Search PubMed⌕ Search

PubMed · 11833585

On human improvement.

Abstract

The claim that human cognitive abilities can be markedly improved by near-future biophysical means is examined as to its clarity, desirability, and feasibility. Generally, this is a study of the "space of reasons" of such a claim. Comparison is offered to claims of the feasibility of significant moral improvement of individuals. While this study is more exploratory than conclusive, the result is drawn that the possibility of such improvement merits serious consideration, given such improvement's far-reaching implications.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

A Seidel. 1999. On human improvement.. https://doi.org/10.5840/ijap199913213

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

[Cognition on demand?--The wish for cognition-enhancing drugs in medicine].

DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM: Due to recent advances in psychopharmacology, a large variety of drugs can be offered that intend to improve one's mood, memory and executive functions. These offers seem to meet the wishes and needs of people striving for enhancement of their mental capacities. How should medicine deal with these wishes? And, especially, what criteria might serve a physician's decision-making? ARGUMENTS: As shown in the following, this decision-making process cannot be convincingly informed by criteria drawing on the distinction between 'enhancement' and 'treatment' or on certain concepts of disease, normality or medicine. Instead, a decision-making model will be developed which builds on the traditional criteria of a physician's practice: the criteria of benevolence, non-maleficence, and autonomy. CONCLUSION: By means of this model, a new concept of "medicine-on-demand" will be suggested: a subjective medicine with a physician's recommendation and veto right.

Biomedical Enhancement↗