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Humanlike robots and digital humans are both fun and useful in many situations. But the more we interact with technology with human traits, the more we believe it to possess real human characteristics like consciousness and personality. As a new breed of artificial beings enters society on a large scale, many of us will start believing they deserve moral consideration and perhaps even rights.In this entertaining and humorously written book, Thomas Telving argues that even though the above scenario is close to inevitable, we should still do all we can to avoid it. Presenting us with thought-provoking future scenarios, state of the art scientific research, and engaging philosophical reflections, he shows us how to avoid some of the scariest pitfalls of human-like technology.“The rapid development in (embodied) artificial intelligence is all but certain to change our lives in the coming years. Using a philosophical framework, Thomas Telving convincingly presents a number of pitfalls following a large increase in human-robot interaction. He joins the important roboethic debate on what future we want to live in, and what it takes for humanity to keep the upper hand in shaping it.”— Tobias Larsen, PhD in Computational Neuroscience from the University of Bristol and senior data scientist at Oviva AG.“Artificial intelligence and advanced robots are increasingly used in science and society, and in many ways they outperform human capabilities. An important question is how our moral and legal stance towards robots will develop when their human likeness increases. In this entertaining new book Thomas Telving takes us through possible scenarios seen in a philosophical perspective. Enlightening, thought-provoking and highly recommended.”— Jacob J. K. Kirkensgaard, PhD, Associate Professor at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen.

The Prophets of Doom explores eleven thinkers who not only dared to contradict the dominant linear and progressive view of history, but also predicted many of the political and social maladies through which we are living.

"Tara, the Buddhist goddess of compassion, can manifest within all of us. In this accessible, illustrated introduction to Tara's twenty-one forms, respected female Buddhist teacher and practitioner Dorje Lopèon Chandra Easton guides you to activate your own power and healing by inviting Tara's awakened energy to come alive in yourself. Embodying Tara is a practical guide to core Buddhist concepts and teachings, featuring meditations, mantra recitations, and journal exercises to connect with Tara and your innate wisdom. The relatable stories from Buddhist history and the author's personal reflections will give you the tools to live a more compassionate life, befriend your fears, and overcome everyday challenges. The book lends a fresh approach and down-to-earth connection to one of Buddhism's most popular deities through stories of important women in modern history, like Jane Goodall, Nawal El Saadawi, Dipa Ma, Oprah Winfrey, and Yandana Shiva, and broader movements started by women, like Black Lives Matter and Me Too, that embody the qualities and enlightened activities of Tara. They demonstrate real-world compassion and generosity, as well as the capacity to transform anger into wisdom, harness joy to overcome adversity, and protect others from fear and danger. Their stories will inspire you to bring these aspects of Tara into the world in creative and socially conscious ways for the benefit of all"--

A magickal guide to working with runes and plant allies for manifestation, healing, and spellwork

Connects the magical practice of theurgy to the time of Homer.

Reveals how the pyramids of Egypt were sophisticated generators of clean energy

As US-Russian relations scrape the depths of cold-war antagonism, the promise of partnership that beguiled American administrations during the first post-Soviet decades increasingly appears to have been false from the start. Why did American leaders persist in pursuing it? Was there another path that would have produced more constructive relations or better prepared Washington to face the challenge Russia poses today?With a practitioner's eye honed during decades of work on Russian affairs, Thomas Graham deftly traces the evolution of opposing ideas of national purpose that created an inherent tension in relations. Getting Russia Right identifies the blind spots that prevented Washington from seeing Russia as it really is and crafting a policy to advance American interests without provoking an aggressive Russian response. Distilling the Putin factor to reveal the contours of the Russia challenge facing the United States whenever he departs the scene, Graham lays out a compelling way to deal with it so that the United States can continue to advance its interests in a rapidly changing world.

For those who have been disappointed when the 'good life' let them down or discouraged by life's struggles, the goodness of God is trustworthy, life-giving, and everlasting. Jesus wants to lead you on a healing path to redeem your story and to make you whole.

'A thought-provoking book which empowers its readers to think about the problems in systematic, transformative ways' Fadhel Kaboub, President of the Global Institute for Sustainable Prosperity'A much-needed decolonial examination of the climate crisis' Nnimmo Bassey, author of To Cook a Continent'Groundbreaking ... offers a timely, acute analysis of what a just transition might mean for the region' Laleh Khalili, author of Sinews of War and TradeThe Arab region is a focus of world politics, with authoritarian regimes, significant fossil fuel reserves and histories of colonialism and imperialism. It is also the site of potentially immense green energy resources. The writers in this collection explore a region ripe for energy transition, but held back by resource-grabbing and (neo)colonial agendas. They show the importance of fighting for a just energy transition and climate justice - exposing policies and practices that protect global and local political elites, multinational corporations and military regimes.Covering a wide range of countries from Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia to Egypt, Sudan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Palestine, this book challenges Eurocentrism and highlights instead a class-conscious approach to climate justice that is necessary for our survival.Hamza Hamouchene is a London-based Algerian researcher and activist. He is the North Africa Programme Coordinator at the Transnational Institute (TNI). His books include The Arab Uprisings and The Struggle for Energy Democracy in the Maghreb. He writes for various publications including the Guardian, HuffPost and openDemocracy. Katie Sandwell is a Programme Coordinator with the Transnational Institute. She is co-author of From Crisis to Transformation: What is Just Transition?

The Enchiridion, meaning "handbook" or "manual" in Greek, is a compendium of Epictetus' most essential teachings, distilled into a concise and accessible format. Through a collection of powerful aphorisms and thought-provoking ideas, Epictetus illuminates the path to inner peace, self-mastery, and virtuous living, even amidst life's inevitable hardships and uncertainties.

What is the world's fundamental reality? Ideas are the fundamental realities, according to the great philosopher and thinker Plato.Plato claims that there is a different world of thoughts, also called "The World" of ideas. Our reason can understand it, but the existence of this world of ideas is not reliant on us. By asserting that there are some universal laws present in human reason that serve as the basis for knowing, Plato thus lays the groundwork for rationalism. Plato, supports Objective Idealism by highlighting the fact that concepts do not depend on humans for their existence.But how did the world of ideas become the real world?In Plato's Allegory of the Cave, a group of prisoners are confined in a cave since birth, with their heads fixed so they can only see the wall in front of them. Behind them is a fire, and between the fire and the prisoners, objects are moved, casting shadows on the wall that the prisoners believe are reality. One of the prisoners is freed and sees the world outside the cave, realizing the truth. When he returns to the cave to tell the others, they do not believe him and remain in ignorance. The allegory represents the idea that humans may mistake what they see and hear for reality and need to seek knowledge beyond their perceptions. The Universal Sigils are being used as the standard symbolic means of manifestation and connection between our world and the world of ideas. A Magickal teller between realities. They can be used to represent ideas in the physical world and carry the corresponding energies through from other planes of existence in order to manifest in our realm of existence.These sigils can be used in spellwork, rituals, meditation, divination etc.

The first anthology of women's writing about walking, edited by Wanderers author Kerri Andrews.

Pray Without Ceasing is a timeless classic on the subject of prayer by the renowned Christian author and teacher Zacharias Tanee Fomum. In this book, he shares powerful insights and practical advice on how to develop a vibrant and effective prayer life. Drawing from his extensive biblical knowledge and personal experience, he shows how prayer can be a dynamic force that transforms both the praying person and the world around them.Through five thought-provoking chapters, the author explores various aspects of prayer, including the importance of fasting, the need for self-sacrifice, the necessity of removing sin, and the role of the Holy Spirit in prayer. He challenges believers to embrace a lifestyle of prayer, characterized by intimacy with God and a willingness to serve Him with all their heart, soul, and strength.Whether you are a seasoned prayer minister or a newcomer to the faith, this book will inspire and equip you to pray without ceasing and experience the power of God in your life.Open your heart and mind, and let the Holy Spirit guide you on a journey that will revolutionize your prayer life and deepen your relationship with the Almighty.

For the first time ever, a special enhanced edition of the enchanting prelude to The Lord of the Rings, illustrated throughout with over 50 sketches, drawings, paintings and maps by J.R.R. Tolkien himself and with the complete text printed in two colors.Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely travelling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of thirteen dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an unexpected journey there and back again. They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon . . .Written for J.R.R. Tolkiens own children, The Hobbit was published on 21 September 1937. With a beautiful cover design, a handful of black white drawings and two maps by the author himself, the book became an instant success and was reprinted shortly afterwards with five color plates.Tolkiens own selection of finished paintings and drawings have become inseparable from his text, adorning editions of The Hobbit for more than 85 years. But the published art has afforded only a glimpse of Tolkiens creative process, and many additional sketches, colored drawings and maps although exhibited and published elsewhere have never appeared within the pages of The Hobbit.In this unique enhanced edition of Tolkiens enchanting classic tale, the full panoply of his art is reproduced for the first time, presenting more than 50 illustrations to accompany Bilbo Baggins on his adventure there and back again.

In Get Past Your Past, licensed therapist and popular online content creator Jason VanRuler offers understanding, empathy, grace, and a hand to hold as he shares from his own places of brokenness and his learnings as a therapist to help readers embark upon their own journeys toward healing from the hardships, pitfalls, and missteps of life.

Delve into the great myths of the Mesoamerican powerhouse civilizations in this fine new addition to the gorgeous Flame Tree Epic tales series.This fascinating collection explores the history, culture, gods, calendar, myths and tales of the Aztec people, the Incas, the Mayans and other Mesoamerican and Central American peoples, from migration legends to the origin myth of the Five Suns. Though the Olmecs (1250–200 BCE) were the first civilization in Mexico, the Aztecs (1325–1521) were Mesoamerica’s last dominant indigenous civilization and often the one that is thought about, without understanding the region's rich diversity. Like the other Mesoamerican cultures, Aztec gods and myths reflected a natural philosophy where ideas concerning life and death were linked symbolically to the earth, sky and sea in a grand cosmic scheme. Their religion was dominated by the tribal war god Huitzilopochtli, the rain/fertility god Tlaloc and the supreme deity Tezcatlipoca, the Lord of the Smoking Mirror. This collection brings together the stories and the history into a fine and collectable new volume in the Flame Tree Epic Tales series.The Flame Tree Gothic Fantasy, Classic Stories and Epic Tales collections bring together the entire range of myth, folklore and modern short fiction. Highlighting the roots of suspense, supernatural, science fiction and mystery stories, the books in Flame Tree Collections series are beautifully presented, perfect as a gift and offer a lifetime of reading pleasure.

Revealing a world of secret messages contained within a single petal.Floriography - the language of flowers - is the ancient art of encoding hidden messages in the type, color and arrangement of plants, allowing individuals to express emotions and sentiments that they may not be able to articulate through words.Featuring 100 of the most popular and available blooms from around the world, this beautifully illustrated gift book gives the botanical name for each plant, a description of its significance and place in folklore, and the story behind its meaning. It also reveals how floral symbolism has been used over the centuries in literature and art, from Hamlet's Ophelia handing out rosemary 'for remembrance' and pansies 'for thoughts', to Oscar Wilde urging his friends to wear green carnations as a subtle code for homosexuality. The idea that flowers have secret meanings would have been well understood by contemporary audiences - and we are seeing a revival of the practice today.From mimosa - which signifies chastity because its leaves close when touched - to the varied messages encoded within different colors of geraniums, Floriography offers a creative way to convey feelings and can add an extra layer of beauty and significance to a gift of flowers.The flowers in Kate Middleton's wedding bouquet signified love, happiness, gallantry and fidelity.If someone sends you a bouquet of hydrangea and lobelia, beware: they stand for heartlessness and malevolence.

"Doyle's modesty of language conceals a profound tolerance of the human complexity"-John Le Carr "Every Writer owes something to Holmes." -T.S. EliotWhile the controversy of Psychic Photography was gripping the early 20th Century United Kingdom, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle set out to investigate the most notable cases. In The Case for Spirit Photography, he aimed to defend the validity of capturing images of spirits with a camera. The spectacle of spirit photography had become popular in the late 19th Century, but by the 1920's The Crewe Circle, an infamous English spiritualist group had become the center of a national controversy attacking spirit photography as a hoax.Doyle, a leader of the Spiritualist movement, wrote this investigation in defense of the group, and conjointly looks at other cases of supernatural incidences. As we face current public figures dismissive of empirical scientific evidence, this is a fascinating look at the intrigue of conviction. As the writer of one of fictions most colorful and abiding detectives, Doyle's deductions in The Case for Spirit Photography are enthralling. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Case is both modern and readable.

Taking readers back to the Spanish Habsburg court, this critical edition and translation of Arte de cocina presents a nuanced understanding of what foods were prepared and consumed during a monumental time in Spain's culinary history.