TCCTR Authors’ Series lecture:
“Citizen Cyborg” by Dr. James Hughes
Wednesday, November 30, 2005 - 4:15PM
Reese Room, Smith House, 123 Vernon Street Trinity College, Hartford CT
A reception will follow this event.
Sponsored by the Trinity Center for Collaborative Teaching and Research
Dr. James Hughes will discuss his new book “Citizen Cyborg: Why
Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the
Future.”
Hughes will describe the emerging “biopolitical” polarization between
“transhumanists” and “bioconservatives,” a polarization that cuts across
most existing political identities. He will explain the central
political argument between the bioconservatives’ “human-racism” versus
the transhumanists` personhood-based “cyborg citizenship.” The
implications of these two views are explored in debates about how to
deal with the beginning and ending of life, and with animals modified
for intelligence, intelligent machines and posthumans. In each case
catalytic technologies, such as artificial wombs, the repair of brain
injuries with prostheses and the enhancement of animal intelligence,
will force us to choose between human-racism and the cyborg citizenship
implicit in the liberal democratic tradition.
The Trinity Authors’ Series provides an open forum to discuss recently
published books, important articles, performances, or exhibitions by a
Trinity faculty member. The event begins with remarks by the author or
artist, followed by discussion and a reception.
Biographical Sketch: James Hughes teaches Health Policy at Trinity
College in Hartford Connecticut, and serves as Trinity`s Associate
Director of Institutional Research and Planning. Dr. Hughes also serves
as the Executive Director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging
Technologies. Dr. Hughes produces the weekly syndicated public affairs
talk show Changesurfer Radio, and is editor-in-chief of the Journal of
Evolution and Technology. Dr. Hughes is the author of Citizen Cyborg:
Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the
Future. Dr. Hughes lives in rural eastern Connecticut with his wife, the
artist Monica Bock, and their two children. Dr. Hughes is a Fellow of
the World Academy of Art and Science and a member of the Working Group
on Ethics and Technology at Yale University
Tracy Quigley
Program Coordinator TCCTR
860/297-2568
Tracy.Quigley@trincoll.edu
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