|
|
CYBORGS, COMPUTERS, & THE SOUL
To The Best of Our Knowledge
from Wisconsin Public Radio
Life's a sim and then you're deleted. We always thought
the computers would get us one day. Maybe they already have. According
to one philosopher, odds are we're already living the Matrix as
mere programs in a computer simulation. In this hour of To the
Best of Our Knowledge, the rise of the machine, from Thomas
Edison's obsession with a mechanical doll to cyborg citizens. Also,
why the computer age is robbing us of virtue.
SEGMENT 1:
(Courtesy BBC)
|
Nick Bostrom is a philosopher
at Yale. In his paper "The Simulation Argument,"
he makes the case that life as we know it may be a computer
simulation being run by our descendants. He figures they'd
want to experience what it was like to live as their own ancestors.
Or perhaps play a part in history. He explains the logical
probabilities to Steve Paulson.
|
SEGMENT 2:
|
|
Quentin Schultze is the
author of "The High Tech Heart." He tells Anne Strainchamps
that we should resist "informationism" and try to
develop wisdom. He thinks instant digital messaging is responsible
for the dramatic rise in incivility in society. Also, Robert
Weinberg wrote "The Computers of Star Trek"
with co-author Lois Gresh. Weinberg tells Steve Paulson that
Star Trek was ambivalent about computers, and wildly inconsistent
about how they worked. And we hear samples!
|
|
SEGMENT 3:
|
|
Chris Gray is the author of "Cyborg
Citizen." He thinks anyone whose body has been artificially
altered by technology is a cyborg. Forget bionic limbs, he means
even people who've had vaccinations! Gray tells Jim Fleming
about the political implications of this and says we must prepare
ourselves for the even bigger social and political changes to
come. Also, Gaby Wood is the author of "Edison's
Eve: A Magical History of the Quest for Mechanical Life."
He tells Jim Fleming about the many experiments with automata
and early mechanical beings. |
|
Cassette copies are available
at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 02-09-01-A.
................................................................
Books:
- Chris Gray, Cyborg Citizen (Taylor
& Francis)
- Quentin J. Schultze, Habits of the High-Tech
Heart (Baker Book House)
- Robert Weinberg and Lois Gresh The Computers
of Star Trek(Basic)
- Gaby Wood, Edison's Eve: A Magical History
of the Quest for Mechanical Life (Knopf)
Music:
- -it's the end of the world as we know it/ REM/
Eponymous/ MCA Records
- -Rocket to Nowhere/ Webb Wilder/ Brain in a Box:
The Science Fiction Collection/ Rhino
- - Cyberspace/ Four Bitchin' Babes/ Gabby Road/
Shanachie
- -Star Trek theme/ Brain in a Box: The Science Fiction
Collection/Rhino Records
- -Telstar/ The Tornadoes/ Brain in a Box: The Science
Fiction Collection/ Rhino Records
- -Machines/ Lothar & The Hand People/ Brain
in a Box: The Science Fiction Collection/ Rhino Records
- -Terminator 2: Judgement Day/ Brain in a Box: The
Science Fiction Collecction/ Rhino Records
- -Our of Limits/ The Marketts/ Brain in a Box: The
Science Fiction Collection/ Rhino Records
Distribution dates:
................................................................
Questions and comments can
be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org
our shows :: about
us :: search :: home
|
