Studia humana (SH) is a multi-disciplinary peer reviewed journal publishing valuable
contributions on any aspect of human sciences such as...
read more...
ARTICLES:
De Bello Robotico. An Ethical Assessment of Military Robotics
Issue: 8:1 (The twenty nineth issue)
This article provides a detailed description of robotic weapons and unmanned
systems currently used by the U.S. Military and its allies, and an ethical
assessment of their actual or potential use on the battlefield. Firstly, trough a
review of scientific literature, reports, and newspaper articles, a catalogue of
ethical problems related to military robotics is compiled. Secondly, possible
solutions for these problems are offered, by relying also on analytic tools
provided by the new field of roboethics. Finally, the article explores possible
future developments of military robotics and present six reasons why a war
between humans and automata is unlikely to happen in the 21st century.
systems currently used by the U.S. Military and its allies, and an ethical
assessment of their actual or potential use on the battlefield. Firstly, trough a
review of scientific literature, reports, and newspaper articles, a catalogue of
ethical problems related to military robotics is compiled. Secondly, possible
solutions for these problems are offered, by relying also on analytic tools
provided by the new field of roboethics. Finally, the article explores possible
future developments of military robotics and present six reasons why a war
between humans and automata is unlikely to happen in the 21st century.
Nietzsche and Transhumanism: A Meta-Analytical Perspective
Issue: 8:4 (the thirty second issue)
In recent years a debate has developed over the ties between Friedrich Nietzsche’s ideas and transhumanism. This article clarifies some issues at the meta-level of the discussion. Firstly, the author provides a scientometric analysis of research trends to show the relevance of the topic. Secondly, he distinguishes between two analytical perspectives, which he calls ‘noumenal’ and ‘phenomenal.’ Thirdly, by taking the phenomenal perspective, the author shows that transhumanism can be classified into four different categories, namely: quasi-Nietzschean, Nietzschean, a-Nietzschean, and anti-Nietzschean. Finally, he provides historical examples of each single type of transhumanism. This way, the article also contributes to the history of transhumanist thought.
Issue: ()
Issue: ()
Science and Religion Shift in the First Three Months of the Covid-19 Pandemic
Issue: 10:1 (the thirty seventh issue)
The goal of this pilot study is to investigate expressions of the collective disquiet of people in the first months of Covid-19 pandemic, and to try to understand how they manage covert risk, especially with religion and magic. Four co-authors living in early hot spots of the pandemic speculate on the roles of science, religion, and magic, in the latest global catastrophe. They delve into the consolidation that should be occurring worldwide because of a common, viral enemy, but find little evidence for it. They draw parallels to biblical works, finding evidence of a connection between plague and “social strife.” They explore changes in the purviews of science, religion, and magic, and how and why they have changed, as three systems of covert risk management. They speculate on the coming wave of grief when the world populations finally decide that too many people have died, and they envision cultural changes on the other side of the pandemic, to lifestyles, travel, reverse urbanization, and living and working in smaller communities. Using an unusual approach named “crowd-sourced ethnography”, they conduct un-traditional ethnography and speculate on management of covert risk in their native countries.
The Sociology of Global Warming: A Scientometric Look
Issue: 10:1 (the thirty seventh issue)
The theory of anthropogenic global warming (AGW) enjoys considerable
consensus among experts. It is widely recognized that global industrialization
is producing an increase in the planet’s temperatures and causing
environmental disasters. Still, there are scholars – although a minority – who
consider groundless either the idea of global warming itself or the idea that it
constitutes an existential threat for humanity. This lack of scientific unanimity
(as well as differing political ideologies) ignites controversies in the political
world, the mass media, and public opinion as well. Sociologists have been
dealing with this issue for some time, producing researches and studies based
on their specific competencies. Using scientometric tools, this article tries to
establish to what extent and in which capacity sociologists are studying the
phenomenon of climate change. Particular attention is paid to meta-analytical
aspects such as consensus, thematic trends, and the impact of scientific works.
consensus among experts. It is widely recognized that global industrialization
is producing an increase in the planet’s temperatures and causing
environmental disasters. Still, there are scholars – although a minority – who
consider groundless either the idea of global warming itself or the idea that it
constitutes an existential threat for humanity. This lack of scientific unanimity
(as well as differing political ideologies) ignites controversies in the political
world, the mass media, and public opinion as well. Sociologists have been
dealing with this issue for some time, producing researches and studies based
on their specific competencies. Using scientometric tools, this article tries to
establish to what extent and in which capacity sociologists are studying the
phenomenon of climate change. Particular attention is paid to meta-analytical
aspects such as consensus, thematic trends, and the impact of scientific works.
