In a recent post on The Speculist, my co-blogger Stephen Gordon remarked: Our current level of technology and civilization is not just the product of our scientific, political, and religious heroes. Fools and villains had a role too. Without the advancements the U.S. had to make to wage World War II - and those of captured Nazi scientists - it ...

Yuletide, Christmas, Hanukkah, Oshogatsu - a world of names for a time of year about something. A time to reflect on our heritage, our faith, our future and our very existence. A time to recognise our roots. With this in mind I have collected together a series of tools for those of us inclined to non-theistic beliefs. Perhaps in reflecting on ...

Far from being extracts from the extreme end of science fiction, the idea that we may one day give sentient machines the kind of rights traditionally reserved for humans is raised in a British government-commissioned report which claims to be an extensive look into the future. Visions of the status of robots around 2056 have emerged from one of ...