Question 2.

Source One [i]
“The Visible Human Project: Informatic Bodies and Posthuman Medicine”
This article written by Catherine Waldby seeks to explore how medicine’s biotechnical innovations are continuously manipulating the forces of life through the use of bioinformation. Furthermore, Waldby suggests to her readers that the well published concept of the biotechnological “Adam” and “Eve”, created by the Visible Human project has been used by many media sources to present audiences with the “new genesis”. The concept of the “ visible man” and the “ visible woman” have made science palatable for popular readership and have helped shift the focus of origin away from the domain of god/ religion towards that of mechanically conceived nature. According to the writings of Waldby, this technological transformation has ultimately resulted in the disablement of the user’s embodied identity and agency, setting about social change. The publication argues that there is a great confusion between “life” and the “illusion of life” as well as the reproduction of an image and the reproduction of life.
The publication is a balanced, well-researched paper that uses a number of reputable sources to establish its argument and possible counter-arguments. It explores how the creation of virtual identity has resulted in the change of social norms and understanding of identity and existence.
Source Two [ii]
Review of “The Visible Human Project: Informatic Bodies and Posthuman Medicine” by Stuart J Murry
This publication written by Stuart J Murry analyses Catherine Waldby’s “ The Visible Human Project: Informatic Bodies and Post-human Medicine” and agrees with her understanding of the notion that the Visible Human Project managed to create “Surrogate” for his actual body. Murry argues that the VHP is just one of many technological advancements that blur the line between the organic and mechanic and between the actual and virtual. This is demonstrated in the division between life and death which has become destabilised by the introduction of new technology which preserves life in situations where it would not have existed before. Through his argument Murry seeks to explore what a “life” or “subject” really is, thus highlighting Waldby’s argument that the distinction between nature and artifice are collapsing and flowing into each other. The newly created virtual world created by Waldby is argued t o be a place of subjective projection and identification where readers are introduced to the “posthuman” thought.

This article expands on writing of Waldby and it highlights her main arguments which are lost in the size and complex language of her publication. I believe that the source would be an ideal reference to identify the authenticity of her arguments and to support the notions being presented.

Source Three [iii]
“How BIOTECHNOLOGY is transforming WHAT we believe and how we LIVE.”
This article establishes how ongoing developments in technology have lead to a social change in the way that individuals identify their religion as well as their identity. The article claims that the introduction of new technologies has lead to changes in psychological and sociological aims. These changes are illustrated through the use of examples of technological developments which have influenced the way that individuals perceive certain elements of life. Primarily, changes in medical science such as the introduction of birth control pills in the early 1960s brought with it a growing acceptance of contraception and family planning, this in turn gave women more control over their bodies and gave the women’s movement a rise to social prominence. Notably, values regarding sex, family and population growth today are dramatically different as a result of the changes which resulted from the development in medical science. Furthermore, the development of the Pill has lead to the invention of subsequent technologies such as ultrasongraphy, which have themselves sparked greater social changes. Ultimately the article demonstrates that society as we know it today will change tomorrow as a result of the technologies assimilated into our culture today adding to the argument that the change in technology is constantly redefining what it means to be human




Source Four [iv]
Transcendental Philosophy and Artificial Life.

“The publication written by Gary Banham intends to establish a connection between artificial life and certain kinds of interpretation of the transcendental philosophy. The overall argument of the publication suggests that the underlying conceptual approaches to artificial life have serious deficiencies and that there is a connection between the project of artificial life and new interpretations of transcendental philosophy. Further to this the article provides its readers with some history of technology, however the main value of the article lies within its explanation of the processes undertaken in the creation of the Visible Human Project. I did not find this article of particular value as it was hard to read and understand and was not easily linked to the central topic. It is filled with complex theories and not enjoyable.

Source Five [v]
“Defining Life, Explaining Emergence”
This article utilises the current understanding that science has of “life” in order to fully apply the principles to the notion that a new form of life is emerging through the introduction of Artificial Intelligence. The source makes a specific argument that Artificial Life demonstrated that science can computationally imitate emergent processes of construction which are sources from nature as the creation of higher levels of organisations. Through this it is argued that something that can be constructed by the replication of the natural process should be able to be explained. The article provides a basic discussion on the current understanding that society has on the philosophy of life. The article was very useful as it discusses the principles underpinning society’s attempt to define life and its focuses on “A-life” as a desirable form of life educates the readers about the effect that technology is having on the understanding of life.


[i] Catherine Waldby, “Informatic Bodies and Posthuman Medicine- Digital Eden and the reproduction of life.” Available from http://books.google.com.au/books?id=queDwq2Ac-YC&pg=PA110&lpg=PA110&dq=The+Visible+Human+Project+and+the+Reproduction+of+Life&source=web&ots=KeEow-rO5g&sig=UPj0oB4REMbfAoGHNpJuON7pxg0&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result , accessed on 27th August 2008.

[ii] Stuart J Murry “ The Visible Human Project: Informatic Bodies and Posthuman Medicine” review, available from http://reconstruction.eserver.org/021/revVisibleHP.htm , accessed on 27th August 2008.

[iii] Fred Edwords, “ how BIOTECHNOLOGY is transforming WHAT we believe and how we LIVE” available from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1374/is_5_59/ai_55722249/pg_2?tag=artBody;col1 , accessed on 27th August 2008

[iv] Gary Banham, “ Transcendental Philosophy and Artificial life.” Available from http://culturemachine.tees.ac.uk/Cmach/Backissues/j003/Articles/banham.htm accessed on 27th August 2008.

[v] Claus Emmeche , “Defining life, Explaining Emergence” available from http://www.nbi.dk/~emmeche/cePubl/97e.defLife.v3f.html#strategy accessed on 27th August 2008.