New Perspectives on Bioethics
New Perspectives on Bioethics
Contributor(s): Vojin Rakić (Editor), Petar Bojanić (Editor), Srđan Prodanović (Editor)
Subject(s): Philosophy, Ethics / Practical Philosophy, Sociology, Demography and human biology
Published by: Institut za filozofiju i društvenu teoriju
Keywords: human enhancement; bioethics; moral enhancement; genetic engineering; neuro-enhancement; abortion ethics
Summary/Abstract: This edited volume focuses on new perspectives in bioethics and features papers the greatest bulk of which is devoted to the issue of human enhancement. In light of an accelerated development of science that allows for such enhancement, an essential issue is the effect of enhancement on human nature, its moral justification and the character of a future society. In addition to this issue, the volume also contains chapters that deal with equally controversial questions such as abortion and savior siblings. Even though these topics certainly do not exhaust the domain of new perspectives in bioethics, it has to be noted that the papers collected here feature some of the key argument that are representative of the current state of affairs in bioethics.
- Print-ISBN-13: 978-86-82417-37-8
- Page Count: 190
- Publication Year: 2012
- Language: English
Unfit for the Future: A Brief Argument for Moral Enhancement
Unfit for the Future: A Brief Argument for Moral Enhancement
(Unfit for the Future: A Brief Argument for Moral Enhancement)
- Author(s):Ingmar Persson
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics / Political Sciences, Philosophy, Ethics / Practical Philosophy, Sociology
- Page Range:1-14
- No. of Pages:14
- Keywords:moral enhancement; human nature; technological risk; weapons of mass destruction; climate change; moral psychology; global cooperation
- Summary/Abstract:It is easier for us to harm each other than it is for us to benefit each other, for instance, it is easier for us to kill than to save life. As the progress of scientific technology has increased our powers of action, our capacity to harm has reached the point at which it is possible for us to undermine worthwhile life on Earth forever.This could be done by the use of weapons of mass destruction or by causing catastrophic climatic and environmental changes. The problem is that our moral psychology has been adapted to life in small, close-knit societies with primitive technology, in which human beings have lived for the most part of their history.
The Harms of Enhancement and the Conclusive Reasons View
The Harms of Enhancement and the Conclusive Reasons View
(The Harms of Enhancement and the Conclusive Reasons View)
- Author(s):Thomas Douglas
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics / Political Sciences, Anthropology, Philosophy, Social Sciences, Ethics / Practical Philosophy, Sociology
- Page Range:15-42
- No. of Pages:28
- Keywords:biomedical enhancement; non-biomedical enhancement; cognitive augmentation; bioethics debate; performance enhancement; medical therapy vs enhancement; ethical implications
- Summary/Abstract:Biomedical technologies have traditionally been used primarily to combat disease. But increasingly they can also be used to augment the capacities or traits of normal, healthy people. This practice is commonly referred to as biomedical enhance mentor bioenhancement. Perhaps the best-established examples of biomedical enhancement are cosmetic surgery and doping in sport, but biomedical enhancement also occurs in other spheres. For example, some musicians take beta-blockers to calm their nerves before performances (Tindall 2004) and a significant proportion of American college students report taking methylphenidate (Ritalin) while studying in order to improve performance in examinations (Johnston, O'Malleyand Bachman 2003; Teter et al. 2005).
- Price: 28.00 €
Integrated neuro-enhancement
Integrated neuro-enhancement
(Integrated neuro-enhancement)
- Author(s):Vojin Rakić
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics / Political Sciences, Philosophy, Social Sciences
- Page Range:43-62
- No. of Pages:20
- Keywords:integrated neuro-enhancement; cognitive enhancement; moral enhancement; bioethics of enhancement; freedom and responsibility; biomedical interventions; human evolution and technology
- Summary/Abstract:Libertarian proponents of cognitive bio-enhancement believe that we should not refuse enhancement to someone who wishes to be subjected to it. The enlargement of human possibilities is a step to greater freedom, because of two reasons. Firstly, it increases the options open to people by adding the option of undergoing enhancement. Secondly, the enhancement it self increases freedom: it enables us to learn and earn more, augmenting thereby the number of opportunities we have in our lives. It is therefore not bio-technologies but the state that is the primary potential culprit for denying our pursuit of happiness through self-improvement.
Neuro-enhancement, new enhancement
Neuro-enhancement, new enhancement
(Neuro-enhancement, new enhancement)
- Author(s):Sarah Chan
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics / Political Sciences, Philosophy, Social Sciences
- Page Range:63-80
- No. of Pages:18
- Keywords:neuro-enhancement; moral enhancement; natural vs artificial; human nature debate; brain–machine interfaces; serotonin and morality; political control of enhancement
- Summary/Abstract:My intention in this paper is to engage with arguments drawing on the concept of the "artificial" (as in the title of this session) and what may be seen as its binary opposite, the "natural"; and to re-examine the ways in which these concepts are used in discussions of human enhancement, particularly neuro-enhancement. l aim to explore how new aspects of neuro-technological enhancement, and the ethical discourse surrounding them, further problematise existing concepts in the enhancement debate - including enhancement itself, as well as the "natural"/"artificial" binary and the use of arguments based on "human nature".
Three Types of Freedom
Three Types of Freedom
(Three Types of Freedom)
- Author(s):Stefan Lorenz Sorgner
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics / Political Sciences, Philosophy, Social Sciences
- Page Range:81-96
- No. of Pages:16
- Keywords:genetic enhancement; morphological freedom; procreative freedom; educative freedom; libertarian vs social democratic bioethics; pragmatic hermeneutic approach; freedom–equality balance
- Summary/Abstract:In this article I put forward some guidelines concerning the question: What is the best way of dealing with the norm of "freedom" concerning questions of genetic enhancement? I wish to defend that a pragmatic hermeneutic approach which argues by means of analogies represents a more plausible way of responding to the various challenges in question than either a libertarian or a liberal social democratic one.Aswe are dealingwith"(New) Perspectives in Bioethics", I focus on the topic of genetic enhancement, because it touches and challenges the most fundamental believes of human beings and it seems to me that it will be the topic which will be of particular relevance to law makers, ethicists, and philosophers for many years to come.
Seeking More than Health
Seeking More than Health
(Seeking More than Health)
- Author(s):Nada Gligorov
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics / Political Sciences, Philosophy, Social Sciences
- Page Range:97-111
- No. of Pages:15
- Keywords:neuroenhancement; treatment vs enhancement; medical ethics; personal identity; medicalization; normality and disability; cognitive enhancers
- Summary/Abstract:Enhancement in general is defined as the use of medical intervention aimed at the improvement of normal individuals. An example Of a medication that may be used as an enhancer is methylphenidate (marketed in the United States as RitalinQ). For individuals with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder it is prescribed as treatment, but for those without the disease it has been shown to increase concentration and improve performance on cognitive tasks (Mehta 2000 et al. 1997). Other examples include pharmaceuticals used for treatment of Alzheimer's disease, which in healthy individuals could produce enhancement in memory (Yesavage et al. 2002), and medications used to treat depression, which in normal individuals could be used as mood enhancers.
The reproductive freedom perspective
The reproductive freedom perspective
(The reproductive freedom perspective)
- Author(s):Don Marquis
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics / Political Sciences, Philosophy, Social Sciences
- Page Range:112-128
- No. of Pages:17
- Keywords:reproductive freedom; right to life; personhood; speciesism; future of value; abortion ethics; moral status of fetuses
- Summary/Abstract:Most people who defend abortion rights appeal to the value of reproductive freedom. There is much to be said for this perspective. The Decision concerning whether to bring a child into the world is central to one's life plans. 'Unwanted children place a considerable burden On women. Unwanted children are less likely to be loved and raised well. Apparently, there are many good reasons to respect women's right to reproductive freedom.
Procreative Selection to Help Others: Saviour Siblings
Procreative Selection to Help Others: Saviour Siblings
(Procreative Selection to Help Others: Saviour Siblings)
- Author(s):Ketrien Devolder
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics / Political Sciences, Philosophy, Social Sciences
- Page Range:129-139
- No. of Pages:11
- Keywords:saviour siblings; preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD); HLA tissue typing; stem cell transplantation; procreative selection; reproductive ethics
- Summary/Abstract:Preimplantation tissue typing has been used to enable families to create so called 'saviour siblings'; tissue matched children that can serve as a stem cell donor for a sick sibling in need of an allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Haematopoietic stem cells are blood forming stem cells residing in the bone marrow, the peripheral blood, and the umbilical cord blood. For several lethal malignant and some non-malignant disorders, haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is currently the only therapeutic approach (Benito et al. 2004).
Socio-Epistemological Aspects of Enhancement
Socio-Epistemological Aspects of Enhancement
(Socio-Epistemological Aspects of Enhancement)
- Author(s):Veselin Mitrović
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics / Political Sciences, Philosophy, Social Sciences
- Page Range:140-161
- No. of Pages:22
- Keywords:human enhancement; transhumanism; bioconservatism; genetic; socio-epistemology; biotechnology; social power; ethic
- Summary/Abstract:Human Enhancement could be described as the use of medicine, surgery and other kinds of medical technology, not just to cure or control illness, but rather to enhance or improve human capacities and characteristics (Elliott 1998). One of the well-known and most contradictory definitions of Enhancement is that it represents a directed use of biotechnical power through direct intervention in order to alter the 'norma!' functions of the human body and psyche - not the disease processes - and to increase or improve the innate capacities and performances of the body (The President's Council on Bioethics 2003).
