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HUMAN ENHANCEMENT
Should humans be made stronger, smarter, longer-lived, etc....? Edinethics has been working for several years on one of the most challenging future issues in technology.
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HUMAN ENHANCEMENTShould humans be made stronger, smarter, longer-lived, etc....? Edinethics has been working for several years on one of the most challenging future issues in technology.
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What's Human Enhancement?Scientists are starting to say it’s no longer just science fiction that they could one day alter the human body and mind, in ways that might make humans stronger, faster, cleverer, perhaps more artistic, even longer lived. It’s called human enhancement. It’s mostly still in the future, but research is beginning, and is raising some far reaching issues. Edinethics is a partner in a European Commission FP7 ETHENTECH Project examining the ethics of implants for medicine and human enhancement (2009-11) and also creating a Democs game. To find out more about what this is all about and some of the ethical and social implications, download a report Human Enhancement?, produced by a working group of leading European experts in December 2007, as part of the EC NanoBioRaise research programme. Rather than speculating on futuristic dreams, the report examines three state-of-the-art case studies - on linking the brain and computer chips, drugs which can enhance cognitive performance, and electrical stimulation of the brain. It also asks if enhancements in sport offer warnings or pointers for wider society. Its conclusions also offer food for thought for the governance of technology. Religious views are seen as important in these issues. As part of the ETHENTECH report we are looking find out views from different religions across Europe. To begin debate in the churches, Edinethics also helped draft a discussion paper as part of a working group on biotechics of the Conference of European Churches (CEC: representing most of Europe's Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox churches). Download the CEC report
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Want to think about these issues for yourself?A European Commission expert report stressed the importance of opening up questions of human enhancement to wider European society, rather than leave it to be driven by technocrats. Edinethics is working with the New Economics Foundation to produce free materials and tools for people to look at these issues for themselves. For a quick look, why not download our Open Up! argument map on human enhancement. As part of the EC ETHENTECH Project we are creating a Democs card game for use by small groups. We are trying out a pilot version at the moment. In the autumn 2010 we hope to have the final version ready for use. If you would be interested in playing this with your friends, or colleages, we'd like to hear from you. This is a European project, and we also want to have the game translated into different languages for use in as many European countries as possible. If you would you be interested in using this game in your country, and know someone who could translate it into your language, please email us. |
Ethical IssuesHuman Enhancement poses some very far reaching ethical issues.
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