Jay Friedenberg 
The Future of the Self 
An Interdisciplinary Approach to Personhood and Identity in the Digital Age

We live in the digital age where our sense of self and identity has moved beyond the body to encompass hardware and software. Cyborgs, online representations in social media, avatars, and virtual reality extend our notion of what it means to be human. This book looks at the progression of self from the biological to the technological using a multidisciplinary approach. It examines the notion of personhood from philosophical, psychological, neuroscience, robotics, and artificial intelligence perspectives, showing how the interface between bodies, brains, and technology can give rise to new forms of human identity. Jay Friedenberg presents the content in an organized and easy-to-understand fashion to facilitate learning. A gifted researcher, author, and classroom teacher, he is one of the most influential voices in the field of artificial psychology.

Mục lục

List of Figures

List of Tables

Acknowledgments


1 Introduction 

Primary Terms: Personhood, Self, and Identity 

The Psychology of Personhood

Perspectives on Personhood

Non-Western Views of Self

A Few More Ideas on the Self

The Artificial Self

Book Overview


2 The Philosophy of Self

Historical Conceptions of Personhood and Self

Three Additional Philosophical Conceptions of the Self

Personal Identity

Knowledge of the Self

Free Will and Determinism

The Extended-Mind Thesis


3 The Psychology of Self

Varieties of Self: The Modern Approach

Psychological Theories of Self

Disorders of Self


4 Brain

The Neuroscience of Self

Is There a Specialized Brain System for Self?

One or Many Neural Selves?

Neural Models of the Self

Problems with the Neuroscientific Study of Self

Responses to Problems with the Neuroscientific Study of Self


5 Brain + Hardware

Cyborgs

Prosthetics

Neural Prosthetics (Brain-Machine Interfaces or Brain-Computer Interfaces)

Artificial Memories

Robotics


6 Brain + Software

Technology

Cyberpsychology

Varieties of Online Behavior

Video Games


7 Avatars

What Is an Avatar?

Avatar Typologies

Avatar Behavior in the Palace

Avatar Embodiment

Points of View

The Proteus Effect

Representing and Creating the Online Self

Avatars at Play

Avatars and Video Role-Playing Games

Avatars and Identity

Avatar Case Studies

The Future of Avatars


8 Virtual Worlds

Augmented Reality

Virtual Worlds

Virtual Spaces

A Brief History of Virtual Worlds

Presence and the Ultimate Display

A Chronology of VR Systems

Second Life

Avatars, Virtual Worlds, and the Digital Self

Benefits of VR and Virtual Worlds

Problems with VR and Virtual Worlds

The Future of the Virtual World


9 Software Selves

What Is Life?

Artificial Life

Life and Consciousness

Consciousness

Artificial Consciousness

Is Artificial Consciousness Possible? Some Ideas

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Selves as Mindclones and Bemans

Digital Identity, Personhood, and Rights

Human Attitudes and Behaviors toward Artificial Selves

Digital Immortality


10 Conclusion

Changing the Self

The Future of the Self

The Far Future

Summary and Main Issues


References

Index

Giới thiệu về tác giả

Jay Friedenberg is Professor of Psychology at Manhattan College. He has published several textbooks on topics in cognitive science, perception, and artificial intelligence and is a researcher in the field of empirical aesthetics.