Should Human Beings Have Sex? (0)
7/05/10 •
Abstract Author: Robert Sparrow The American Journal of Bioethics, Volume 10, Issue 7, July 2010 Since the first sex reassignment operations were performed, individual sex has come to be, to some extent at least, a technological artifact. The existence of sperm sorting technology, and of prenatal determination of fetal sex via ultrasound along with the [...]
Recent Posts
Oscar, the Bionic Cat (1)
6/25/10 •
Oscar just got new prosthetic paws. He can walk again. Full story here.
Brain-Computer Interfaces (0)
6/11/10 •
In this short 15 minutes lecture, which is part of a series about the “Future of Human Health,” Krishna Shenoy of Standford University presents some of his research. He has been busy building neural prostheses (brain chips) that could be put into someone’s brain, in order to write information into the brain or take information out [...]
Human Cloning, likely to happen before 2050 (0)
6/05/10 •
According to “12 Events that will change Everything,” an article in the latest issue of Scientific American, the cloning of humans will likely happen before 2050. How likely? This article contemplates “12 possibilities and rate their likelihood of happening by 2050” (36) and use the following scale: Very unlikely, Unlikely, 50-50, Likely, and Almost certain. We shall then prepare ourselves to [...]
Aristotle & Human Enhancement (0)
6/03/10 •
For Aristotle, good conduct produces a morally good person. For him, “we become just by performing just acts” (32). Thus, in a sense ‘doing’ precedes ‘being’. But how can we even know what a ‘good’ act look like, if we are not good? In The Nicomachean Ethics, which looks more like a self-help book rather [...]
Splice: The creation of new hybrids using human genes (1)
6/01/10 •
“Geoffrey Bourne, former director of the Emory University primate center, once stated that ‘it would be very important scientifically to try to produce an ape-human cross.’ Other researchers have suggested using women as ‘hosts’ for the embryos of chimpanzees or gorillas” (See Francis Fukuyama, Our Posthuman Future, Consequences of the Biotechnology Revolution, 207. ) On a [...]
‘We will be able to live to 1,000′ (1)
5/21/10 •
Dr Aubrey de Grey from the University of Cambridge is a fascinating fellow. In a 2004 article on BBC News, he explains why we will be able to live to 1,000 years. Life expectancy is increasing in the developed world. But Cambridge University geneticist Aubrey de Grey believes it will soon extend dramatically to 1,000. [...]
Artificial feet (0)
5/19/10 •
If artificial feet make you run faster, last longer, and are generally speaking a better version of your ‘natural’ ones, would it be wise to exchange the lesser version of your feet for a more enhanced and improved man-made version? 2009 Boston Marathon runner with spring steel artificial feet. Photo by Stewart Dawson available online: http://mustangdaily.net/professor-talks-on-science-fiction-becoming-reality/
Beyond Humanity? The Ethics of Biomedical Enhancement (0)
4/28/10 •
Biotechnologies already on the horizon will enable us to be smarter, have better memories, be stronger and quicker, have more stamina, live longer, be more resistant to diseases, and enjoy richer emotional lives. To some of us, these prospects are heartening; to others, they are dreadful. In Beyond Humanity a leading philosopher offers a powerful [...]
The creation of chimeras using human genes (0)
2/26/10 •
“Geoffrey Bourne, former director of the Emory University primate center, once stated that ‘it would be very important scientifically to try to produce an ape-human cross.’ Other researchers have suggested using women as ‘hosts’ for the embryos of chimpanzees or gorillas” (See Francis Fukuyama, Our Posthuman Future, Consequences of the Biotechnology Revolution, 207. )
Older Posts
Featured Categories
Enhancement»
7/05/10 •
Should Human Beings Have Sex?6/25/10 •
Oscar, the Bionic Cat6/11/10 •
Brain-Computer Interfaces6/05/10 •
Human Cloning, likely to happen before 20506/03/10 •
Aristotle & Human Enhancement6/01/10 •
Splice: The creation of new hybrids using human genes5/26/10 •
“Scientist Infects Himself With a Computer Virus (video)”5/21/10 •
‘We will be able to live to 1,000′5/19/10 •
Artificial feet4/28/10 •
Beyond Humanity? The Ethics of Biomedical Enhancement2/26/10 •
The creation of chimeras using human genes11/02/09 •
Did Plato foresee the ethical challenges of enhancement?9/26/09 •
“Toward a More Fruitful Debate About Enhancement,” Review9/04/09 •
The age of enhancement8/22/09 •
Human Enhancement: What should be permitted?7/09/09 •
Will Bruce Willis save us from neuroethical headaches?7/07/09 •
Michael Sandel, 2009 Reith Lectures
