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Category Archives: Transhuman News

What is Libertarian? | The Institute for Humane Studies

Posted: January 3, 2014 at 8:42 pm

The libertarian or "classical liberal" perspective is that individual well-being, prosperity, and social harmony are fostered by "as much liberty as possible" and "as little government as necessary."

These ideas lead to new questions: What's possible? What's necessary? What are the practical implications and the unsolved problems?

Below are a number of different takes on the libertarian political perspective from which you can deepen your understanding;also be sure to check out the videos in the sidebar.

According to The Machinery of Freedom by David Friedman, Open Court Publishing Company,1973.

The central idea of libertarianism is that people should be permitted to run their own lives as they wish.

According toLibertarianism: A Primerby David Boaz,Free Press, 1997.

Libertarianism is the view that each person has the right to live his life in any way he chooses so long as he respects the equal rights of others. Libertarians defend each person's right to life, liberty, and property-rights that people have naturally, before governments are created. In the libertarian view, all human relationships should be voluntary; the only actions that should be forbidden by law are those that involve the initiation of force against those who have not themselves used force-actions like murder, rape, robbery, kidnapping, and fraud.

According to Funk and Wagnall's Dictionary

lib-er-tar-i-an, n. 1. a person who advocates liberty, esp. with regard to thought or conduct.... advocating liberty or conforming to principles of liberty.

According to American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition, 2000.

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The Republican rejection of libertarianism. And why it probably won’t work.

Posted: at 8:42 pm

Libertarianism isn't all that conservative.

The Gadsden Flag

That's the argument former Bush Administration officials Mike Gerson and Pete Wehner offer in a new -- and important -- essay in National Affairs that posted today. Here's the key paragraph from that piece:

Responsible, self-governing citizens do not grow wild like blackberries, which is why a conservative political philosophy cannot be reduced to untrammeled libertarianism. Citizens are cultivated by institutions: families, religious communities, neighborhoods, and nations. Parents and spouses, churches and synagogues, teachers and coaches, and the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are among the foremost shapers of citizens in our republic. But government has a necessary (if limited) role in reinforcing the social norms and expectations that make the work of these civil institutions both possible and easier. That role can involve everything from enforcing civil-rights laws, to saving the elderly from indigence, to restricting the availability of addictive substances.

The Gerson/Wehner piece is an argument for government (albeit it in a limited role) and a rejection of the so-called constitutional conservative/libertarian/tea party movement that has been organized around the principle that the government that does least does best. The essay lands at a time when libertarianism is very much on the march within the Republican party -- as evidenced by the rise of both Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz within the party not to mention the fact that a majority of House Republicans voted for a measure last summer to significantly curtail the government's spying powers.

Sentiments -- voiced by Paul and others -- that the U.S. needs to rethink its role as world policeman, for example, would have been unthinkable in the Republican party of even a decade ago. (George W. Bush was re-elected 10 years ago in large part due to his focus during the campaign on his ability -- and willingness -- to do what it took to keep Americans safe in the world.) Now, Paul's views are held by an increasing number of people who identify as Republicans including, most interestingly, young people (30 and under) who have abandoned the GOP in droves in the last two presidential elections.

Gerson and Wehner, on the other hand, are part of what can be described as the establishment wing of the GOP. And, their essay is the latest sign that the establishment is striking back -- rhetorically and policy-wise -- against a libertarian/tea party movement that, they believe, has run amok over the past four years and threatens to badly damage the party's prospects heading into 2014 and,especially, 2016.

"The alternative to government overreach is not the dogmatic disparagement of government but the restoration of government to its proper and honored place in American life," Wehner and Gerson write at one point. At another, they insist: "Conservatives should offer a menu of structural reforms that do not simply attack government but transform it on conservative terms."

The broad conclusion of the piece? A philosophy that rejects government will never prevail -- no matter how much the American public dislikes the direction that President Obama has led the country. "Conservatives are more likely to be trusted to run the affairs of the nation if they show the public that they grasp the purposes of government," write Gerson and Wehner. So, from health care to immigration to education and beyond, the duo argue that the party needs to be for something rather than against (almost) everything.

Little of that argument is new or unknown to party strategists looking toward not just the 2016 presidential race but also the long term electoral sustainability of the GOP. The problem for the Wehners and Gersons of the world is that the energy of the Republican party at the moment lies with those most willing to move in complete and total opposition to Obama, not those who want to make a nuanced argument about how government isn't always bad (or good). What's an easier stump speech to rile up the base: One that savages Obamacare and the growth of government or one that argues that true conservatism is a belief in some government when and where it's necessary? You already know the answer.

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The Republican rejection of libertarianism. And why it probably won’t work.

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Crysis 3 Post Human Warrior Stealth Walkthrough Part 1 (Post Human) – Video

Posted: at 8:41 pm


Crysis 3 Post Human Warrior Stealth Walkthrough Part 1 (Post Human)
In diesem Walkthrough knnt ihr sehen, wie man Crysis 3 auf hchstem Schwierigkeisgrad mglichst sicher abschliet, ich werde in diesen Videos besonders auf ...

By: xTaL3N7Zz

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Crysis 3 Post Human Warrior Stealth Walkthrough Part 1 (Post Human) - Video

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Our Posthuman Future: Consequences of the Biotechnology …

Posted: at 8:41 pm

I was very impressed with the depth and scope of Fukuyama's examination of the call to regulate biotechnology and especially with the fairness of his presentation and tone. His subject is a particularly contentious one, and one of enormous importance for all of us since the effect of biotechnology on human beings includes the possibility of not only changing our very nature, but of an actual step-by-step termination of humans as we are now constituted.

Ultimately this is what Professor Fukuyama is worried about and why he argues so strongly for the regulation of the biotech industry regardless of the effect such regulation might have on scientific progress and even at the risk of creating a biotech gap between the United States and other nations actively pursuing such research.

However, I don't think Fukuyama was completely successful in making his case; indeed I am not worried about "us" becoming something else or losing what he refers to as our "human essence."

"And what is that human essence that we might be in danger of losing?" he asks on page 101. "For a religious person, it might have to do with the divine gift or spark that all human beings are born with. From a secular perspective, it would have to do with human nature: the species-typical characteristics shared by all human beings qua human beings. That is ultimately what is at stake in the biotech revolution."

He doesn't define these "species-typical characteristics." Instead he goes on to say that there is "an intimate connection between human nature and human notions of rights, justice, and morality." He then argues the case for basing human rights on human nature, sometimes called the "naturalistic fallacy," thereby putting himself in the hands of those who would know what human nature is. Alas, there is no agreement on that subject, which is why, as Fukuyama notes, the term "natural rights" has been replaced with "human rights whose provenance does not depend on a theory of nature." (p. 101)

On page149 he changes his tack somewhat and argues that the biotechnological revolution is a threat to our sense of "dignity and recognition." He says this "is not economic: what we desire is not money but that other human beings respect us in the way we think we deserve."

Here I would point out that "recognition" and having "dignity" in the eyes of others is adaptive in a Darwinian sense. People that the tribe regard as lacking dignity and recognition get fewer reproductive tries and have a tough time of it socially and economically. Having dignity is like saving face: something we must do to maintain psychological equilibrium and our position in society.

On page 218 he comes around to concluding that "human nature is very plastic... But it is not infinitely malleable, and the elements that remain constant--particularly our species-typical gamut of emotional responses--constitute a safe harbor that allows us to connect, potentially, with all other human beings."

This seems to imply that what he has finally found as our "essence" is our emotional nature. He might be right (heaven help us if he is) but I think our ability to adapt to change and to order our environment to our advantage through our culture and technology is really the essence of what it means to be human.

The curious thing about this book is how really persuasive, reasonable and informative Fukuyama is when he is NOT arguing for the regulation of biotechnology. Here are some interesting observations:

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Crysis 3 Post Human Warrior Stealth Walkthrough Part 3 (Welcome to the Jungle) – Video

Posted: at 8:41 pm


Crysis 3 Post Human Warrior Stealth Walkthrough Part 3 (Welcome to the Jungle)
In diesem Walkthrough knnt ihr sehen, wie man Crysis 3 auf hchstem Schwierigkeisgrad mglichst sicher abschliet, ich werde in diesen Videos besonders auf ...

By: xTaL3N7Zz

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Crysis 3 Post Human Warrior Stealth Walkthrough Part 3 (Welcome to the Jungle) - Video

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Crysis 3 Post Human Warrior Stealth Walkthrough Part 2 (Post Human) – Video

Posted: at 8:41 pm


Crysis 3 Post Human Warrior Stealth Walkthrough Part 2 (Post Human)
In diesem Walkthrough knnt ihr sehen, wie man Crysis 3 auf hchstem Schwierigkeisgrad mglichst sicher abschliet, ich werde in diesen Videos besonders auf ...

By: xTaL3N7Zz

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Crysis 3 Post Human Warrior Stealth Walkthrough Part 2 (Post Human) - Video

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Post Human: Exhibition by Chatchawan Nilsakul

Posted: at 8:41 pm

General Press Releases Friday January 3, 2014 13:53

Bangkok--3 Jan--Koi Art Gallery

Koi Art Gallery is proud to present Post Human art exhibition to be held from December 13, 2013 - January 26, 2014. This exhibition showcases the latest artworks by Chatchawan Nilsakul.

Post Human is a solo exhibition of latest artworks by Chatchawan Nilsakul, a talented artist and reputed Fine Art professor at the prestigious Chiang Mai University. In this exhibition, he takes on a unique approach of comparing contemporary human figure and form to architectural composition.

The artist views the evolution of the physical human body as a reflection of its historical aspects, which further expresses the terrain of its contemporary times. He explores the further development of society, era and atmosphere of its time through the form of the human body.

The acrylic on canvas works have a unique composition to them from different angles, different components of the painting can be viewed simultaneously by the viewer. In effect, a change in perspective takes place in the eye of the beholder exposing the results of the artists layered technique. His use of metallic colors and layers on his figurative models carves out a phenomenal, harmonious landscape.

Professor Chatchawan further showcases the contemporary human form through layers of acrylic and metallic colors that overlap, much like the complex society we live in today. He explains when you see a human body on a big scale, some part of the body looks like that of a stone, or becomes a part of a sculptural building. The body as an object speaks to viewers as an abstract element both visually and conceptually. It serves as a space that defines our human environment and existence.

Interested public are invited to Post Human Exhibition from May 9-31, 2013 (11.00 a.m. 7.00 p.m.) at Koi Art Gallery, 43/12 Sukhumvit 31 Road (Soi Sawaddee), Wattana, Bangkok, Tel. 02 662 3218.

Our unwanted items are often a highly-sorted after treasure for others. Led by Naiyana Veerapanpong, Director of Human Resources of Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square, the management team and staff of the hotel hosted a special lunch to bring a smile...

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Stem cell transplant problem solved, UCSD-led study says

Posted: at 8:41 pm

(This is my blog post about the embryonic stem cell study. For my news article about the study, go here.)

Genetically modified human embryonic stem cells can solve one of the toughest problems facing embryonic stem cell therapy, immune rejection of transplanted cells, may have been solved, according to a UC San Diego-led research team.

The cells can be made invisible to the immune system by genetically modifying them to make two immune-suppressing chemicals, according to a study performed in mice given a human immune system. Immune functioning in the rest of the animal remains active. The immune protection also applies to differentiated cells derived from the stem cells.

If the approach works in people, patients receiving transplanted tissue or organs made from embryonic stem cells wouldn't have to take harsh immune-suppressing drugs, said Yang Xu, a UCSD professor of biology. The method also may prevent immune rejection of tissues grown from other types of stem cells.

These arehumanized laboratory mice that contain a functional human immune system. Such mice have been used for years; a UCSD research team developed a model with a stronger immune response to test their immune-suppressing tissues. / Zhili Rong, UCSD

Researchers placed genes in the stem cells to produce the two chemicals, CTLA4-lg and PD-L1, naturally made in the body. The humanized immune systems of the mice accepted transplants of cells engineered to make the chemicals. The researchers transplanted cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts derived from the engineered stem cells. Transplants derived from regular embryonic stem cells were rejected.

The study was published online Thursday in the journal Cell Stem Cell. Its findings will have to be confirmed for safety and effectiveness in more animal studies before human trials can be considered, which will take years. The mouse model itself was "optimized" for the study to more faithfully reflect the human immune system than other immune models, the study said.

Xu said a further study is being considered in monkeys, a large animal model considered to better reflect human biology than mice.

Embryonic stem cells are being tested along with many other kinds of stem cells to replace diseased or destroyed body parts, such as spinal cord segments and insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. All of these cells have advantages and drawbacks. Immune rejection, along with a tendency to form tumors, are two big drawbacks to embryonic stem cells.

San Diego-based ViaCyte is preparing to test a therapy with beta cells within a year. The company encapsulates them in a permeable barrier that allows insulin to diffuse out but prevents the immune system from entering. However, that approach won't worth with transplants that must integrate into the body, such as spinal cord tissue. So a way of turning off the immune system just in those cells is an attractive idea.

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Stem cell transplant problem solved, UCSD-led study says

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Justice Ganguly resigns as NUJS honorary professor

Posted: at 8:41 pm

Kolkata | Updated 1/3/2014 4:00:37 PM IST

Beleaguered West Bengal Human Rights Commission chairman Justice (retd) Ashok Kumar Ganguly today resigned from the post of honorary professor of the National University of Juridical Sciences, a student of which had made allegations of sexual harassment against him.

"Some members of the faculty were expressing their reservation about my continuation. So I have sent my resignation today," Ganguly told PTI here.

On the resignation from the post of chairman of the WBHRC, He said earlier today that he would prefer to remain "quiet". "I have read about it (cabinet clearance of presidential reference) in newspapers. What can I say about it? The development of events is not in my hand. I haven't decided anything and would prefer to stay quiet," Justice Ganguly told PTI.

The process for removal of Justice Ganguly as WBHRC chairman moved a step forward yesterday with the Union Cabinet approved a proposal for sending a Presidential reference to the Supreme Court for a probe into the allegation of sexual misconduct against a law intern who was the student of the NUJS.

The proposal will be sent to President Pranab Mukherjee who will then send the matter to the Chief Justice of India seeking a probe into the issue based on the three points raised in the reference.

A three-judge Supreme Court committee formed by the Chief Justice of India had earlier indicted Justice Ganguly of committing an "act of unwelcome behaviour" and "conduct of sexual nature" towards the woman law intern.

Justice Ganguly today attended the office of the West Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC) as usual, though for a brief period. Asked on the presidential reference, Justice Ganguly said that the development of events is not in his hand.

PTI

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Ganguly resigns as NUJS honorary professor

Posted: at 8:41 pm

Kolkata, Jan. 3:

Beleaguered West Bengal Human Rights Commission chairman, Justice (retd) Ashok Kumar Ganguly, on Friday resigned from the post of honorary professor of the National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), a student of which had made allegations of sexual harassment against him.

Some members of the faculty were expressing their reservation about my continuation. So I have sent my resignation today, Ganguly said. On the resignation from the post of chairman of the WBHRC, he said earlier today that he would prefer to remain quiet.

I have read about it (cabinet clearance of presidential reference) in newspapers. What can I say about it? The development of events is not in my hand. I havent decided anything and would prefer to stay quiet, Justice Ganguly said.

The process for removal of Justice Ganguly as WBHRC chairman moved a step forward on Thursday with the Union Cabinet approved a proposal for sending a Presidential reference to the Supreme Court for a probe into the allegation of sexual misconduct against a law intern who was the student of the NUJS.

The proposal will be sent to President Pranab Mukherjee who will then send the matter to the Chief Justice of India seeking a probe into the issue based on the three points raised in the reference.

A three-judge Supreme Court committee formed by the Chief Justice of India had earlier indicted Justice Ganguly of committing an act of unwelcome behaviour and conduct of sexual nature towards the woman law intern.

Justice Ganguly on Friday attended the office of the West Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC) as usual, though for a brief period.

Asked on the presidential reference, Justice Ganguly said that the development of events is not in his hand.

(This article was published on January 3, 2014)

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