From: Giulio Prisco (2nd email) (eschatoon@gmail.com)
Date: Wed Mar 31 2010 - 02:16:33 MDT
http://giulioprisco.blogspot.com/2010/03/apocalyptic-ai-book-presentation-and.html
As I expected, Robert gave a great presentation and answered many
questions from the audience. Topics: Transhumanism as a modern
Apocalyptic AI religion, anthropology and sociology of Second Life,
future "apocalyptic" technologies such as mind uploading to virtual
reality. I recorded full video and audio of the 30 min presentation:
Video: Apocalyptic AI - book presentation and discussion in Second
Life, Tuesday March 30, 10am PST, on blip.tv
http://giulioprisco.blip.tv/file/3421537/
I could only record the presentation and not the very, very
interesting questions and answers session which followed. I hope other
participants could record also the Q/A.
On Tue, Mar 30, 2010 at 12:51 PM, Giulio Prisco (2nd email)
<eschatoon@gmail.com> wrote:
> Reminder: today March 30, 10am PST, 1pm EST, 7pm Continental EU, 6pm UK
>
> SLURL and info here
>
> http://giulioprisco.blogspot.com/2010/03/apocalyptic-ai-book-presentation-and.html
>
> On Tue, Mar 23, 2010 at 9:08 PM, Giulio Prisco (2nd email)
> <eschatoon@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Oxford University Press - Apocalyptic AI: Visions of Heaven in
>> Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and Virtual Reality, by Robert M.
>> Geraci.
>>
>> See my review of this excellent book. Robert has done a lot of field
>> reconnaissance work behind transhumanist lines in Second Life. The
>> book has a full report of Robert's field work and his interpretation
>> of the spirit of transhumanism, and the spirit of virtual worlds. This
>> book has started many interesting (and often vigorous) discussions in
>> both transhumanist and Second Life interest groups.
>>
>> Robert will come to Second Life for a book presentation and discussion
>> on Tuesday March 30, at 10am PST. The talk will take place in the
>> Singularity Club (which can be seen in the background of the picture)
>> on the Transvision Nexus island. Please follow this SLURL to teleport,
>> and bring interesting questions.
>>
>> New World Notes - Oxford Press Book on Digital Age Spirituality Argues
>> Second Life Provides Platform For Innovative Religious Thinking: The
>> ultra-prestigious Oxford University just published a book devoted to
>> theology in the digital age: Apocalyptic AI Visions of Heaven in
>> Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and Virtual Reality. It's written
>> by Manhattan College professor Robert Geraci, known in Second Life as
>> Soren Ferlinghetti (pictured), and unsurprisingly, a whole chapter is
>> devoted to Second Life, and conversations with several well-known
>> Extropians (sometimes called transhumanists), who often see Second
>> Life as a means for transcending the human body.
>>
>> From the publishers' site: "Description: Apocalyptic AI, the hope that
>> we might one day upload our minds into machines or cyberspace and live
>> forever, is a surprisingly wide-spread and influential idea, affecting
>> everything from the world view of online gamers to government research
>> funding and philosophical thought. In Apocalyptic AI, Robert Geraci
>> offers the first serious account of this "cyber-theology" and the
>> people who promote it.
>>
>> Drawing on interviews with roboticists and AI researchers and with
>> devotees of the online game Second Life, among others, Geraci
>> illuminates the ideas of such advocates of Apocalyptic AI as Hans
>> Moravec and Ray Kurzweil. He reveals that the rhetoric of Apocalyptic
>> AI is strikingly similar to that of the apocalyptic traditions of
>> Judaism and Christianity. In both systems, the believer is trapped in
>> a dualistic universe and expects a resolution in which he or she will
>> be translated to a transcendent new world and live forever in a
>> glorified new body. Equally important, Geraci shows how this worldview
>> shapes our culture. For instance, Apocalyptic AI has influenced
>> funding agencies such as the National Science Foundation, helping to
>> prioritize robotics and AI research. It has become the ideology of
>> choice for online gamers, such as those involved in Second Life; it
>> has had a profound impact on the study of the mind; and it has
>> inspired scientists and theologians alike to wonder about the super
>> robots of the future. Should we think of robots as persons? What kind
>> of morality would intelligent robots espouse?
>>
>> Apocalyptic AI has become a powerful force in modern culture. In this
>> superb volume, Robert Geraci shines a light on this belief system,
>> revealing what it is and how it is changing society."
>>
>>
>> --
>> Giulio Prisco
>> http://cosmeng.org/index.php/Giulio_Prisco
>> aka Eschatoon Magic
>> http://cosmeng.org/index.php/Eschatoon
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Giulio Prisco
> http://cosmeng.org/index.php/Giulio_Prisco
> aka Eschatoon Magic
> http://cosmeng.org/index.php/Eschatoon
>
-- Giulio Prisco http://cosmeng.org/index.php/Giulio_Prisco aka Eschatoon Magic http://cosmeng.org/index.php/Eschatoon
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