A collection of twenty cutting-edge essays on issues raised by biotechnology's increasing impact on humans and nature, The Meaning of Life in the 21st Century provides a forward-looking discussion by a wide array of prominent experts on where today's scientific discoveries are taking humankind. The theme is that there are expanded perspectives for retaining unique meanings of being human in the 21st century. This collection is the result of a 2005 conference organized by the Yoko Civilization Research Institute of Japan. Organized into themes by Dr. Don Hanlon Johnson, these essays present deeply informed, sometimes conflicting views of complex issues, which, in the contemporary world, are inescapably global, including: Science and religion in a pivotal age Science, experience, and values Stem cells, embryos, and the meaning of embodiment Enhancement and transformative practices Religion and ecology: a growing alliance Bringing a diversity of prominent thinkers from several continents to the scientific, sociopolitical, and religious issues at the forefront of contemporary challenges, this collection makes clear that the world is now a community which faces these issues together. This serious, thoughtful book, rich in dialogue, provides hope for new perspectives for developing a positive, sustainable future.

This book provides a current review of Medical Research Ethics on a global basis. The book contains chapters that are historically and philosophically reflective and aimed to promote a discussion about controversial and foundational aspects in the field. An elaborate group of chapters concentrates on key areas of medical research where there are core ethical issues that arise both in theory and practice: genetics, neuroscience, surgery, palliative care, diagnostics, risk and prediction, security, pandemic threats, finances, technology, and public policy.This book is suitable for use from the most basic introductory courses to the highest levels of expertise in multidisciplinary contexts. The insights and research by this group of top scholars in the field of bioethics is an indispensable read for medical students in bioethics seminars and courses as well as for philosophy of bioethics classes in departments of philosophy, nursing faculties, law schools where bioethics is linked to medical law, experts in comparative law and public health, international human rights, and is equally useful for policy planning in pharmaceutical companies.

The 21st century has brought new and challenging dimensions to our understanding of security and migration. The old Cold War framework of security as related to war and peace, international relations and foreign affairs has given way to a multiplicity of competing notions, including internal security, human security and even social security. At the same time, migration has become a hotly contested issue, characterised by an enormous difference of views and objectives. So what do we mean by security and migration in the contemporary world? How do these two important fields intersect? And what does this collision of policy concerns and public interests mean for states and individuals alike? In this cutting-edge book, Elspeth Guild seeks to answer these pressing questions, drawing on a wide range of recent examples from the impact of asylum seekers on state border security to identity security in citizenship rules to illustrate her arguments. By approaching the topic from the perspective of the individual – citizen of one state, migrant in another – the book examines key aspects of the security-migration nexus, such as the relationship with refugees; torture; extraordinary rendition; privacy and the retention of personal data; and human rights' protection. The first volume in Polity's new 'Dimensions of Security' series, this book is a must-read for all students of international politics, development studies and related fields.

Since September 1997, UNESCO's Analysis and Forecasting Office has been arranging a series of "Twenty-First Century Talks," each of which brings together two or three leading scientists, intellectuals, creators or decision-makers from all parts of the world. The Office also organized the first "Twenty-First Century Dialogues" in September 1998, in which 60 international participants took part in discussions on the general theme of "Will the Twenty-First Century Take Place?" This text represents an anthology of the contributions made to these future-oriented discussions, up to the ninth session of the "Talks" held in June 1999. Topics include population, biotechnologies, pollution, energy, the food supply, culture, pluralism, education, democracy, human rights, women, childhood, work, urban living, globalization, poverty, and human conflicts. No subject index. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Highlighting the most important topics, issues, questions and debates, these two volumes offer full coverage of major subthemes and subfields within the discipline of anthropology.

Publisher Description

This book offers meaningful work as one of the most relevant issues for 21st century workplaces, and organizations seeking to develop leadership and drive positive change. It uses Viktor Frankl’s legacy as a scientific and philosophical pioneer, while combining cutting edge research findings from the behavioural sciences, organizational and management research, and human resource development with outstanding examples of new work approaches of leadership from around the globe. In order to respond to 21st century demands on meaningful work, this book harnesses the power of living meaning, values, purpose and compassion in workplaces. Beate von Devivere shows managers, human resources experts, consultants, coaches, medical experts, students and counsellors as well as all dedicated individuals, how to find meaning in their organizations, their teams and individual functions and challenges, bringing Viktor Frankl’s approach to today’s workplaces. Integrating a wide range of knowledge and expertise, this book covers organizational development, management practice, and findings from psychology, neuroscience as well as therapeutic approaches and new work concepts. Meaningful work is promoting an integrated approach for the ‘Copernican turn’, further promoting meaningful work, purpose and a good life.

What does it feel like to experience the sacred today? Examining in detail many of this century's most significant writers, including Margaret Atwood, Salman Rushdie, Elizabeth Strout, Marilynne Robinson, Mohsin Hamid, Michael Chabon, Howard Jacobson and Don DeLillo, Divinity, Hospitality and the Posthuman in 21st-Century Literature: The Material Sacred argues that contemporary social and cultural forms, most especially those of 21st century literature, are marked by what Emily McAvan calls a material sacred. Placing Christian, Jewish and Muslim writers in conversation with the new materialisms, this book shows how secular and sacred mix unpredictably in contemporary writing. In this important contribution to the understanding of religion, materialism and literature, McAvan maps new territory, arguing that the material sacred shows us that the human and non-human, the divine and the profane, have been interwoven from the start.

This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Inward Being and Outward Identity: The Orthodox Churches in the 21st Century" that was published in Religions