Jurassic Park and Philosophy: The Truth Is Terrifying
Nicolas Michaud · Jessica Watkins
Jun 2014 · Popular Culture and Philosophy Book 82 · Open Court
3.9star
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288
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About this ebook
Twenty-one philosophers join forces to investigate the implications of the Jurassic Park franchise for our lives, our values, and our future. Human beings live and thrive by modifying nature, but when do the risks of changing nature outweigh the likely benefits? If it’s true that “Life will find a way,” should we view any modified or newly reconstituted life as a hazard?
The new scientific information we could gain by bringing back T. Rex or other dinosaurs is immense, including greater understanding of biology leading to immeasurable medical benefits, but should we choose to let sleeping dinosaurs lie? And if we do bring them back by reconstituting them from ancient DNA, are they really what they were, or is something missing? If life will find a way, then why isn’t the Dodo still around?
How close are we, as a matter of fact, to achieving Jurassic Park? Are we really likely to see reconstituted dinosaurs or other ancient species in the near future? How do the different forces—human curiosity, profitability, and philanthropy—interact to determine what actually happens in such cases? What moral standards should be applied to those who try to bring back lost worlds? If velociraptors could talk, what would they tell us?
The idea of bringing back the dead and the powerful is not limited to biological species. It also applies to bringing back old gods, old philosophies, old institutions, and old myths. If revived and once again let loose to walk the Earth, these too may turn out to be more dangerous than we bargained for.
The new scientific information we could gain by bringing back T. Rex or other dinosaurs is immense, including greater understanding of biology leading to immeasurable medical benefits, but should we choose to let sleeping dinosaurs lie? And if we do bring them back by reconstituting them from ancient DNA, are they really what they were, or is something missing? If life will find a way, then why isn’t the Dodo still around?
How close are we, as a matter of fact, to achieving Jurassic Park? Are we really likely to see reconstituted dinosaurs or other ancient species in the near future? How do the different forces—human curiosity, profitability, and philanthropy—interact to determine what actually happens in such cases? What moral standards should be applied to those who try to bring back lost worlds? If velociraptors could talk, what would they tell us?
The idea of bringing back the dead and the powerful is not limited to biological species. It also applies to bringing back old gods, old philosophies, old institutions, and old myths. If revived and once again let loose to walk the Earth, these too may turn out to be more dangerous than we bargained for.
Ratings and reviews
3.9
49 reviews
sylar f.
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May 30, 2015
COOL!
1 person found this review helpful
Jake H
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July 2, 2015
it's pretty awesome
1 person found this review helpful
Khayzee Mendoza
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July 2, 2015
And mahal
1 person found this review helpful
About the author
Nicolas Michaud is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Florida State College Jacksonville. He is the editor of Frankenstein and Philosophy (2013).
Jessica Watkins teaches Language Arts at Twin Lakes Academy Middle School. She is a contributor to Ender's Game and Philosophy: Genocide is Child's Play (2013).
Jessica Watkins teaches Language Arts at Twin Lakes Academy Middle School. She is a contributor to Ender's Game and Philosophy: Genocide is Child's Play (2013).
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