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One argument commonly used to challenge the value of human enhancement is this:
The
means by which people achieve their goals in life matter. In other words, if a per-
son uses a technological shortcut to achieve a goal, that choice may decrease the accom-
plishment's value. For instance, if a mountaineer reaches a summit using a helicopter
rather than by physically climbing the mountain, that undermines the achievement's
value.
Closely related is the ethical question, raised about certain psychopharmacological
substances, such as antidepressant medications. This argument holds that some uses may
be morally undesirable forms of enhancement because, essentially, they transform the pa-
tient into someone else.
A further reason for caution regarding human enhancement is that it may narrow a
person's prospects, violating the principle of preserving an “open future.” Some en-
hancements might promote success early in life, but lead to serious disability later. A
typical example would be the use of drugs that provide short-term gain—such as increas-
ing physical strength or stimulating creativity—but which may also come with long-term
health risks.
Among the biggest ethical issues surrounding human enhancements is the question
of governance. Making numerous enhancements available will require having a range of
decision makers charged with developing policies for their use and implies the need for
social systems ensuring that everyone has affordable access to them.
A further societal concern is that enhancements might undermine some essential
quality of our human identity that we would rather preserve. Other moral concerns are
often folded into the fear of biotechnological change, notably the view that initiating such
changes is akin to "playing God."
Finally, perhaps the most pressing issue is the degree to which the use of human en-
hancements requires a global response, rather than just domestic policy. While such work
has led to research leadership in multiple countries, there is much more to do before we
can achieve a clear sense of the global implications of human enhancement and formulate
a reasonable strategy for managing it.
Adapted from the article
by Andy Miah
From MIT Technology Review:
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/602342/the-ethics-of-
human-enhancement/
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