The Technocene: Reflections On Bodies, Minds, And Markets

Description

Hermínio Martins was one of the key pioneers of the sociology of science and technology. He published extensively in Portuguese and was recognized for his academic contributions with an honorary doctorate at Lisbon (2006) and two Portuguese Medals of Honour. Following his retirement from the University of Oxford, he wrote prolifically in English on a wide range of topics that examined the ethical and societal consequences of the commoditization of the human body and mind. These essays are deep philosophical reflections on our contemporary world, and draw extensively and eclectically upon a wide range of theoretical influences including continental philosophy, history and psychology, to name but a few disciplines. ‘The Technocene’ is a selection of some of these insightful essays, made available to a global audience for the first time. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Title page......Page 5 Copyright information......Page 6 Dedication......Page 7 Table of contents......Page 9 Preface......Page 11 Editor's Introduction: Hermínio Martins and the Technocene......Page 13 Birth......Page 21 Gametes and Wombs......Page 24 Genes......Page 29 Viscera......Page 31 Stimulation......Page 38 Ageing......Page 39 Death and Beyond......Page 42 Schools, Universities and Firms......Page 47 Firms......Page 54 Church and State......Page 57 Data and Information......Page 62 Armies and Police......Page 65 Notes......Page 67 Chapter Two Technology Sublime: Paths to the Post-Human......Page 71 The Neo-human......Page 80 The Meta-human......Page 82 The Trans-human......Page 85 Notes......Page 92 Chapter Three Perpetual Augmentation: From Eugenics to Human Genetic Capitalism......Page 109 Slippery Slopes and the Appraisal of Reproductive Technologies......Page 112 Homo Heterarchicus......Page 116 The Ratchet Effect, ‘Reverse Serendipity’ and Adiaphorization......Page 117 Eugenics......Page 120 Human Being as His/Her Own GMO: The Coming of (Trans)Genetic Capitalism......Page 126 Notes......Page 135 Chapter Four The Body Vanishes! Momenta of Discarnation in Technoscience Today......Page 151 Notes......Page 169 Chapter Five When Universities Become Body-Shops......Page 179 A Bias towards a Bimodal Distribution of Resources and Rewards for Universities......Page 184 A Bias towards a Bimodal Distribution of Resources and Rewards for Academics......Page 185 Notes......Page 191 References......Page 207 Index......Page 219