Argumentation about moral Bioenhancement

Budić, Marina (2020) Argumentation about moral Bioenhancement. In: Emerging ‘moral’ technologies and the ethical-legal challenges of new subjectivities. G. Giappichelli Editore, Torin, pp. 159-183. ISBN 978-88-921-8655-2(ebook - pdf) ISBN 978-88-921-8656-9 (ebook - epub)

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Abstract

Each of us has a moral obligation to refrain from malice. Malice is manifested in forms such as abuse, manipulation, blackmail, robbery, murder, and others. Scientific advances offer a possible solution for some of these crimes: moral enhancement of human beings through biomedical and biotechnological means. Assuming the efficiency and security of moral enhancement, are we obliged to use biomedical and biotechnological interventions to reduce the likelihood of engaging in abuse? What is the goal of moral enhancement, and what is enhancing and to what extent? This paper attempts to answer these questions through a consideration of the arguments in favor of and against moral bioenhancement interventions. The first part of the paper exhibits and explicates the notion and meaning of enhancement, and subsequently thoroughly analyzes one form of enhancement, namely moral bioenhancement. In the second part, the paper deals with arguments in favor of and against moral bioenhancement. The closing part of the paper is dedicated to the criticism concerning the restriction of freedom of a person who uses moral bioenhancers. The concluding remarks address the question whether objections on moral bioenhancement are conclusive and convincing or not. The issue of moral enhancement is important since moral behavior is, along with rationality, a precious and essential value that constitutes us as human beings.

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