h uman e nhancement e thics cs 575 p resentation by yuri muradyan spring 2010 instructor: k.v. bapa...
TRANSCRIPT
HUMAN ENHANCEMENT ETHICSCS 575 PRESENTATIONBy Yuri Muradyan
Spring 2010
Instructor: K.V. Bapa Rao, Ph.D.
OVERVIEW
Introduction Definitions and Distinctions Contexts and Scenarios Freedom and Autonomy Fairness and Equity Societal Disruptions Human Dignity and “The Good Life” Rights and Obligations Policy and Law
INTRODUCTION
Human Enhancement Revolution Advances in cognitive research Advances of science Nanotechnology
Fulfill our potential or become Dr. Frankenstein’s Monster?
Uber-humans?
DEFINITIONS AND DISTINCTIONS
What is human enhancement? “Human enhancement” includes any activity
by which we improve our bodies, minds, or abilities
2 categories: Natural Artificial
Beyond species typical level
HUMAN ENHANCEMENT VS. THERAPY
Therapy is aimed at pathologies that compromise health or reduce one’s level of functioning below this species-typical
Human Enhancement – change the function and structure of the body
(corrective eyeglasses vs.. night-vision binoculars)
Steroids (muscular dystrophy or athletes) Ritalin (ADHD and normal students) Reading a book vs.. implanted computer chip
IS THE NATURAL-ARTIFICIAL DISTINCTION MORALLY SIGNIFICANT?
Do artificial enhancements require moral evaluation? What is natural?
exists without any human intervention or can be performed without human-engineered artifacts?
Level of complexity and engineering is the distinction? Theological premises
IS THE INTERNAL-EXTERNAL DISTINCTION MORALLY SIGNIFICANT?
Mere use of tools doesn’t qualify as human enhancement
Incorporating tools as part of our body is human enhancement
What’s so special about incorporation of tools as part of our bodies?
Direct brain link to Google vs. Computer Use Always-On access to those capabilities Our notion of self evolves
Smart clothes Human Enhancement in itself is not the
problem, their use in certain areas of life can be questionable
IS THE THERAPY-ENHANCEMENT DISTINCTION SIGNIFICANT?
Some scientist argue there is no discernable distinction: Vaccinations: enhancement or therapy? Genius sustains an injury which reduces her
intelligence to “average” Academia and Athletes are not the only ones at
stake Soldiers on anti-depressants
Reason to maintain the distinction: By not making these distinction it will be too easy
to argue that all human enhancement is morally permissible
Collision between our intuitions and actions Heap of sand paradox
CONTEXTS AND SCENARIOS
Why would contexts matter in ethics? Vaccines are enhancements, but not all
enhancements are morally unproblematic “Enhancement” seems to be context dependant
Freely burning fossil fuels in 1910 and 2010 How important is equality?
Life span increase Education
Enhanced and Un-enhanced competitions
WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF ENHANCEMENT FOR COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE?
Pharmaceuticals (Ritalin, beta-blockers, anti-depressants, hallucinogenic and alcohols)
In the future – neural implants, “always-on access”
WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF ENHANCEMENT FOR PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE?
Pharmaceuticals (steroids) Cosmetic surgery (non-corrective) Prosthetics In the future – bionic arms, artificial ears
MIT’s Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology is working on an exoskeleton
Respirocyte – artificial red blood cell Life extension!!
SHOULD A NON-THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURE THAT PROVIDES NO NET BENEFIT BE CALLED AN ENHANCEMENT?
Sharpening teeth,inplanting whiskers, and clipping the ears to look like a cat
If autonomy is all that matters: Amputating healthy limbs Stunt growth of bedridden children Deaf parents who specifically want a deaf baby
in selecting embryos
FREEDOM AND AUTONOMY
Can we justify human enhancement by appealing to our right to be free? If enhancing doesn’t harm anyone, why prevent
it? Do we have full freedom now?
Freedom of speech Privacy
Do we want full freedom? No restrictions or background checks on gun
ownership A REAL free market Drive on any side of the road
COULD WE JUSTIFY ENHANCING IF IT HARMS NO ONE OTHER THAN THE INDIVIDUAL?
Assumption that a “procedure” may affect ONLY the health and safety of the patient is very generous Gambling, drinking, etc…
The harm or risk to others could also be indirect
Wanting the best for our children Effects could be cumulative
Bottled water, pesticides Life extension
FAIRNESS AND EQUITY
Does human enhancement raise issues of fairness, access, and equity?If there are “enhanced” there are also
“unenhanced”Do we want total equality?
Fairness Competition is good, as long as it remains
competitive
WILL IT MATTER IF THERE IS AN “ENHANCEMENT DIVIDE”?
Currently “digital divide” Internet access
Future – “nano divide” and “enhancement divide”
Do we need policies to cope this situation? Enhancement for a few scientists that enable
them to better solve world’s environmental problems
Enhanced for a few athletes
SOCIETAL DISRUPTIONS
Inequality, fair or not, can motivate worse-off masses to revolt
“Enhanced” job candidates Life extension
~20 years, retirement age 85 More pressure on resources (food, energy, …)
Underwater living or Outer space Are societal disruptions reason enough to
restrict human enhancement?
IF INDIVIDUALS ARE ENHANCED DIFFERENTLY, WILL COMMUNICATION BE MORE DIFFICULT?
In Philosophical Investigations, Wittgenstein (1953) said that if a lion could speak, we could not understand it
What if some of us had different vision( eagle eyes)?
Or echolocation of a bat Will we be less social?
HUMAN DIGNITY AND “THE GOOD LIFE”
Does the notion of human dignity suffer with human enhancement?
What does it mean to be human? Discontent is hardwired into humans Will this technologies hinder moral
development? Is the frailty necessary to appreciate life? How soon do you get bored of life? Are we “Playing God”?
WILL WE NEED TO RETHINK THE NOTION OF A “GOOD LIFE”?
For Aristotle, the one thing that everyone wanted for its own sake was happiness
SuccessProsperityAchievement
James Moor: Life, Happiness, Autonomy ability to do various things security to do them knowledge about doing them freedom and opportunity to do them resources to accomplish our goals
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
Is there a right to be enhanced? 2 basic classes of rights:
Human Rights and Conventional Rights Humans should be able to exercise their right
to enhancements to the extent that it promotes their life, liberty, or the pursuit of happiness
COULD HUMAN ENHANCEMENT GIVE US GREATER OF FEWER RIGHTS?
Steroid and Aquadynamic swimsuits Oscar Pistorius, the South African sprinter
who had his legs amputated when he was a year old but now runs on artificial legs
IS THERE AN OBLIGATION TO ENHANCE?
Vaccination Prisoner’s ankle bracelets with built in GPS Military and required enhancements
Nanotechnology dog tags Brain implants to follow direct commands “Cloak of invisibility”
SHOULD OUR CHILDREN BE ENHANCED?
Enhancing children will limit their future capabilities Currently parents make similar choices
Article 26 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to education and that education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms
Will we require parents to do certain enhancements?
Enhancing children to give them an edge in the society
POLICY AND LAW
Should we have regulations or restrictions on human enhancement?
3 options: No restrictions Some restrictions Full ban
SHOULD THERE BE LIMITS ON ENHANCEMENTS?
Android soldiers Destroying parts of brain that sense fear
How soon will the enemy have the same? Asymmetric warfare
MIGHT ENHANCED HUMANS COUNT AS SOMEONE’S INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY?
Generally speaking, naturally-occurring objects (e.g., air, water, other raw materials) cannot be patented
Biotechnology-patenting debate Diamond v. Chakrabarty
Since then, the courts have also established that parts or sequences of genes, though not the entire gene itself, may be patented if its function is also articulated
WILL WE NEED TO RETHINK THE ETHICS ITSELF?
To a large extent, our ethics depends on the kinds of creatures that we are
REFERENCES
http://www.kurzweilai.net/meme/frame.html?main=/articles/art0661.html
http://www.humanenhance.com/347/new-report-funded-by-us-nsf/
http://www.humanenhance.com/NSF_report.pdf