last, online editor, The Weekly StandardImportant... will spur some very constructive debate. This is a book that can produce positive changes to the current inertia of web 2.0. -- Martin Green, VP of Community, CNETFor anyone who thinks that technology alone will make for a better democracy, Andrew Keen will make them think twice. -- Andrew Rasiej, founder, Personal Democracy ForumVery engaging, and quite controversial and provocative. He doesn’t hold back any punches. -- Dan Farber, editor-in-chief, ZDNetThank you so much for your virtual BIBLE. It is the only thing I have come across that is uncompromising and clear. The computer is a wonderful piece of machinery, but it is in danger of becoming a barometer of our moral stance, a law maker for our shared values and a bulwark against the sheer essence of beauty that has gone before. It must never be the annihilator of human effort, the touchstone of ingenuity or the simple pleasure of making something that may have been made for a thousand years. -- Ralph SteadmanA shrewdly argued jeremiad against the digerati effort to dethrone cultural and political gatekeepers and replace experts with ‘the wisdom of the crowd’. Keen writes with acuity and passion. * The New York Times *My initial reaction to the book was: ‘Geez, I have a lot of things to think about now.’ For people immersed in the social communities of Web 2.0, this is bound to be a thought-provoking and sobering book. While I don’t agree with everything Keen says, there is page after page of really interesting insight and research. I look forward to the much-needed debate about the problems that Keen articulates—which can’t be lightly dismissed. -- Larry Sanger, co-founder of Wikipedia and founder of Citizendium

Read more less

Book SynopsisWlliam Gladwell meets Alvin Toffler in this lively, provocative and witty look at our possible futures. Filled with provocative forecasts about how the world might change in the next half century, Future Files examines emerging patterns and developments in society, technology, economy, and business, and makes educated speculations as to where they might take us. It is indispensable to business analysts, strategists and organisations who need to stay ahead of the game as well as providing rich and fascinating material for dinner party conversations. Will machines become more intelligent than humans, and even be able to 'read' our minds? Will food in our fridge speak to each other using radio waves, then come up with options for tonight's menu? Is there a looming environmental crisis where Planet Earth is doomed? Would you like a pill that improves your memory? ...Or a moistened tissue that could erase a bad day? Would you feel safer if your front door could tell you whether the person knocking is not a stranger? These are just some of the provocative forecasts about how the world might change in the next half century which Richard Watson explores in "Future Files".Trade ReviewCheaper than a crystal ball and twice as fun...Part Jules Verne, part Malcolm Gladwell, Watson has a puckish sense of humor and his book is a thought-provoking, laughter-inducing delight. * Publishers Weekly *A must read. Well written and concise predictions. * MediaFuturist *Futurologist Richard Watson takes us on a thought-provoking journey into tomorrow's world. -- Ellen Sideri, Founder & CEO, ESP Trendlab, New York * Daily Telegraph *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWe are on the cusp of a revolution. Mobile phones, computers and iPods are commonplace in hundreds of millions of households worldwide, influencing how we think and shaping how we interact. In the future, smart machines will compete with clever people for employment and even human affection. We are shifting to a world where knowledge will be automated and people will be rewarded instead as conceptual and creative thinkers. Hence being able to think and act in ways that machines cannot will become vital. Ideas are the currency of this new economy and curiosity and imagination are among the key raw materials. But what happens to the rigour of our thinking in a world where we never really sit still or completely switch off? What are some of the unexpected consequences of digital information on the 100 billion cells and quadrillion connections inside our brains? Future Minds illustrates how to maximise the potential of digital technology and minimise its greatest downside, addressing the future of thinking and how we can ensure that we unleash the extraordinary potential of the human mind. In this absorbing new book, discover all about: the sex life of ideas; the rise of the screenager; generations, gender and geography; delving deep inside your head; how to clear a blocked brain; why clever people make dumb mistakes; why we are so afraid of doing nothing; what we can do to reclaim our brains.Trade ReviewA great case for how to think, not what to think in these fast moving and complex times. Watson s message is clear – our innate imagination and human ability to think deeply about life and issues are the best assets we have to deliver us safely to the future. Full of wonderfully inspired quotations, sage predictions and abundance of source material this is a "how to" that is a definitely a "must have." -- Ed Gillespie, Guardian journalistA reflective and insightful look into how the next generation will think, feel and shape our society. * Baroness Susan Greenfield, CBE author of ID: The Quest for Meaning in the 21st Century *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThere is a wonderfully weird but real world out there, and we are a part of it. It is time for physics to take life seriously.Can we ever truly comprehend the universe before we fully understand consciousness and the wonders, and limits, of the mind? Ulf Danielsson, an acclaimed theoretical physicist who has dedicated his career to probing the deepest mysteries of nature, thinks not. As he dismantles the arguments of esteemed mathematicians and scientists, who would substitute their mathematical models for reality and equate the mind to a computer, he makes a lucid and passionate case that it is nature, full of beauty and meaning, which must compel us. In challenging established worldviews, he also takes a fresh look at major philosophical debates, including the notion of free will.Fearless, provocative, and witty, The World Itself is essential reading for anyone curious about the profound questions surrounding life, the universe, and everything.Trade Review“[A] thought-provoking treatment of an array of issues at the frontier of science and philosophy. . . . Well worth our attention.” —PopMatters“Engaging and varied. . . . Books like this invite us to direct our curiosities—both as groups and individuals—in useful ways.” —North of Oxford“Engrossing. . . . Danielsson’s clarity of thought and expression and his use of illuminating literary and historical references are equal to the quality of his writing. Science ‘popularizing’ doesn’t get much more comprehensible, or provocative, than this.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“Danielsson takes readers on an odyssey through the width and depth of his field, and it is truly a fascinating journey. Touching on subjects as diverse as evolutionary biology, philosophy, and even popular culture, Danielsson makes his topics both appreciably substantial and approachable.” —Library Journal (starred review)“There are some mind-bending ideas and the philosophical reflections on math and physics are stimulating. . . . This pensive take on physics has much to offer.” —Publishers Weekly“The World Itself offers a bold perspective on mathematics, physics, and the nature of reality. There’s much I agree with and less that I don’t, but Ulf Danielsson, a leading theoretical physicist, proves himself an insightful and patient guide through some of the universe’s deepest mysteries.” —Brian Greene, author of The Fabric of the Cosmos and Until the End of Time“Danielsson is Sweden’s most important public writer on the implications of natural science. His lucid, powerful, passionate, and engaging work advances original arguments of great importance. The World Itself is destined to become a modern classic as it upends many of the received wisdoms about the scientific worldview.” —Martin Hägglund, author of This Life: Secular Faith and Spiritual Freedom“Danielsson displays a remarkably broad understanding of science and philosophy, and dispenses with false notions about the world in this brief, yet provocative book. I hope it stimulates lots of discussion and debate, as it should. For those who have thought about these issues, there is much of interest here. For those who haven’t, this is a great place to start.” —Lawrence M. Krauss, author of A Universe from Nothing and The Known Unknowns“In this accessible and beautifully written book, Danielsson argues for views diametrically opposite to mine on the nature of intelligence, consciousness, and physical reality—I highly recommend it!” —Max Tegmark, author of Our Mathematical Universe and Life 3.0: Being Human In the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe profound impact of information technology on intellectual and cultural life is universally acknowledged. This book considers how the precipitous growth of digital information and its associated technologies transform the ways we think and act.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe profound impact of information technology on intellectual and cultural life is universally acknowledged. This title brings together American and European scholars, scientists, and artists to consider how the precipitous growth of digital information and its associated technologies transform the ways we think and act.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBehavior genetics has always been a breeding ground for controversies. From the criminal chromosome to the gay gene, claims about the influence of genes like these have led to often vitriolic national debates about race, class, and inequality. The author traces the field of behavior genetics back to its origins in the 1950s.Trade Review"Panofsky's book is the best empirical and conceptual extension to date of Bourdieu's perspectives on the sociology of science. This history of the fascinating understory of behavioral genetics will revive studies of scientific specialities by opening up new and fruitful questions." (Thomas F. Gieryn, Indiana University)"

Read more less

Book SynopsisBehavior genetics has always been a breeding ground for controversies. From the criminal chromosome to the gay gene, claims about the influence of genes like these have led to often vitriolic national debates about race, class, and inequality. The author traces the field of behavior genetics back to its origins in the 1950s.Trade Review"Panofsky's book is the best empirical and conceptual extension to date of Bourdieu's perspectives on the sociology of science. This history of the fascinating understory of behavioral genetics will revive studies of scientific specialities by opening up new and fruitful questions." (Thomas F. Gieryn, Indiana University)"

Read more less

Book SynopsisTechnology demands uniformity from human beings who encounter it. People encountering technology, however, differ from one another. This book presents a history of technology focused not on innovations but on their unintended consequences.

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow did one create and maintain for oneself the persona of scientist at the beginning of the twentieth century? What special conditions bore upon scientific women, and on married women in particular? This book provides a composite picture not only of the making of Marie Curie, but the making of modern science itself.Trade Review"A gripping account of the episodes in Marie Curie's life when her involvement with intellectual property, the press, celebrity culture, and the international management of information became especially consequential. Through these episodes, Hemmungs Wirten traces the creation of the Curie 'brand'-a term and a legal concept that the European Union has explicitly adopted. She reveals a fascinating process through which scientific persona and publicity intersect." (Adrian Johns, University of Chicago)

Read more less

Book SynopsisEngages with the impact of modern technology on experimental physicists. This study reveals how the increasing scale and complexity of apparatus has distanced physicists from the very science which drew them into experimenting, and has fragmented microphysics into different technical traditions.

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow have shifts in power and in assumptions about knowledge affected scientific practice? Who controls the new technologies, and how are moral and professional issues addressed during a time of global change? This work explores such questions of relevance in the current scientific climate.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA technological analysis of the incredible complexity of the Tokyo subway system.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA technological analysis of the incredible complexity of the Tokyo subway system.

Read more less