The concept of soldier enhancement often invokes images of dystopian futures populated with dehumanized military personnel. These futures serve as warnings in science fiction works, and yet the enhancement of soldiers' combat capability is almost as old as war itself. Today, soldier enhancement is the purpose of military training and the application of innovative technologies, but when does it begin to challenge individuals' very humanity? Bringing together the work of a diverse group of practitioners and academics, Transhumanizing War examines performance enhancement in the military from a wide range of perspectives. The book builds on two key premises: that rapid advances in science and technology are outstripping governments' and military organizations' capacity to adapt, and that this has put pressure on the connection between the military and the public. The contributors to this collection grapple with the implications of continued technological advancement and the possibility that innovative solutions to performance enhancement will risk further alienating the soldier from society. Navigating the fine line between technological promise and ethics, this volume presents a guide to responsible implementation in Canada and abroad. Offering unique insights into a debate on the bleeding edge of public discourse, Transhumanizing War considers the best ways to improve combat effectiveness while still preserving soldiers' humanity.--$cProvided by publisher.
Authors
H. Christian Breede, Stéphanie A. H. Bélanger, Stéfanie von Hlatky
- Bibliography, etc. Note
- Includes bibliographical references and index
- Control Number Identifier
- CaOOCEL
- Date published
- 2019.
- Description conventions
- rda
- Dewey Decimal Classification Number
- 355/.07
- Dewey Decimal Edition Number
- 23
- Distributor
- Canadian Electronic Library (Firm),
- General Note
- Issued as part of the desLibris books collection
- ISBN
- 9780773559677 0773559477
- LCCN
- U42.5
- LCCN Item number
- T73 2019eb
- Modifying agency
- CaBNVSL
- Original cataloging agency
- NLC
- Physical Description | Extent
- 1 electronic text (336 pages)
- Published in
- Ottawa, Ontario
- Publisher or Distributor Number
- CaOOCEL
- Rights
- Access restricted to authorized users and institutions
- System Control Number
- (CaBNVSL)kck00240881 (OCoLC)1127388729 (CaOOCEL)458320
- System Details Note
- Mode of access: World Wide Web
- Transcribing agency
- YDX
Table of Contents
- Cover 1
- Copyright 5
- Contents 6
- Figures and Tables 8
- Preface 10
- 1 Introduction:A Call to (Enhanced) Arms 16
- Global Perspectives on Enhancement 36
- 2 Mapping the Human Enhancement Literature 38
- 3 Forecasting Futures and Possible Implications: The German Experience 69
- 4 Perspectives on the Enhancement of Soldiers: A French Approach 87
- 5 Human Performance in the United States Army: Enhancing the Future Soldier 107
- Easing the Burden 130
- 6 Rationalizing the Approach to Mitigate Soldier Physical Burden: Are Iron Man or Captain America the Magic Bullet? 132
- 7 A Roadmap for Biomechanical Testing and Evaluation of Future Human Exoskeletons with Respect to Soldier Performance 165
- 8 Enhancing Performance Starts with Learning 187
- 9 The Road to Cognitive Optimization 211
- Implications for Policy and Society 232
- 10 Insulating Soldiers from the Emotional Costs of War: An Ethical Analysis 234
- 11 Bioethics and Soldier Bio-Enhancement 251
- 12 Conclusion: The Road Ahead 268
- Abbreviations 286
- Contributors 290
- Index 296
