Cyborg Buddha Blog
Scientists, with the help of Buddhist monks and the Dalai Lama, are unlocking mysteries of the brain.
DOWNLOAD/LISTEN/VIEWApr 20, 2008
Artificial Wisdom
by Ben GoertzelEvery now and then, someone suggests to me that, alongside the pursuit of Artificial Intelligence, we should also be pursuing “Artificial Wisdom”
Apr 16, 2008
Hughes Talk on H+ & Religion top-rated at Thoughtware.tv
To toot my own horn, one of my favorite talks in recent memory was one I gave to the Templeton folks on the compatibility of religion and transhumanism. Andres put it up on Thoughtware.tv, and he wrote to let me know that it has been their top-rated talk there. Listen to it here. The slides associated with that talk are here, and the paper is here.
Apr 14, 2008
Do we want a truly liberal society?
by Russell BlackfordThe goal of a liberal society puts obligations on its citizens, that we practice reasonableness and openness to ideas, that we do not just tolerate one another but support one another to our fullest flourishing. A liberal society is not neutral about values like disease and health, sloth and effort, deceit and integrity, cowardice and courage. There are excellences that citizens of a liberal society must promote to survive. [Discuss this article in IEET Fora]
Mar 30, 2008
On Speed - Part 1
Changesurfer Radio(Part 1 of 2) Nicolas Rasmussen is professor of history and philosophy at University of New South Wales, Australia, and author of On Speed: The Many Lives of Amphetamine. We talk about the lessons to be learned for drug policy reform from the history of amphetamines. We also hear Australian Professor Rodney Detritus (comedian Rodney Marks) on the state of bioethics, by permission of the Science Show from Australia.
Part 1: (MP3) Part 2: (MP3)
Mar 26, 2008
Radical Prosthetic Implants
by Mike TrederAn article in Scientific American titled ”Scientists Set Sights on an Implantable Prosthetic for the Blind” tells about a Boston neuroscientist who is “developing a device that may someday help the blind by sending images directly to the brain.”
Mar 20, 2008
SD: Fermi Pradox and the Human Male
Sentient DevelopmentsIn this episode: The Fermi Paradox is back with a vengeance, nanotechnology will reshape humanity, and why evolutionary psychology says we should cut Spitzer some slack.
Mar 17, 2008
Elliot Spitzer: Only a Human Male
by George DvorskyEvolutionary psychology suggests we should cut Spitzer some slack. Until we can re-engineer the brain, human males will do lots of dumb things for sex.
Mar 6, 2008
Cognitive Science and Mindfulness Meditation
Google Tech TalksMindfulness meditation, one type of meditation technique, has been shown to enhance emotional awareness and psychological flexibility as well as induce well-being and emotional balance. Scientists have also begun to examine how meditation may influence brain functions. This talk will examine the effect of mindfulness meditation practice on the brain systems in which psychological functions such as attention, emotional reactivity, emotion regulation, and self-view are instantiated. We will also discuss how different forms of meditation practices are being studied using neuroscientific technologies and are being integrated into clinical practice to address symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress.
Philippe is a research scientist and heads the Clinically Applied Affective Neuroscience group in the Department of Psychology at Stanford University. He spent 6 years in India and Nepal studying various languages, Buddhist philosophy and debate at Namgyal Monastery and the Dialectic Monastic Institute, and serving as an interpreter for various Tibetan Buddhist lamas. He then returned to the U.S. to complete a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Rutgers University. His NIH-funded clinical research focuses on (a) functional neuroimaging investigations of cognitive-affective mechanisms in adults with anxiety disorders, (b) comparing the effects of mindfulness meditation and cognitive-behavioral therapy on brain-behavior correlates of emotional reactivity and regulation, and (c) training children in family and elementary school settings in mindfulness skills to reduce anxiety and enhance compassion, self-esteem and quality of family interactions.
Mar 6, 2008
Science of Love, and the Future of Women
TED Talks“Anthropologist Helen Fisher studies love: its evolution, its biochemical foundations and its vital importance to human society. She outlines the three stages of love (lust, infatuation and long-term attachment), shedding light on eternal questions like why we love, and why we cheat. She also discusses the natural talents of women, and their new significance in the modern world. She ends with a warning about the widespread use of antidepressants—and a truly hilarious story of romantic pursuit.”
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