Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-r7xzm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-28T11:05:27.037Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Art of Misunderstanding Moral Bioenhancement

Two Cases

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 December 2014

Abstract:

In our book Unfit for the Future and a number of papers, we have argued that there is a dangerous mismatch between, on the one hand, the tremendous power of scientific technology, which has created societies with millions of citizens, and, on the other hand, our moral capacities, which have been shaped by evolution for life in small, close-knit societies with primitive technology. To overcome this mismatch before it results in the downfall of human civilization, human beings stand in acute need of moral enhancement, not only by traditional means but also by biomedical means, should this turn out to be possible. After summarizing this argument, we respond to two critics, Michael Hauskeller and Robert Sparrow.

Type
Special Section: How Moral Is (Moral) Enhancement?
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Notes

1. Persson, I, Savulescu, J. Unfit for the Future: The Need for Moral Enhancement. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2012.Google Scholar

2. Persson, I, Savulescu, J. The perils of cognitive enhancement and the urgent imperative to enhance the moral character of humanity. Journal of Applied Philosophy 2008;25:162–76.Google Scholar

3. Savulescu, J, Persson, I. Moral enhancement, freedom and the god machine. The Monist 2012;95:399421.Google Scholar

4. Persson, I, Savulescu, J. The turn for ultimate harm: A reply to Fenton. Journal of Medical Ethics 2011;37:441–4.Google Scholar

5. Persson, I, Savulescu, J. Getting moral enhancement right: The desirability of moral bioenhancement. Bioethics 2013;27:124–31.Google Scholar

6. Persson, I, Savulescu, J. Should moral bioenhancement be compulsory? Reply to Vojin Rakic. Journal of Medical Ethics 2013. doi:10.1136/medethics-2013-101423.Google Scholar

7. Persson I, Savulescu J. Reply to commentators on Unfit for the Future. Journal of Medical Ethics 2014. doi:10.1136/medethics-2013-101796.

8. See note 5, Persson, Savulescu 2013.

9. See note 1, Persson, Savulescu 2012, at 124.

10. See note 1, Persson, Savulescu 2012, at 11.

11. See note 1, Persson, Savulescu 2012, at 108.

12. See note 3, Savulescu, Persson 2012, at 408.

13. Sparrow, R. Better living through chemistry? A reply to Savulescu and Persson on “moral enhancement.” Journal of Applied Philosophy 2014;31:2332.Google Scholar

14. See note 13, Sparrow 2014, at 24.

15. See note 3, Savulescu, Persson 2012, at 415.

16. See note 13, Sparrow 2014, at 24.

17. See note 13, Sparrow 2014, at 25.

18. See note 13, Sparrow 2014, at 25, cf. 30.

19. See note 13, Sparrow 2014, at 25.

20. See note 13, Sparrow 2014, at 26.

21. See note 13, Sparrow 2014, at 26.

22. See note 13, Sparrow 2014, at 26.

23. See note 13, Sparrow 2014, at 31–2.

24. See note 13, Sparrow 2014, at 29.

25. Hauskeller, M. Better Humans? Durham, NC: Acumen; 2013, at 49.Google Scholar

26. See note 25, Hauskeller 2013, at 47–8.

27. See note 25, Hauskeller 2013, at 46.

28. See note 25, Hauskeller 2013, at 51–2.

29. See note 25, Hauskeller 2013, at 53.

30. See note 25, Hauskeller 2013, at 51.

31. See note 25, Hauskeller 2013, at 51–2.

32. See note 25, Hauskeller 2013, at 50.

33. See note 25, Hauskeller 2013, at 50.

34. See note 5, Persson, Savulescu 2013.

35. See note 13, Sparrow 2014, at 27.

36. See note 25, Hauskeller 2013, at 47.

37. See note 13, Sparrow 2014, at 29.

38. Diamond, J. Collapse. London: Penguin Books; 2006.Google Scholar

39. See note 1, Persson, Savulescu 2012, at 100.

40. See note 13, Sparrow 2014, at 29.

41. See note 13, Sparrow 2014, at 30.

42. See note 13, Sparrow 2014, at 28.

43. See note 13, Sparrow 2014, at 30.