Moral enhancement, freedom, and what we (should) value in moral behaviour
The enhancement of human traits has received academic attention for decades, but only recently has moral enhancement using biomedical means - moral bioenhancement (MB) - entered the discussion. After explaining why we ought to take the possibility of MB seriously, the paper considers the shape and c...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2014
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| In: |
Journal of medical ethics
Year: 2014, Volume: 40, Issue: 6, Pages: 361-368 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | The enhancement of human traits has received academic attention for decades, but only recently has moral enhancement using biomedical means - moral bioenhancement (MB) - entered the discussion. After explaining why we ought to take the possibility of MB seriously, the paper considers the shape and content of moral improvement, addressing at some length a challenge presented by reasonable moral pluralism. The discussion then proceeds to this question: Assuming MB were safe, effective, and universally available, would it be morally desirable? In particular, would it pose an unacceptable threat to human freedom? After defending a negative answer to the latter question - which requires an investigation into the nature and value of human freedom - and arguing that there is nothing inherently wrong with MB, the paper closes with reflections on what we should value in moral behaviour. |
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| ISSN: | 1473-4257 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of medical ethics
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2012-101157 |