Multidisciplinary Musings: Law, Culture, and the Mind in the Digital Era

Ayn Rand, a Russian-American author and philosopher, significantly influenced 20th-century thought through her development of Objectivism. This philosophy emphasizes rational self-interest and individualism over collectivism and altruism. In her most famous work, "Atlas Shrugged," Rand presents a dystopian future where the most capable individuals retreat from society due to the increasing adoption of collectivist policies. This serves as a thought experiment demonstrating the indispensability of individual contributions to societal well-being. Rand's ethical theory, particularly expounded upon in "The Virtue of Selfishness," argues that self-interest is a moral imperative. According to her, one's primary moral responsibility is to achieve one's own well-being, and this ultimately leads to a healthier society. This position stands in contrast to more traditional ethical theories that prioritize altruism or the well-being of the collective. Critics often

Joe Matt, the trailblazing American cartoonist renowned for his series "Peepshow," died of a heart attack on September 18, 2023, while channeling his life onto paper at his drawing desk. More than just a series of doodles, "Peepshow" was a diary in ink that delved into the dark recesses of Matt's psyche—addressing taboo topics like pornography and masturbation, while artfully exploring the complexities of mental health and sexuality. In "Peepshow," Matt offered a masterclass in vulnerability, serving up raw introspections and existential conundrums that made readers both squirm and resonate. And he did it all with an artistic panache characterised by meticulous lines, vivacious characters, and innovative panel layouts that would've made even the most prudish reader take a second glance. But Matt's work was more than self-absorbed  introspection—it was a sociocultural critique wrapped in comic form. Born from the cultural currents of the 1980s a

Prof. Paula Sweeney   has recently published a paper delving into the relationship between humans and their avatars, understood as a proxy relation. The central focus is to provide a conceptual framework for comprehending the human-avatar proxy relationship, which draws from traditional understandings of proxies while also considering the unique features of online versions. The paper further investigates the conditions under which a person can be deemed accountable for the actions executed by their avatar proxy. A significant distinction is made between avatars as proxies and 'uploads', the latter referring to transferring thoughts and memories from an organic brain to a computer, leading to philosophical debates around personal identity. The paper also touches upon the ethical concerns surrounding the use of avatars as proxies, given that the individuals they represent can be held responsible for the avatar's actions. A salient point is the epistemic gap in the proxy relat

The innovative and flourishing Sumerian civilization, nestled between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, greatly influenced the foundations of modern society approximately 5,000 years ago. Recognized as the birthplace of writing, urban centers, science, and legal systems, Sumer's ingenuity originated from its pioneering inhabitants. Its pre-eminent city-state, Uruk, which housed up to 40,000 residents, showcased remarkable architectural achievements, including the renowned ziggurat dedicated to Anu, predating even Egypt's Great Pyramid. The necessity for record-keeping, propelled by its agricultural triumphs, led to the invention of writing around 3500 B.C. Merchants utilized clay tablets, inscribed with symbols, which evolved into the sophisticated Sumerian script by 3200 B.C. This reed-impressed writing system, termed cuneiform due to its wedge-shaped appearance, became an essential communication tool, spreading throughout Mesopotamia via trade and conquests. Despite being a do

Professor Roger Walsh* delves into the nature and purpose of human consciousness. He believes it is essential to approach the question of consciousness from multiple perspectives including evolutionary theory, biology, neuroscience, cultural studies, and spiritual studies. Each discipline provides a unique insight into consciousness. Evolutionary theorists are divided: some view consciousness as an accidental byproduct, while others see it as essential for survival, a sophisticated means through which DNA replicates. Neuroscientists generally posit that consciousness arises from the brain's processes. Those in cultural studies argue that our consciousness is largely shaped by the culture we grow up in. From a spiritual or contemplative perspective, it's believed that the primary state of human consciousness is somewhat clouded. Therefore, one of the primary tasks of consciousness might be to refine and understand itself better. The meditative traditions provide methods for this

Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (1929–2018) was an eminent American author, primarily recognized for her speculative fiction, encompassing the Hainish universe science fiction and the Earthsea fantasy series. Her work deeply reflects the influence of cultural anthropology, Taoism, feminism, and the writings of Carl Jung. Le Guin frequently incorporated anthropological perspectives and Taoist principles of balance in her stories. She was renowned for challenging conventional speculative fiction norms, with her groundbreaking use of dark-skinned protagonists in Earthsea and innovative stylistic techniques in works like "Always Coming Home" (1985).  Her narratives prominently tackled themes of race, gender, sexuality, and maturation, often delving into alternative political constructs as seen in "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" (1973) and the anarchist utopian novel "The Dispossessed" (1974). Notably, "The Dispossessed" underscores the juxtaposition of a

In Hefei, China, the world's most advanced quantum communication network has reportedly been developed. The network is composed of three quantum devices and a central server, and it is as close to an unhackable quantum internet as we have gotten yet. The network shares some features with conventional communication networks, such as transmitting information through optical fibers. However, the light traveling in the quantum network comes in chunks whose quantum properties are used to encode information. This makes it impossible for an eavesdropper to intercept the information without being detected. Quantum communication is a big advance in quantum networks, and it has the potential to revolutionize the way we communicate. The technology uses the principles of quantum mechanics to transmit information securely over long distances. It is based on the idea that if two parties share a pair of entangled particles, they can use them to transmit information securely. Any attempt to interc

What rendered the 1980s a distinct epoch? Could it possibly be the indifference towards the influence that others' opinions exerted on us, and consequently, the absence of self-censorship? Alternatively, could it be that the cultural/sexual revolution or backlash originated from the grassroots, with the elites attempting to suppress it, as is customary? Contrary to our contemporary era of inverted logic/reality, various anti-authoritarian movements act with more authority than ever in history, being imposed top-down by state bureaucrats using familiar methods such as aggressive raids, asset confiscation, abduction and imprisonment, psychological coercion through an endless, psychologically destructive "judicial" process, and so on. When the band Fat White Family began over a decade ago, its goals were defined by a desire to challenge the inoffensive and static indie music scene. The essence of punk, if viewed as a counter to the societal status quo, was about pushing boun

  In her paper " Trusting social robots ", Paula Sweeney, lecturer at the University of Aberdeen, discusses the need for a more robust account of our ability and willingness to trust social robots. The author argues that existing accounts of trust and of trusting social robots are inadequate. The feature of a façade or deception inherent in our engagement with social robots both facilitates and is in danger of undermining trust. The author utilizes the fictional dualism model of social robots to clarify that trust in social robots, unlike trust in humans, must rely on an independent judgment of product reliability. The author identifies that the facilitator of the trust we bestow on social robots appears to be their ability to mimic human-to-human social behavior. However, it is an expected link between human behavior (the outer) and human attitudes (the inner) that facilitates trust between humans, and as this link is missing in the case of social robots, our willingness to