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Radical Evolution - The Promise and Peril of Enhancing Our Minds- Our Bodies -- and What It Means to

5 stars ("Enhanced Humans": Never Sleep and They Have Artificial Vision.) - Nanotechnology, communication technology, information technology, robotics, drugs, biology, and genetics all come together in this new book. I had a quick read and heard the author talk at some length on the radio about the book and the subject. From the book and from listening to the author, one is convinced that this is a solid effort. The book gives an overview of new technologies and drugs. The drugs are not your normal medications. They do things such as extend memory. The technologies can give us things such as artificial hearing and artificial sight. He describes how we can use electronic sensors in the brain to control robotics to help the handicapped move limbs. In the past we might have thought that some of these drugs and technologies would be radical, or far off in the distant future, but now many of the technologies are here. The author is an editor and a reporter at the Washington Post. He has published a number of articles and books including Edge City: Life on the New Frontier and The Nine Nations of North America. The book is entertaining, and the story and writing are probably better than if written by a scientist. In his radio interview, he said that he had travelled extensively to prepare for the book, absorbing new ideas and technologies being tested by drug companies, various universities, government agencies, and in other private industry. According to the author, the products of that research are here or are coming soon. Part of his challenge was to write a book that brings the reader up to date without sounding too crazy, or too techie, or too far out. If he just presents a lot of "gee whiz" chit chat, the reader will be turned off. After all, he is a Post writer, not a hack gadget salesman. So, he has attempted to explain the social impact as he goes through the book. Also, he does not want to give the impression that it is science fiction that we have here. It i...
Doubleday :: Science & General :: Technology :: Sociology :: Social Aspects :: Science&Mathematics :: Science :: Risk assessment :: Philosophy :: General :: Ethics & Moral Philosoph :: Radical Evolution - The Promise and Peril of Enhancing Our Minds- Our Bodies -- and What It Means to

 

The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism Routledge Classics Routledge Classics

5 stars ( A C lassic for All Times) - Weber's "Protestant Ethic" was originally published in 1904-1905 and later in a second, revised edition (1920). This edition is the second edition, and the translator is Talcott Parsons. In "The Protestant Ethic" Weber famously attempts to explain how the spirit of modern rational capitalism emerged; and he essentially argues that an important part in this process was played by what he termed ascetic protestantism or different types of Protestantism that were activistic and ascetic (most famously Calvinism). Ascetic Protestantism energized businessmen and workers, and valorized a new type of capitalism: rational capitalism which is much more methodical and dynamic in nature than the type of capitalism that existed in Europe in the 1500s ("traditional capitalism"). Today rational capitalism has conquered society and turned it into an iron cage (to use Parsons' famous translation of two words in German that are more accurately - and less imaginatively - translated as "steelhard casing"). "The Protestant Ethic" is by far the most famous sociological study and is unsurpassed in theoretical boldness and creativity. Parsons said that he found it as exciting to read as a detective novel. Most of us have to struggle quite a bit with it - but it is definitely worth it! 4 stars (Not a determinist: someone who pays attention to culture... ) - The main point in Weber's *The Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism* is that the Protestant ethic helped to shape values favorable to the birth of capitalism. Despite that, the author isn't a cultural determinist because he takes care to point out that values help to shape an outcome, but don't produce it for certain. This book is quite interesting, and includes lots of interesting observations regarding Weber's main premise, despite not being overly long. For instance, the author says that due to the fact that Protestant ethic viewed hard work as a duty and looked down on ex...
Routledge :: Protestantism & Protestant Churches :: Ethics & moral philosophy :: Sociology of Religion :: Sociology :: Social Science :: Religious aspects :: Protestant work e :: The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (Routledge Classics) (Routledge Classics)

 

Bushido- The Way of the Samurai Square One Classics

4 stars (Good Book, worth owning) - I'm glad I bought this book, not only for it's historical significance, but also to be able to continuously refer back to it for refreshing. While I really enjoyed the first two chapters (also the longest), it started to get long-winded towards the end. This is still a very quick read and worth it's price. Two parts of the book bring up a sensitive subject (which I won't spoil) which surprisingly seemed to be a fairly common way of life for samurai. No, I'm not talking about ritual suicide, or some of their strong beliefs in honor and service, but instead something that 99% of us I'd wager never would associate with Samurai lifestyles. While unsettling, it's worthwhile learning the truths about their habits without over-glorification. Certainly a classic book which has the potential to enspire everyone to reach for their full potential. 3 stars (Hagakure for beginners) - As the title of my review suggests, I think this book makes a good introductory text for someone who doesn't have a lot of time to dedicate to studying bushido, someone who is just getting acclimated to the new way of thinking, or someone who is merely curious. The positives: -Each quotation is clearly titled and indexed, making it easy to find and reference specific quotes regarding specific topics. -Some translations have been changed to better accomodate the literal English-speaking reader. The negatives: -Short. It is only a small sampling of the wisdom of Hagakure. -While the modified translations will help English speakers avoid some of the pitfalls associated with reading from a different cultural context, they are also an incomplete and sometimes shallow understanding of the text. Again, as an introductory text this one is a good one. For a better, more complete translation of Hagakure, look for the one by William Scott Wilson. It is one of my favorite texts, though I will admit that when pressed for a quotation on short notice, I will still o...
Square One Publishers :: Philosophy :: Mind & Body :: Martial Arts & Self-Defense :: Japanese Philosophy :: Ethics & Moral Philosophy :: Eastern - General :: Early works to 1800 :: Bushido :: :: Bushido- The Way of the Samurai (Square One Classics)

 

Hagakure- The Book of the Samurai

3 stars (Interesting as a historical text) - As a philosophical book, or a book about a way of living, I think the Hagakure falls short. Yamamoto Tsunetomo often comes across as simply an irritable, grumpy old badger. During his service to his lord, he never participated in a battle (he lived in the Edo period) and he was not really the world's greatest retainer either. Therefore it is difficult to put any merit into his personal ideas and philosophies. If you are looking for a book about the Samurai spirit, or way of the warrior, I highly recommend Code of the Samurai (though the Cleary translation leaves a little to be desired), and the Wilson translation of the Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi. Let me give an example of my viewpoint. The basis of Tsunetomo's idealogy seems to be that the greatest achievement of a samurai is to die for his lord. He goes so far as to say "merit lies more in dying for one's master than in striking down the enemy." Granted, he lived in a time of peace, but as a warriors philosophy, this just doesn't ring true. It feels as though he took the Zen/Martial idea of losing all fear of death a little too far. Musashi's viewpoint in the Book of Five Rings seems far more correct. Musashi states that while a warrior should always be prepared for death and willing to die for one's lord, the essence of a warrior is actually in the striking down of an enemy. There is no other point to conflict than victory over your opponent. There is merit in the Hagakure. It is very interesting and useful as a historical text describing how warriors felt and acted in the Edo period of peace. It also contains anecdotes from Sengoku era samurai, which I found very interesting. Also, when Tsunetomo is not going on about rushing to one's death, he does manage a few gems of good advice. For instance, "When there is something to be said, it is better if it is said right away. If it is said later, it will sound like an excuse." If you are a samurai collec...
Kodansha International (JPN) :: Philosophy :: Martial Arts :: Japanese Philosophy :: Ethics & Moral Philosophy :: Eastern - General :: William Scott Wilson :: Yamamoto Tsunetomo :: :: Hagakure- The Book of the Samurai