Human Enhancement

by Julian Savulescu (editor), Nick Bostrom (Editor)

To what extent should we use technology to try to make better human beings? Because of the remarkable advances in biomedical science, we must now find an answer to this question.
Human enhancement aims to increase human capacities above normal levels. Many forms of human enhancement are already in use. Many students and academics take cognition enhancing drugs to get a competitive edge. Some top athletes boost their performance with legal and illegal substances. Many an office worker begins each day with a dose of caffeine. This is only the beginning. As science and technology advance further, it will become increasingly possible to enhance basic human capacities to increase or modulate cognition, mood, personality, and physical performance, and to control the biological processes underlying normal aging. Some have suggested that such advances would take us beyond the bounds of human nature.
These trends, and these dramatic prospects, raise profound ethical questions. They have generated intense public debate and have become a central topic of discussion within practical ethics. Should we side with bioconservatives, and forgo the use of any biomedical interventions aimed at enhancing human capacities? Should we side with transhumanists and embrace the new opportunities? Or should we perhaps plot some middle course?
Human Enhancement presents the latest moves in this crucial debate: original contributions from many of the world's leading ethicists and moral thinkers, representing a wide range of perspectives, advocates and sceptics, enthusiasts and moderates. These are the arguments that will determine how humanity develops in the near future.

Genres: Philosophy, Science, Futurism, Psychology, Nonfiction, Medical, Artificial Intelligence

432 pages, Hardcover

First published January 8, 2009

About the author

Julian Savulescu is an Australian philosopher and bioethicist. He is Uehiro Professor of Practical Ethics at the University of Oxford, Fellow of St Cross College, Oxford, Director of the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, Sir Louis Matheson Distinguished Visiting Professor at Monash University, and Head of the Melbourne–Oxford Stem Cell Collaboration, which is devoted to examining the ethical implications of cloning and embryonic stem cell research. He is the editor of the Journal of Medical Ethics, which is ranked as the #1 journal in bioethics worldwide by Google Scholar Metrics as of 2013. In addition to his background in applied ethics and philosophy, he also has a background in medicine and completed his MBBS (Hons) at Monash University.

Reviews

[Dan Zarfati · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good collection of texts, however, they seem a bit dated by now, they serve as a nice introduction, but the questions raised are not new, they keep repeating themselves.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look at what the future might hold. Nice range of essays and viewpoints, although some are more readable than others. This is definitely not pop-science, and some essays were drier and more academic than others (if I could, I'd give it 3.5 stars as a result - one essay I had to skip totally). The focus is more skewed towards genetic enhancement than other enhancement technologies, but the concerns and principles hold across most areas of potential enhancement, leading to much to think on.

[Aldwin Susantio]

Explain many kinds of human enhancement and the risk associated with it. Hard reading, not for general audience, but more suitable as citation material for researcher.

[Chris Elwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mixed bag of hit-or-miss philosophy essays about an interesting and important subfield of bioethics.