Учебное пособие по деловому английскому языку Самара Издательство
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| 2. Read the text and discuss it:
The Ethics of Human Enhancement Recent scientific advancements increasingly allow humans to improve everything. Soon enough technology could allow people to make them- selves “better than well” by using en- hancements such as brain modifica- tions to increase memory, intelli- gence, or even create new capacities. Benefits might also include living for much longer, becoming more attractive or altering people's appearances. But questions remain about what ethical issues these opportunities create. Humans have always sought to improve themselves throughout their lives. Some of the more familiar methods include education, exercise, or a good diet. So what, if any- thing, distinguishes these accepted methods of enhancement from those that cause moral concern, such as using drugs or genetic modification? 72 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/ жүктеу/скачать 4,5 Mb. Достарыңызбен бөлісу:
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