Theology of Human Enhancement in Western Traditions - (Politics of Human Enhancement) by James J Hughes & Steven Umbrello & Cristiano Calì

Book Synopsis

In the rapidly advancing landscape of science and technology, humanity stands at the threshold of unprecedented possibilities, particularly in the realm of human enhancement. Theologians, philosophers, ethicists, and scientists engage in profound discussions about the ethical, moral, and spiritual implications of enhancing the human experience.

What does it mean to be human in the face of technological augmentation? How do religious traditions perceive the ethical boundaries of human enhancement? Can spirituality coexist with the pursuit of enhancing our physical, cognitive, and emotional capacities? This volume embarks on comprehensively exploring these questions and more, drawing from diverse theological perspectives, ethical frameworks, and scientific insights.

This book aims to bridge the gap between theology, ethics, and emerging technologies by fostering an interdisciplinary dialogue. It encourages readers to contemplate the intricate relationship between humanity's quest for enhancement and the enduring spiritual questions that have captivated human minds for centuries.

About the Author

James Hughes is the Executive Director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, is a bioethicist and sociologist who serves as the Associate Provost for Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning for the University of Massachusetts Boston. He is the author of numerous academic articles. His latest books are The Biopolitics of Human Enhancement (2024, co-edited with Steven Umbrello and Cristiano Calì) and Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future (2004).

Steven Umbrello is the Managing Director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Delft University of Technology, and a Stiftung Südtiroler Sparkasse Global Fellow at Eurac Research. He studied philosophy of science and technology at the University of Toronto (H.B.A), epistemology, ethics, and mind at the University of Edinburgh (MSc), science and technology studies at York University (MA), and the ethics and design of AI at the Northwestern Italian Philosophy Consortium (PhD). His research focuses more broadly on value sensitive design, its philosophical foundations, as well as its application to novel technologies like AI, nanotech, and Industry 4.0. His latest books are The Biopolitics of Human Enhancement (2024, co-edited with James Hughes and Cristiano Calì) and Technology Ethics: Responsible Innovation and Design Strategies (2024).

Cristiano Calì is a a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Turin and associate researcher at the Institute for Ethics and Emerging. He studied philosophy at the University of Catania (Italy) and philosophy of mind, ethics, and technology studies at the University of Italian Switzerland (PhD). His main research areas are: philosophy of free will, decision making applied to AI, moral philosophy and the connection of philosophical and technological issues with theological doctrines. His latest book is The Biopolitics of Human Enhancement (2024, co-edited with James Hughes and Steven Umbrello).