Gordijn / Chadwick Medical Enhancement and Posthumanity

1. Auflage 2008
ISBN: 978-1-4020-8852-0
Verlag: Springer-Verlag
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 240 Seiten

As we are increasingly using new technologies to change ourselves beyond therapy and in accordance with our own desires, understanding the challenges of human enhancement has become one of the most urgent topics of the current age. This volume contributes to such an understanding by critically examining the pros and cons of our growing ability to shape human nature through technological advancements. The authors undertake careful analyses of decisive questions that will confront society as enhancement interventions using bio-, info-, neuro- and nanotechnologies become widespread in the years to come. They provide the reader with the conceptual tools necessary to address such questions fruitfully. What makes the book especially attractive is the combination of conceptual, historical and ethical approaches, rendering it highly original. In addition, the well-balanced structure allows both favourable and critical views to be voiced. Moreover, the work has a crystal clear structure. As a consequence, the book is accessible to a broad academic audience. The issues raised are of interest to a wide reflective public concerned about science and ethics, as well as to students, academics and professionals in areas such as philosophy, applied ethics, bioethics, medicine and health management.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Gordijn, Bert

Chadwick, Ruth

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Contents;6
2;Introduction;8
3;I Medical Enhancement;13
3.1;The History of Medical Enhancement: From Restitutio ad Integrum to Transformatio ad;14
3.2;Optimum?;14
3.2.1;1.1 Introduction;14
3.2.2;1.2 Antiquity;14
3.2.3;1.3 The Middle Ages;16
3.2.4;1.4 The Modern Age;17
3.2.5;1.5 Evolutionary Theory;20
3.2.6;1.6 Eugenics;21
3.2.7;1.7 Eugenics After 1945;22
3.2.8;1.8 Medicine in the 21st Century;24
3.2.9;1.9 Modern Genetics;25
3.2.10;1.10 Man-Machine-Interface;26
3.2.11;1.11 Science and Society in the 21st Century;27
3.2.12;1.12 Historia Magistra Vitae?;28
3.2.13;References;28
3.3;Therapy, Enhancement and Improvement;30
3.3.1;2.1 Introduction;30
3.3.2;2.2 The Concept of Enhancement;31
3.3.3;2.2.1 Beyond Therapy;31
3.3.4;2.2.2 Enhancement: The Quantitative Approach ( The Additionality View);33
3.3.5;2.2.3 Enhancement: The Qualitative Approach ( Enhancement as Improvement);34
3.3.6;2.2.4 Enhancement: The Umbrella View;35
3.3.7;2.3 The Moral Issue;36
3.3.8;2.3.1 The Inevitability Thesis;36
3.3.9;2.3.2 Towards Guiding Principles?;38
3.3.10;2.4 Conclusion;41
3.3.11;References;41
3.4;Medical Enhancement: A Destination of Technological, not Human, Betterment;43
3.4.1;3.1 Introduction;43
3.4.2;3.2 The Problems of the Therapy/Enhancement Distinction;45
3.4.3;3.3 The Impracticality of Physiological Enhancement;50
3.4.4;3.4 Real Hope for Human Enhancement;54
3.4.5;3.5 Conclusion;56
3.4.6;References;56
3.5;How to Defend Genetic Enhancement1;58
3.5.1;4.1 Introduction;58
3.5.2;4.2 Is Genetic Enhancement an Expression of Procreative Liberty?;58
3.5.3;4.3 Why Genetic Enhancement Is (Usually) Not a Procreative Technique;61
3.5.4;4.4 The Freedom to Influence the Direction of a Child’s Life;63
3.5.5;4.5 Michael Sandel on Why Genetically Enhancing Is Hyper Parenting;66
3.5.6;4.6 Concluding Remarks;69
3.5.7;References;70
4;II Posthumanity;71
4.1;A Critical History of Posthumanism;72
4.1.1;5.1 Introduction;72
4.1.2;5.1.1 The Politics of Posthumanism;74
4.1.3;5.2 Posthumanism in Cultural Theory 5.2.1 Posthuman Bodies;77
4.1.4;5.2.2 Cyborg Rights and Wrongs;78
4.1.5;5.3 Philosophical Posthumanism;81
4.1.6;5.3.1 Locating the Human;81
4.1.7;5.3.2 The Critique of Humanism;83
4.1.8;5.3.3 Identifying Our Ethical Other;84
4.1.9;5.3.4 The Philosophy of Technology;86
4.1.10;5.3.5 An Ethics of Undecidability;88
4.1.11;5.4 Conclusion;89
4.1.12;References;93
4.2;Posthumanity, Transhumanism and Human Nature;96
4.2.1;6.1 Introduction;96
4.2.2;6.2 “Posthumanity” and “Transhumanism” – Conceptual Puzzles;97
4.2.3;6.3 Human Nature and Its Ambiguities;101
4.2.4;6.4 Conclusion;106
4.2.5;References;107
4.3;Why I Want to be a Posthuman when I Grow Up;108
4.3.1;7.1 Introduction;108
4.3.2;7.2 Setting the Stage;108
4.3.3;7.3 Becoming Posthuman;112
4.3.4;7.4 Healthspan;114
4.3.5;7.5 Cognition;117
4.3.6;7.6 Emotion;119
4.3.7;7.7 Structure of the Argument, and Further Supporting Reasons;122
4.3.8;7.8 Personal Identity;124
4.3.9;7.9 Commitments;127
4.3.10;7.10 Ways of Life;128
4.3.11;7.11 Human Nature;131
4.3.12;7.12 Brief Sketches of Some Objections and Replies;132
4.3.13;7.13 Conclusion;136
4.3.14;References;136
4.4;What is the Good of Transhumanism?;138
4.4.1;8.1 Introduction;138
4.4.2;8.2 Progress, Competition and Restraint;139
4.4.3;8.3 Health, Happiness and Longevity;141
4.4.4;8.4 Diversity, Choice and Inclusion;146
4.4.5;8.5 Enhancement, Identity and Extinction;150
4.4.6;8.6 Uncertainty, Faith and Nihilism;153
4.4.7;8.7 Conclusion;155
4.4.8;References;156
5;III Current Developments;158
5.1;Cosmetic Surgery;159
5.1.1;9.1 Introduction;159
5.1.2;9.2 Cosmetic Surgery;160
5.1.3;9.3 Definitions;161
5.1.4;9.4 Relation to Healthcare;162
5.1.5;9.4.1 It’s Just Medicine;162
5.1.6;9.4.2 Meeting Consumer Demand;163
5.1.7;9.4.3 Using the Blade to Cure the Soul: Cosmetic Surgery as Psychological Medicine;165
5.1.8;9.4.4 Optimization;166
5.1.9;9.5 Questions and Concerns;168
5.1.10;References;173
5.2;Decelerating and Arresting Human Aging;175
5.2.1;10.1 Introduction;175
5.2.2;10.2 Medical Factors;176
5.2.3;10.3 Social Factors;180
5.2.4;10.4 Psychological Factors;183
5.2.5;10.5 Conclusion;187
5.2.6;References;188
5.3;Germline Genetic Modification;190
5.3.1;11.1 Introduction;190
5.3.2;11.2 Human Germline Modification: Early Ethical Analysis;191
5.3.3;11.3 Renewed Enthusiasm for Germline Modification;192
5.3.4;11.4 What Are the Chances of Success?;193
5.3.5;11.5 A Worthwhile Objective?;196
5.3.6;11.5.1 Risks to Human Subjects;196
5.3.7;11.5.2 Consumption of Research Resources;197
5.3.8;11.5.3 PGM Alternatives;199
5.3.9;11.6 Decisions About Germline Modification Research: The Social Dimensions;200
5.3.10;11.7 Conclusion;201
5.3.11;References;202
5.4;Bioelectronics and Implanted Devices;205
5.4.1;12.1 Introduction;205
5.4.2;12.2 Current Sensory and Motor Devices;207
5.4.3;12.3 Brain Devices;208
5.4.4;12.4 Nanotechnology;209
5.4.5;12.5 Enhancement;210
5.4.6;12.6 Ethical Concerns in Therapeutic Usage;211
5.4.7;12.6.1 Safety;211
5.4.8;12.6.2 Fairness, Access and Costs;212
5.4.9;12.7 Ethical Issues in Enhancement Applications;212
5.4.10;12.7.1 Safety of Enhancement Devices;213
5.4.11;12.7.2 Informed Consent;214
5.4.12;12.7.3 Psychological Questions;214
5.4.13;12.7.4 Justice Issues;214
5.4.14;12.7.5 Autonomy;214
5.4.15;12.8 Brain Chips, Cloning, and Ethics;215
5.4.16;12.9 Artificial Intelligence;217
5.4.17;12.10 Suggestions for Action;220
5.4.18;12.11 Conclusion;221
5.4.19;References;221
5.5;Converging NBIC Technologies for Improving Human Performance;223
5.5.1;13.1 Introduction;223
5.5.2;13.2 Is There Anything New Under the Sun?;224
5.5.3;13.2.1 Using Science and Technology for the Improvement of Human Performance;224
5.5.4;13.2.2 NBIC Convergence;225
5.5.5;13.2.3 Cross-Fertilization and Synergism;226
5.5.6;13.2.4 Technological Transformation of Human Beings;227
5.5.7;13.3 Should We Be Optimistic?;228
5.5.8;13.3.1 Changing Attitudes Towards the Body;228
5.5.9;13.3.2 Privacy and Autonomy;229
5.5.10;13.3.3 Medicalization;230
5.5.11;13.3.4 Personal Identity;230
5.5.12;13.3.5 Blurred Self-Perception as a Human Being;231
5.5.13;13.4 Outlook;232
5.5.14;References;232
5.6;Afterword Advancing Posthuman Enhancement Dialogue1;234
5.6.1;References;237