Botox 4 the brain

The creation of chimeras using human genes

“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. )

The age of enhancement

The age of enhancement

Here is a great article I read this morning about “a cornucopia of drugs [that] will soon be on sale to improve everything from our memories to our trust in others.”

While a lot of the promises for a better world seem attractive, I wonder if our quest to master our own body and brain will produce some side effects that are still unseen. One can think of how the human quest to master nature has brought us in a big environmental mess. I think that neuroethics could probably learn a lot from environmental ethics. It seems that the question, “How far should we be able to modify our environment?” reflects the question, “How far should we be able to modify ourselves?”

Will Bruce Willis save us from neuroethical headaches?

Surrogates

On September 25, 2009 except to see Bruce Willis save us all, in the upcoming movie: Surrogates. From the movie trailer (watch below), it seems that issues of brain enhancement, transhumanism and gnosticism are back on the screen. This time the setting is in the year 2017, where humans live their lives through robotic bodies. Will the technology be ready in 2017 to accomplish what the trailer portrays? Will Bruce sacrifice himself to save us all, once again?

Michael Sandel, 2009 Reith Lectures

Michael Sandel

In the 2009 Reith Lectures, Professor Michael Sandel argues, in “Genetics and Morality,” that as a society we should not seek genetic enhancement (outside of therapeutic enhancement), because to do so is to lose the appreciation of the giftedness of life, humility, solidarity, and responsibility. Even though the lecture focuses on genetic enhancement, much of what has been shared can be applied to others form of enhancement (biotechnological enhancement, neurological enhancement). What might help to answer a question concerning the difference between the use of botox, gel, and braces is that we need to make a difference not only between therapy and enhancement, but also between the use of an external object (umbrella, medicament . . .)to help a person and engineering a new person with various means.

Furthermore, Sandel acknowledges that much of this discussion is theological in character. He states:

“In order to grabble with the ethics of enhancement, we need to confront questions largely lost from view in the modern world, questions about the proper stance of human beings towards the given world. Since this questions verge on theology, modern philosophers and political theorists tend to shrink from them, but our new powers of biotechnology make these questions unavoidable” (See the recording at 6 minutes 20).