Christina Bieber Lake is the Clyde S. Kilby professor of English at Wheaton College. She is the author of The Incarnational Art of Flannery O'Connor.
“Christina Bieber Lake’s Prophets of the Posthuman is an insightful
and well-written monograph that brings the work of nine American
fiction writers to bear on ethical questions concerning
biotechnology. . . Lake’s text is brimming with insightful readings
of fiction in dialogue with thoughtful ethical reflections.”
—Modern Theology
“Bieber Lake’s treatment of each prophetic work of fiction shows an
expansive awareness of the greater bioethical conversation, with a
deft perception of the many implications involving the posthuman
condition.” —Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies
“On the whole, Lake’s argument is key in helping fiction writers,
literary scholars, and others engaged in the humanities and arts to
make the case for the relevance of fictional narrative to
philosophical speculation and scientific pursuit.” —Flannery
O’Connor Review
“The book skillfully interweaves the futuristic predictions of
biotechnology advocates, such as Steven Pinker, Daniel Dennett, Lee
Silver, Simon Young, Ray Kurzweil, and Rodney Brooks, with selected
narratives from nine of our most perceptive fiction writers. . . .
All librarians will find its extensive bibliography a helpful guide
to insightful books on bioethics and to some great, ethically
engaging fiction.” —Catholic Library World
“Tightly structured the study offers close readings of novels and
short stories that illuminate hitherto ignored dynamics of these
narratives. Bieber Lake demonstrates their potential to challenge
the dominant culture of consumerism, scientific positivism, and the
bioenhancement technologies. A rich bibliography ranging from Saint
Thomas Aquinas to Ray Kurzweil accompanies the book.” —American
Studies
“Lake’s method throughout the eight chapters of the book is to set
up a contemporary champion of enhanced, winnowed, genetically
perfected future humans and then to show how a particular fiction
writer questions and undermines such idealized (and perverse!)
visions. . . . Lake always seems to find something in the literary
insights that resounds with the reader. . . .” —Journal of Markets
and Morality
“In this refreshing take on the hoary debate between science and
faith, Lake investigates the ethical dimensions of the
biotechnology revolution based on the biblical assumption that the
most basic human good is neighborly love. . . . Writing in engaging
prose, Lake works to make literary criticism relevant for
contemporary life. . . .” —Choice
"Prophets of the Posthuman develops a self-professed Christian
response to the belief that human problems can be solved through
biotechnologies such as plastic surgery, genetic engineering, and
psychiatric drugs. Reading authors from George Saunders to Walker
Percy, Toni Morrison to Flannery O'Connor, the monograph argues
that the culture of biotechnology contributes to a pernicious view
of the human as lacking unique personhood and always requiring
improvement. . . . This readable book will interest scholars of
bioethics and Christianity." —American Literature
"Lake produces an arresting social commentary on the ascendancy of
transhumanism and posthumanism—technoprogressives. Blending
fictional works with technoprogressive aspirations, Lake contrasts
different notions of the 'good life.' . . . This book will reward
anyone interested in a Christian approach to the challenge of
technological enhancement." —Religious Studies Review
“Prophets of the Posthuman provides a fresh and original reading of
fictional narratives that raise the question of what it means to be
human in the face of rapidly developing bioenhancement
technologies. . . . [It] insists that because technology can never
ask whether we should do something that we have the power to do,
literature must step into that role.” —The Midwest Book Review
|
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
