DOCSLIB.ORG

Techno-Salvation: Developing a Christian Hermeneutic of Enhancement Technology Richard Landrum Wilson

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Techno-Salvation: Developing a Christian Hermeneutic of Enhancement Technology Richard Landrum Wilson Duquesne University Duquesne Scholarship Collection Electronic Theses and Dissertations Spring 1-1-2017 Techno-Salvation: Developing a Christian Hermeneutic of Enhancement Technology Richard Landrum Wilson Follow this and additional works at: https://dsc.duq.edu/etd Recommended Citation Wilson, R. L. (2017). Techno-Salvation: Developing a Christian Hermeneutic of Enhancement Technology (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/156 This Worldwide Access is brought to you for free and open access by Duquesne Scholarship Collection. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Duquesne Scholarship Collection. For more information, please contact [email protected]. TECHNO-SALVATION: DEVELOPING A CHRISTIAN HERMENEUTIC OF ENHANCEMENT TECHNOLOGY A Dissertation Submitted to the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts Duquesne University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy By Richard L. Wilson May 2017 Copyright by Richard L. Wilson 2017 TECHNO-SALVATION: DEVELOPING A CHRISTIAN HERMENEUTIC OF ENHANCEMENT TECHNOLOGY By Richard L. Wilson Approved February 28, 2017 _______________________________ _______________________________ Dr. Darlene Weaver Dr. Elizabeth Agnew Cochran Professor of Theology Associate Professor of Theology (Committee Chair) (Committee Member) _______________________________ Dr. Gerard Magill Professor of Healthcare Ethics (Committee Member) _______________________________ _______________________________ James C. Swindal, Ph.D. Marinus Iwuchukwu, Ph.D. Dean, McAnulty School of Liberal Arts Chair, Department of Theology Professor of Philosophy Associate Professor of Theology iii ABSTRACT TECHNO-SALVATION: DEVELOPING A CHRISTIAN HERMENEUTIC OF ENHANCEMENT TECHNOLOGY By Richard L. Wilson May 2017 Dissertation Supervised by Darlene Fozard Weaver, PhD A cadre of scientists, philosophers, and ethicists labeled transhumanists and posthumanists argue that by strategic use of technology we can greatly enhance human beings into our next stage of evolution. Rather than leave the evolutionary process to natural results, transhumanists and posthumanists want to shape humanity to meet our own desires. This direct goal of changing human beings has profound implications for Christian faith and practices. At the same time, there is no reason to think that the utilization of technological enhancements will not happen. As such, to best meet the challenge, it is unavoidable for Christians to engage transhumanism and posthumanism in an attempt to help guide which technologies should be pursued and which should be avoided. This project works toward that end. iv Beginning with competing views of what it means to be human the common positions of physicalism and substance dualism are shown wanting despite strong arguments in their favor. This project argues for a middle position – ensoulment – that attempts to take the best of both approaches but minimize their weaknesses. Likewise, this project examines the moral positions that propose the only moral criteria that matters is either “personhood only” or “human nature only.” Both of these positions are likewise found wanting and a third mediating position is pursued – an agency of relational responsibility. With these preliminary issues established, this project then proceeds to develop a hermeneutic of enhancement from a Christian perspective. The hope is that by following this model, Christians can help guide, accept, or reject various technologies as they are presented. The push for human enhancement cannot be stopped – there are simply too many goods to be obtained by their pursuit. However, any particular enhancement is not inevitable, and by utilizing the hermeneutic proposed in this project Christians can principally evaluate which enhancements should be allowed and which should be avoided. v DEDICATION To my Lord and my God, the one guides my steps and has saved my soul. And to my wife, Jaime. No one has sacrificed more for this journey than you. You are the kindest and most generous person I have ever known, and I am humbled to call you my wife. Thank you for all that you do and all that you have done. And to my children: David, Ashleigh, and Ryan. You are joys of my life. Thank you for your patience when I could not play with you or attend your many functions. I will endeavor to redeem the lost time. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are simply too many people to thank and acknowledge for their help, love, and dedication through this process. Thus, if I have somehow left you out then please accept my deepest apologies. To the faculty of Duquesne’s Theology department, thank you for your guidance and the opportunity to study under you for the past few years. You have stretched and challenged me in ways I did not think were possible. To Dr. Weaver, thank you for your hands-on guidance through the dissertation. Your kindness, insight, and supervision were always appreciated and I hope to one day be as productive as you are. To my readers, Dr. Cochran and Dr. Magill, thank you for your help and feedback. Your professionalism and kindness are the hallmarks of true scholars and generous souls. To Dr. Wright thank you for your tutelage as your TA, I have incorporated many of your techniques into my own classes. To Dr. Mackler – who introduced me to this fascinating field of transhumanism and posthumanism – and to whom I have been a TA for a number of semesters, thank you for giving me the opportunity of help you with your classes, I have likewise utilized a number of your techniques and lessons in my own classes. To Dr. O’Brien, whom was chair of the Theology Department for the bulk of my time as a student, thank you for your direction and interest in me as a budding instructor and student, your leadership was always carried out with warmth and compassion. To the faculty at Southern Evangelical Seminary, thank you. To Dr. Tom Howe, you were a model for the type of professor I want to be – intelligent, informed, and whimsical. To Dr. Richard Howe, thank you for our many talks, our very first vii conversation many years ago shaped the direction of my academic studies. To Dr. Leventhal, your kindness, compassion, and holiness are enviable. Your love for the Lord is palpable and infectious. To Dr. Geisler, your influence on my intellectual life is obvious to many. To Dr. Detzler, your dedication to God’s Kingdom is inspiring and your compassion for your students is evident to all who know you. To my friends and colleagues from Duquesne, each of you have influenced me in many ways for the better. To my cohorts at Duquesne, David Demboski, Jeff Schooley, Joyce Konigsberg, as well as Steve Perry, Justin Pearl, Mike McGravy, and Dr. Ben Burkholder. Thank you all for your friendship and our many conversations, I learn something from each of you whenever we talk and you each have expanded my intellectual horizons in surprising ways. To my friends and colleagues from Southern Evangelical Seminary, I have developed deep and lasting friendships with each of you and your influence on my life should be apparent to anyone that knows me. To Dr. Doug Beaumont, Mike Hipsley, and Dr. Jason Reed – my life is more enriched and stimulating by the sheer fact I have the honor to call you friends and brothers. To Matt Graham, Duke and Nora Hale, Dr. Brandon Dahm, Dr. Bryan Appley, Dr. Doug Potter, Matt Barclay, Simon and Nel Brace, and Dr. Chris Tweedt – thank you for your friendship and the many conversations over the years, each of you holds a special place in my spiritual and intellectual life. To my church family in Pittsburgh, thank you. To Dr. Chuck Gohn, thank you for the opportunity to teach and participate with this body of believers – it has been a joy and an honor. To Austin Gohn and Nick Coniglio, thank you for your friendship and our varied discussions on a wide range of topics. viii To my family members, thank you for your patience as we moved away so that I could pursue this degree. Your love and support has carried us through these years and would not have been possible without you. To my mother and step-father, thank you for all of your support. The fact that you believed I could do this was a motivating factor to pursue this degree. To Sid and Lauren, as well as Kati Mac, Madi, Jake, Cameron, and Emmy – thank you for your support and prayers as we trekked on this adventure. To Tori, thank you for your ever optimistic outlook and love. To my father-and-mother-in-law thank you for allowing me to drag Jaime even further away so that I could pursue this degree – your support and generosity have not gone unnoticed. To Nana, though death has just taken you from us, your love and prayers have sustained us these years and can be felt over the many miles that separate us. To GiGi, who also recently passed away, your love and generosity have likewise kept us going when times were difficult, we would not have been able to do this without you. Finally, to my wife and children. Words cannot express the gratitude I have for you and your willingness to follow me in pursuit of this degree. I owe you each my very life and I will strive to make myself worthy of the titles husband and father. Jaime, your love, support, compassion, encouragement, and gentleness are the hallmarks of a godly woman. I will never stop trying to earn your affection for the sacrifices you have made. I pray I prove worthy of your generosity and charity. To David, Ashleigh, and Ryan, Daddy has missed too many playdates and other events, but that is going to change. Each of you are growing into wonderful and godly people and I am excited (if not also a bit saddened by how quickly you have grown) to see the quality of character each of you will develop as you grow.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • China and Brazil's Infrastructure Initiatives and the Role of Regional Counterparts
    The Global Economic Governance Programme University of Oxford China and Brazil’s Infrastructure Initiatives and the Role of Regional Counterparts Maria A. Gwynn Abstract Emerging countries, like China or Brazil, are no different from powerful western countries in that they too use a variety of strategies to pursue their interests. To assess the utility and consequences of these strategies, I propose to focus on how these strategies will impact their less powerful regional counterparts. This is a shift away from the traditional perspective of considering powerful countries vis a vis the increasing power of emerging countries. Furthermore, by concentrating on how smaller and less powerful countries are affected by these strategies, the likelihood of success of these strategies can be predicted to some extent, as no state-strategy can be carried out without at least some support of other countries. The Global Economic Governance Programme is directed by Emily Jones and has been made possible through the generous support of Old Members of University College. Its research projects have been principally funded by the Ford Foundation (New York), the International Development Research Centre (Ottawa), and the MacArthur Foundation (Chicago). Page 1 of 21 China and Brazil’s Infrastructure Initiatives and the Role of Regional Counterparts - Maria A. Gwynn © October 2017 / GEG WP 135 The Global Economic Governance Programme University of Oxford Table of Contents Introduction 3 1. China’s Infrastructure Initiative 5 1.1 New institutional creation: the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 5 (AIIB) 1.2 One-Belt One-Road Initiative (OBOR) Initiative vs Trans-Pacific 8 Partnership AGreement (TPP) 1.3 Impact of China’s StrateGies on Less Powerful Countries 9 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Sustainable Development Goals
    SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS DEVELOPMENT GOALS SUSTAINABLE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS | TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD Transforming our world CONTRIBUTORS INCLUDE María Fernanda Espinosa Achim Steiner | Henrietta Fore Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka Michelle Bachelet | Mark Lowcock Mukhisa Kituyi | Devi Sridhar Louis Charbonneau | Liu Zhenmin Ellen MacArthur | Edward Barbier Jonathan Glennie | Lysa John HERMES SDG ENGAGEMENT Aiming to generate outcomes that benefi t people, the planet and investors, through investments aligned with the UN SDGs We are committed to supporting the UN SDGs and engage with businesses to encourage their adoption. It is our belief that the enduring success of companies is intertwined with that of the economies, communities and environments in which they operate. Visit www.hermes-investment.com The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and you may not get back the original amount invested. For Professional Investors only. Issued and approved by Hermes Investment Management Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered address: Sixth fl oor, 150 Cheapside, London EC2V 6ET. Telephone calls will be recorded for training and monitoring purposes. Hermes.indd0005957_SDG_Engagement_Fund_Press_276x210.indd 1 1 03/06/201910/04/2019 22:0113:58 CONTENTS 3 Contents FOREWORDS 20 What to expect from the new champions Where action by national governments on SDG 8 The 2030 Agenda: our answer to the naysayers implementation is lacking, can others fill the void? By María Fernanda Espinosa, By Adriana Erthal Abdenur President, 73rd session, United Nations General Assembly 24 Human development and the SDGs 10 Cooperation can change everything UNDP’s Human Development Report turns 30 next year.
    [Show full text]
  • Against Transhumanism the Delusion of Technological Transcendence
    Edition 1.0 Against Transhumanism The delusion of technological transcendence Richard A.L. Jones Preface About the author Richard Jones has written extensively on both the technical aspects of nanotechnology and its social and ethical implications; his book “Soft Machines: nanotechnology and life” is published by OUP. He has a first degree and PhD in physics from the University of Cam- bridge; after postdoctoral work at Cornell University he has held positions as Lecturer in Physics at Cambridge University and Profes- sor of Physics at Sheffield. His work as an experimental physicist concentrates on the properties of biological and synthetic macro- molecules at interfaces; he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2006 and was awarded the Institute of Physics’s Tabor Medal for Nanoscience in 2009. His blog, on nanotechnology and science policy, can be found at Soft Machines. About this ebook This short work brings together some pieces that have previously appeared on my blog Soft Machines (chapters 2,4 and 5). Chapter 3 is adapted from an early draft of a piece that, in a much revised form, appeared in a special issue of the magazine IEEE Spectrum de- voted to the Singularity, under the title “Rupturing the Nanotech Rapture”. Version 1.0, 15 January 2016 The cover picture is The Ascension, by Benjamin West (1801). Source: Wikimedia Commons ii Transhumanism, technological change, and the Singularity 1 Rapid technological progress – progress that is obvious by setting off a runaway climate change event, that it will be no on the scale of an individual lifetime - is something we take longer compatible with civilization.
    [Show full text]
  • Transhumanism, Techno-Religion, and Post-Secular Transcendence
    Humanities and Technology Review Fall 2019, Volume 38, issue 2 Pages 1-28 ISSN 1076-7908 Technological Re-Enchantment: Transhumanism, Techno-Religion, and Post-Secular Transcendence Albert R. Antosca Dartmouth College Abstract: This article provides a framework for understanding the dynamics between the disenchanting effects of a uniquely modern existential meaning crisis and a countervailing re- enchantment facilitated by the techno-cultural movement of transhumanism. This movement constructs a post-secular techno-theology grounded in a transhumanist ontology that corresponds to a shift away from anthropocentric meaning systems. To shed light on this dynamic, I take a phenomenological approach to the human-technology relationship, highlighting the role of technology in ontology formation and religious imagination. I refer to examples of transhumanist religious movements to illustrate a new post- humanist ontological grounding of meaning corresponding to a contemporary meaning-crisis that scholars are calling neuroexistentialism.’ I then use the language of Charles Taylor and his work on secularization to frame these ontological developments. Ultimately, this article argues that 2019 Albert Antosca. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives license which permits non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction of this article in any medium, provided the author and original source are cited and the article is not modified without permission of the author.
    [Show full text]
  • Principais Vozes Da Ciência No Twitter
    Principais vozes da ciência no Twitter: Mapeando a conversa de cientistas e especialistas sobre a COVID-19 UMA ANÁLISE DA REDE DE INTERAÇÕES NO TWITTER 1 O Science Pulse é uma ferramenta gratuita de social O Instituto Brasileiro de Pesquisa e Análise de Dados é um listening criada para preencher a lacuna entre jornalistas e centro independente de pesquisa e formação de analistas e cientistas. O objetivo é ajudar jornalistas a encontrar pesquisadores nas áreas de Pesquisa, Opinião Pública e conteúdos científicos que são tendência nas redes sociais e Comunicação Digital. a conhecer novos especialistas. O foco do Instituto é a aplicação e o ensino de técnicas e Com um algoritmo próprio, facilita a descoberta das metodologias de análise de dados com sólida formação publicações com maior popularidade dentro da comunidade científica para atuação no mercado. científica, das principais hashtags utilizadas e de perfis interessantes com menor engajamento. Conheça a nossa formação em Data Intelligence com curso exclusivo sobre Análise de Redes! O projeto foi criado pelo Volt Data Lab, agência do ICFJ Knight Fellow Sérgio Spagnuolo, e conta com apoio institucional da Agência Bori. 2 EXPEDIENTE Pesquisador Responsável Pedro Meirelles Coleta dos dados Science Pulse Tratamento dos dados IBPAD - Instituto Brasileiro de Pesquisa e Análise de Dados COMO CITAR? MEIRELLES, Pedro. Principais vozes da ciência no Twitter: Mapeando a conversa de cientistas e especialistas sobre a COVID-19. Relatório. Instituto Brasileiro de Pesquisa e Análise de Dados (IBPAD): Brasília, 2020. 3 METODOLOGIA A rede de interações foi desenvolvida a partir da base de dados do Science Pulse, que reuniu 213.469 publicações de cientistas, especialistas e organizações da comunidade científica sobre a SOBRE O RELATÓRIO COVID-19 entre junho e outubro de 2020.
    [Show full text]
  • Lou Donaldson the Natural Soul Mp3, Flac, Wma
    Lou Donaldson The Natural Soul mp3, flac, wma DOWNLOAD LINKS (Clickable) Genre: Jazz Album: The Natural Soul Country: US Released: 1986 Style: Soul-Jazz, Hard Bop MP3 version RAR size: 1767 mb FLAC version RAR size: 1621 mb WMA version RAR size: 1543 mb Rating: 4.2 Votes: 259 Other Formats: MP3 VOC WMA MP4 DTS DXD AA Tracklist Hide Credits Funky Mama A1 9:05 Written-By – John Patton Love Walked In A2 5:10 Written-By – George & Ira Gershwin Spaceman Twist A3 5:35 Written-By – Lou Donaldson Sow Belly Blues B1 10:11 Written-By – Lou Donaldson That's All B2 5:33 Written-By – Alan Brandt, Bob Haymes Nice 'N Greasy B3 5:24 Written-By – Johnny Acea Companies, etc. Copyright (c) – Manhattan Records Phonographic Copyright (p) – Manhattan Records Recorded At – Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey Credits Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson Design [Cover] – Reid Miles Drums – Ben Dixon Guitar – Grant Green Liner Notes – Del Shields Organ – John Patton Photography By [Cover Photo] – Ronnie Brathwaite Producer – Alfred Lion Recorded By [Recording By] – Rudy Van Gelder Trumpet – Tommy Turrentine Notes Recorded on May 9, 1962. 1986 Manhattan Records, a division of Capitol Records, Inc. Other versions Category Artist Title (Format) Label Category Country Year The Natural Soul (LP, BLP 4108 Lou Donaldson Blue Note BLP 4108 US 1963 Album, Mono) The Natural Soul (CD, CDP 7 84108 2 Lou Donaldson Blue Note CDP 7 84108 2 US 1989 Album, RE) TOCJ-7176, The Natural Soul (CD, Blue Note, TOCJ-7176, Lou Donaldson Japan 2008 BST-84108 Album, RE) Blue Note BST-84108 The Natural Soul 4BN 84108 Lou Donaldson Blue Note 4BN 84108 US 1986 (Cass, Album, RM) The Natural Soul (LP, BST-84108 Lou Donaldson Blue Note BST-84108 US 1973 Album, RE) Related Music albums to The Natural Soul by Lou Donaldson Lou Donaldson - Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • Global Health Governance
    1 THE SCHOLARLY JOURNAL FOR THE NEW HEALTH SECURITY PARADIGM PEER REVIEWED, OPEN ACCESS JOURNAL ISSN 1939-2389 GLOBAL HEALTH GOVERNANCE IS AN OPEN ACCESS, PEER-REVIEWED, ONLINE JOURNAL THAT PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR ACADEMICS AND PRACTITIONERS TO EXPLORE GLOBAL HEALTH ISSUES AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR GOVERNANCE AND SECURITY AT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS. THE JOURNAL PROVIDES INTERDISCIPLINARY ANALYSES AND A VIGOROUS EXCHANGE OF PERSPECTIVES THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURE OF GLOBAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AND THE STRATEGIES AIMED AT THEIR SOLUTION. THE JOURNAL IS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN ADDRESSING THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, MILITARY AND STRATEGIC ASPECTS OF GLOBAL HEALTH ISSUES. EDITOR YANZHONG HUANG SPECIAL GUEST EDITOR EDUARDO J. GÓMEZ MANAGING EDITOR COURTNEY M. PAGE ASSOCIATE EDITORS LAUREN GREENWOOD JENNA KARP GABRIELLA MELTZER EDITORIAL BOARD OBIJIOFOR AGINAM (UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY) MELY CABALLERO-ANTHONY (NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY) JOSHUA BUSBY (UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS) JEAN-PAUL CHRETIEN (US NAVY, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE/ARMED FORCES HEALTH SURVEILLANCE CENTER) SARA DAVIES (QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY) SARA GORMAN (JANSSEN GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH) KAREN A. GRÉPIN (NEW YORK UNIVERSITY) EDUARDO J. GÓMEZ (KING’S COLLEGE LONDON) GIGI KWIK GRONVALL (UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH) SUSAN HUBBARD (JAPAN CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE) YANZHONG HUANG (SETON HALL UNIVERSITY) KERMIT JONES (HYMAN, PHELPS AND MCNAMARA, P.C.) ADAM KAMRADT-SCOTT (CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY) ROBERT MARTEN (ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION AND LSHTM) SUERIE MOON (HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL) PETER NAVARIO (NEW YORK UNIVERSITY’S COLLEGE OF GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH) ANDREW T. PRICE-SMITH (THE COLORADO COLLEGE) SIMON RUSHTON (UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD) DEVI SRIDHAR (THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH) JOHN P.
    [Show full text]
  • Sustainable Development, Technological Singularity and Ethics
    European Research Studies Journal Volume XXI, Issue 4, 2018 pp. 714- 725 Sustainable Development, Technological Singularity and Ethics Vyacheslav Mantatov1, Vitaly Tutubalin2 Abstract: The development of modern convergent technologies opens the prospect of a new technological order. Its image as a “technological singularity”, i.e. such “transhuman” stage of scientific and technical progress, on which the superintelligence will be practically implemented, seems to be quite realistic. The determination of the basic philosophical coordinates of this future reality in the movement along the path of sustainable development of mankind is the most important task of modern science. The article is devoted to the study of the basic ontological, epistemological and moral aspects in the reception of the coming technological singularity. The method of this study is integrating dialectical and system approach. The authors come to the conclusion: the technological singularity in the form of a “computronium” (superintelligence) opens up broad prospects for the sustainable development of mankind in the cosmic dimension. This superintelligence will become an ally of man in the process of cosmic evolution. Keywords: Technological Singularity, Superintelligence, Convergent Technologies, Cosmocentrism, Human and Universe JEL code: Q01, Q56. 1East Siberia State University of Technology and Management, Ulan-Ude, Russia [email protected] 2East Siberia State University of Technology and Management, Ulan-Ude, Russia, [email protected] V. Mantatov, V. Tutubalin 715 1. Introduction Intelligence organizes the world by organizing itself. J. Piaget Technological singularity is defined as a certain moment or stage in the development of mankind, when scientific and technological progress will become so fast and complex that it will be unpredictable.
    [Show full text]
  • Apologia for Transhumanist Religion Gregory E
    A peer-reviewed electronic journal published by the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies ISSN 1541-0099 15(1) - February 2006 Apologia for Transhumanist Religion Gregory E. Jordan, Ph.D. University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Ave. #30242 Tampa, Florida 33620 ([email protected]) http://jetpress.org/volume15/jordan2.htm Abstract This essay introduces the notion of transhumanist religions: their rationale, their context within the history of religions, and some fundamental constraints on their design and definition. Some of the many possible arguments for and against the design of such religions are discussed Religions, religious feelings, and religious experiences have been prominent throughout history in almost all human cultures. Religions, or cultural phenomena which can be analyzed as religions, are still influential elements of culture in all larger human societies. Religions that may resemble the earliest form of religions, those which anthropologists have called ‘primitive’ religions, continue today in some isolated societies. Later types of religions, which incorporated elements of those previous religions, have lasted for thousands of years and continue today. New religions, and new sects of old religions, continue to arise every year. Some of these new religions grow in numbers of adherents, while others eventually dwindle to none and disappear. The evolution of religions is characterized by variations on old themes as well as the introduction of new themes. Concerns and issues that arise in any sphere of a society’s culture can eventually affect religion. In the contemporary world, one of the most prominent cultural trends is the continuing increase in the sophistication, diversity, and multiplying applications of new technologies.
    [Show full text]
  • Deborah L. Rhode* This Article Explores the Leadership Challenges That Arose in the Wake of the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic and the W
    9 RHODE (DO NOT DELETE) 5/26/2021 9:12 AM LEADERSHIP IN TIMES OF SOCIAL UPHEAVAL: LESSONS FOR LAWYERS Deborah L. Rhode* This article explores the leadership challenges that arose in the wake of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and the widespread protests following the killing of an unarmed Black man, George Floyd. Lawyers have been key players in both crises, as politicians, general counsel, and leaders of protest movements, law firms, bar associations, and law enforcement agencies. Their successes and failures hold broader lessons for the profession generally. Even before the tumultuous spring of 2020, two-thirds of the public thought that the nation had a leadership crisis. The performance of leaders in the pandemic and the unrest following Floyd’s death suggests why. The article proceeds in three parts. Part I explores leadership challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and the missteps that put millions of lives and livelihoods as risk. It begins by noting the increasing frequency and intensity of disasters, and the way that leadership failures in one arena—health, environmental, political, or socioeconomic—can have cascading effects in others. Discussion then summarizes key leadership attributes in preventing, addressing, and drawing policy lessons from major crises. Particular attention centers on the changes in legal workplaces that the lockdown spurred, and which ones should be retained going forward. Analysis also centers on gendered differences in the way that leaders addressed the pandemic and what those differences suggest about effective leadership generally. Part II examines leadership challenges in the wake of Floyd’s death for lawyers in social movements, political positions, private organizations, and bar associations.
    [Show full text]
  • COVID-19: Make It the Last Pandemic
    COVID-19: Make it the Last Pandemic Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city of area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Report Design: Michelle Hopgood, Toronto, Canada Icon Illustrator: Janet McLeod Wortel Maps: Taylor Blake COVID-19: Make it the Last Pandemic by The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness & Response 2 of 86 Contents Preface 4 Abbreviations 6 1. Introduction 8 2. The devastating reality of the COVID-19 pandemic 10 3. The Panel’s call for immediate actions to stop the COVID-19 pandemic 12 4. What happened, what we’ve learned and what needs to change 15 4.1 Before the pandemic — the failure to take preparation seriously 15 4.2 A virus moving faster than the surveillance and alert system 21 4.2.1 The first reported cases 22 4.2.2 The declaration of a public health emergency of international concern 24 4.2.3 Two worlds at different speeds 26 4.3 Early responses lacked urgency and effectiveness 28 4.3.1 Successful countries were proactive, unsuccessful ones denied and delayed 31 4.3.2 The crisis in supplies 33 4.3.3 Lessons to be learnt from the early response 36 4.4 The failure to sustain the response in the face of the crisis 38 4.4.1 National health systems under enormous stress 38 4.4.2 Jobs at risk 38 4.4.3 Vaccine nationalism 41 5.
    [Show full text]
  • Health in Postconflict and Fragile States
    UNIteD StAteS INStItUte oF Peace www.usip.org SPeCIAL RePoRt 2301 Constitution Ave., NW • Washington, DC 20037 • 202.457.1700 • fax 202.429.6063 ABOUT THE REPO R T Rohini Jonnalagadda Haar and Leonard S. Rubenstein Because of the uncertainties and questions about health development in fragile and conflict-affected states, home to one-sixth of the world’s population, including whether and how it can advance state legitimacy or security, the United States Institute of Peace convened a two-day conference in June Health in Postconflict 2011—“Postconflict and Fragile States: Challenges for the Next Decade”—that brought together policymakers, organizations engaged in health development, ministries of health, human rights experts, academic researchers, and advocates to consider and Fragile States the questions and recommend a way forward. This special report is a product of that conference. Summary ABOUT THE AUTHO R S Rohini Jonnalagadda Haar is a physician who has engaged • The populations of states experiencing severe instability or unable to meet the basic func- in clinical services, program development, and public health tions of governance—referred to as fragile states—as well as those embroiled in conflict research in numerous countries with a variety of organizations. make up one-sixth of the world’s population and suffer from far poorer health than their Leonard Rubenstein is a senior scholar at the Center for Public counterparts in other states at comparable stages of development. Health and Human Rights at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg • During many armed conflicts, health facilities and health workers come under attack, and School of Public Health.
    [Show full text]