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The Singularity and Society
Within thirty years, we will have the technological means to create superhuman intelligence. Shortly after, the human era will be ended.
Increase In 'Academic Doping' Could Spark Routine Urine Tests For Exam Students
The increasing use of smart drugs or "nootropics," to boost academic performance, could mean that exam students will face routine doping tests in future, suggests an article in the Journal of Medical Ethics.
“Toward a More Fruitful Debate About Enhancement,” Review | Botox 4 the brain
In this essay, Erik Parens wants to “illuminate the structure of the debate” in neuroethics, particularly in the issues related with “the enhancement of human traits and capacities” (181). He rightly thinks that if “we get better at noticing the structure of the debate about enhancement, we might engage in a more fruitful debate” (180). He points out three important issues.
The age of enhancement
A cornucopia of drugs will soon be on sale to improve everything from our memories to our trust in others
Brain Gain
A young man I’ll call Alex recently graduated from Harvard. As a history major, Alex wrote about a dozen papers a semester. He also ran a student organization, for which he often worked more than forty hours a week; when he wasn’t on the job, he had classes. Weeknights were devoted to all the schoolwork that he couldn’t finish during the day, and weekend nights were spent drinking with friends and going to dance parties. “Trite as it sounds,” he told me, it seemed important to “maybe appreciate my own youth.” Since, in essence, this life was impossible, Alex began taking Adderall to make it possible.
Brain Enhancement
How should we deal with cognitive-enhancing drugs?
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supporting the use—with safeguards—of prescription drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall as a way for healthy adults to improve brain functions, including concentration and memory.
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our regulatory system isn’t set up to look at or think about the enhancement uses of drugs that are approved for medical conditions. We think there needs to be more research and more work on safety.
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Genetic enhancement can not be a bad thing
"In discussing whether designer babies, human genetic engineering or even cybernetic enhancements, the arguments can fairly well be divided into those arguments that the end results would begood or bad, or those arguments that the methods used are moral or immoral." « Human Enhancement and Biopolitics
The End of Impairment?
"Drugs that improve attention or prevent fatigue raise ethical questions in many workplace settings. But what about hospitals, where med students can supply themselves with the pills that let them work harder?" (scienceprogress.org)
Biotech Enhancement and Natural Law
New biotechnologies promise to revolutionize human existence—not only by delivering therapeutic treatments and cures, but also by offering physical and mental “enhancements”: creating stronger bodies and more powerful minds for ourselves and for the children we will carefully select. Biotechnology will offer us the option of controlling our genetic composition in ways that were previously unimaginable, as we—in British bioethicist John Harris’s formulation—replace “natural selection with deliberate selection, Darwinian evolution with ‘enhancement evolution.’” (The New Atlantis)
Neocon logic strikes again
"The magazine The New Atlantis, the usual hangout of biotech-fearing Leon Kass and formerly edited by Eric “I’m not sure I’m convinced that enhancement is a great idea” Cohen, has a new piece out titled “Biotech enhancement and natural law“, authored by Christ Tollefsen, author of Embryo: A defence of human life, and Ryan T. Anderson, Catholic bioethicist." « Human Enhancement and Biopolitics
Clones, Drones and Cyborgs
A collection of links for my HNR 101 course on technology called "Clones, Drones and Cyborgs."
Nature News on the near future of reproduction
"A couple of weeks ago, Nature News published an article titled ‘Making babies: the next 30 years‘. It interviews a number of specialists in human reproductive technologies and outlines the predictions that they think are likely to arise in the next few decades. I’ve been waiting until I have some spare time to go through it, and now I have. This gives me the opportunity to also comment on other blogs who picked up this story." « Human Enhancement and Biopolitics
Shall We Enhance? A Debate
"Just a few decades ago, “mind-expanding” drugs were the province of the avant garde, the rebellious, or the just plain irresponsible. Now, much as laser surgery enhances our eyesight, new drugs may enhance the power of the mind not only for the risk-taking few but for virtually any of us, on demand. While some observers argue that such innovations are only the latest in a long historical march toward human betterment and should be welcomed, others are more cautious. Tinkering with an otherwise healthy brain can be counterproductive, dissidents argue. Cerebrum invited Prof. Arthur L. Caplan, Director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Paul R. McHugh, a member of the President’s Council on Bioethics, to debate the “enhancement” issue from the sides that each of them favors. " (The Dana Foundation)
The E Word
"Is it right to call someone a eugenicist, or to say their ideas are just like eugenics (even if they truly are)? In the June 2008 issue of the Journal of Medical Ethics, Stephen Wilkinson of Keele University (that’s in Staffordshire, which is itself in the UK) contemplates that question in his piece titled “Eugenics talk” and the language of bioethics." (Human Enhancement and Biopolitics)
All in the Mind explores the implications of Cognitive Enhancement
"The June 14 Episode of All in the Mind has a thoughtful discussion of the implications of using drugs to improve cognitive performance. Natasha Mitchell interviewed Barbara Sahakian, professor of Neuropsychology at the University of Cambridge (UK) and William Glannon, a bioethicist from the University of Calgary (Canada). Several important issues emerged including the fact that that it is unknown whether the drugs currently available are safe for long-term use. There is also the nagging question of whether the use by normal people of drugs originally intended to treat medical conditions (like ADHD) constitutes cheating? What do you think?"
Stop forgetting about somatic genetic modifications!
"I swear, some people must just have a hard time getting their head around germline and somatic genetic engineering at the same time. It is often common to hear, in a discussion about inheritable genetic modifications, that such changes would be ‘permanent changes’ to the human germline." ( Human Enhancement and Biopolitics)
Enhancing Me - The hope and the hype of human enhancement
"In Enhancing Me, Pete Moore examines the ways in which technology can change our bodies, our brains, our emotions, and how long we live. He talks to people who have actually been 'enhanced' to find out what it's like and how beneficial it is; and to the experts to find out what the future holds - including a look at some of the more controversial, headline-grabbing claims. He also looks at what drives us to want to be 'superhuman', and the consequences for the individual and society alike" (Question Technology: New Book)
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Clones, Drones and Cyborgs
A collection of links for m...
Items: 140 | Visits: 75
Created by: Rudy Garns
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Chandler Project: Graham's areas of greatest concern
This list presents the issu...
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Created by: Graham Perrin
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