Transcript Ethics of Human Enhancement

Ethics of Human Enhancement
Group 3
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Changqing Ruan
Hasan Ali
Hu Li
Ishtiaq Hassan Wani
Human Enhancement
“Man is the only creature that refuses to be what he is.”
—Albert Camus (1951)”
Any activity by which we improve our body, mind or abilities
 Natural Enhancement: Reading a book, Eating vegetable, Doing
Exercise
 Artificial Enhancement: A computer chip implanted on our
brain
Distiction Between
• Tools-Enhancement
 Mere use of tool------Natural
 Tools integrated into bodies-----Enhancement
• Therapy-Enhancement
 Corrective eyeglasses ------Therapy
 Night vision binuculars------Enhancement
Human Enhancement- Context Dependent
Context is important while deciding
 What counts as enhancement?
 Whether it is morally relevant?
 Is it Probelmatic or not?
Enhancements for cognitive and
physical performance
We, human, are improving our
 minds (through education, disciplined thinking, meditation, pharmaceuticals, etc.,)
Ritalin
-a drug, used especially in the treatment of
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD,
-normal students use it to boost concentration as
a way to study more effectively.
 bodies (with a sound diet, physical exercise, advanced materials etc.,)
Beta-blockers
-intended to treat high blood pressure and other
disorders by slowing down the heart rate,
-is also tried to reduce anxiety as a way to boost
physical performance,
More Examples…
Prosthetic limbs
Cosmetic surgery
- radical life extension,
 by curing fatal diseases e.g. cancer
 rejuvenating the body/mind
 developing anti-aging medicine,
Human enhancement leads to societal
disruptions
Human beings surely benefit from human enhancement
Satellite
Internet
Drug
……
However, also leads to societal disruptions
Communication problem
Unemployment
Addiction to internet
……
Should we restrict the changes in life?
NO!
What should we do is to minimize the disruptions instead of evading.
We look forward to this circle
Desire
enhancement
Benefits in life
Enhanced person
Breakthroughs in
iintelligence and
creativity