Dr Barbara Underwood, Chair
  |
| Abstract
“One
of the interesting things about contemporary politics and social
thought is that imagining better ways to live through the invention of
utopias seems to have nearly disappeared. Social transformation guided
by images of an ideal, well-ordered community or city is out of fashion.
By way of contrast, we are overwhelmed by invitations to improve
ourselves through diet, exercise, cognitive therapies, education and
technology. Apps, fitbits, “smart” devices surround us, and we are
encouraged to see this as a good thing, more “evidence-based” and more
effective. Contemporary social critics try to push back and question
this image of permanent, continuous self-improvement, but seemingly to
little effect. I would like us to reflect on the disappearance of Utopia
and the dominion of personalised technologies, and think of them as
counterparts. Instead of making ideal societies for humans to live in,
we are creating idealised humans to live in society. Either way we hold
one variable constant and transform the other in the name of achieving
the Good and the Just. In this talk I will explore these ideas, and
concentrate on ideas of improving human beings through medical
technologies, but we can range more widely in discussion.”
|
