Programming in Humanity
This book brings the reader up to date with developments in the thinking about consciousness in AI, and examines the implications this has for humans as a species.It concludes that we need to start cultivating our junk code, and that it may now be time to give our robots some soul.
Uniting theoretical work on theology, capitalism and consumerism with a scheme of detailed practical action, 'Buying God' explores how we can wean ourselves off the material and on to the eternal, through prayer, example, and vibrant social action.
In many trades and professions, mastery of the subject can take a lifetime; leadership is no different. Leadersmithing/i shows how an apprenticeship approach can reinvigorate the development of leaders in learning the art of being a great leader.
In Science, no-one believes the earth is flat any more. Economists, on the other hand, haven't budged from their original worldview. Market Capitalism depends on seven big ideas: competition, the 'invisible hand', utility, agency theory, pricing, shareholder value, and limited liability. These served the world well in the past, but over the years they have become cancerous, and are slowly killing the system as a whole. Eve Poole argues that if you zoom in on any of these firm foundations, they start to blur and wobble. Here she offers alternative views for a healthier system. And looking at them together, it becomes clear why we're so stuck. The capitalist system masquerades as a machine programmed by experts, with only Economists and Governments qualified to tinker with it. But the market is just a mass of messages about supply and demand. The rich world shapes the market in its image, because it has more 'votes'. So if we want to change the way things are, we don't need to wait for the experts, we can start now. In each chapter, Poole shows how quiet action by consumers, investors, employees and employers can make big changes, by shifting behaviours and adjusting the way financial 'votes' are cast in the market.
The book explores the perspectives on capitalism held by bishops, academics, and business leaders within the Church of England, showcasing the depth and uniqueness of their arguments while identifying notable flaws and gaps. It proposes a new framework for public theology, urging the Church to actively engage in reshaping the global economy and asserting its role in contemporary economic discourse.