Medical Enhancement and Posthumanity

ISBN-13: 9789048180059 / Angielski / Miękka / 2010 / 240 str.

Bert Gordijn; Ruth Chadwick

Opis

As we are increasingly using new technologies to change ourselves beyond therapy and in accordance with our own desires, understanding the challenges of human enhancement has become one of the most urgent topics of the current age. This volume contributes to such an understanding by critically examining the pros and cons of our growing ability to shape human nature through technological advancements. The authors undertake careful analyses of decisive questions that will confront society as enhancement interventions using bio-, info-, neuro- and nanotechnologies become widespread in the years to come. They provide the reader with the conceptual tools necessary to address such questions fruitfully. What makes the book especially attractive is the combination of conceptual, historical and ethical approaches, rendering it highly original. In addition, the well-balanced structure allows both favourable and critical views to be voiced. Moreover, the work has a crystal clear structure. As a consequence, the book is accessible to a broad academic audience. The issues raised are of interest to a wide reflective public concerned about science and ethics, as well as to students, academics and professionals in areas such as philosophy, applied ethics, bioethics, medicine and health management.

Recenzje

From the reviews:

"This set of essays by different authors addresses a variety of issues related to the alteration of humanity by means of medical technology. ... The intended audience is primarily academics interested in specific philosophical issues associated with medical enhancement or broader questions related to the legitimate scope and direction of medical science." (D. Robert MacDougall, Doody's Review Service, March, 2009)

"It appears to be targeted primarily at the academic reader who has some familiarity with the themes addressed ... . it consists of a number of papers penned by a range of international experts on the ethics of enhancement, including 'big names' ... . It should be clear ... that there is much to recommend this book. ... it should definitely sit on the bookshelf of anyone working on or interested in the topics it covers." (Peter Herissone-Kelly, Metapsychology, Vol. 13 (24), June, 2009)

Spis treści

Bert Gordijn and Ruth Chadwick: Introduction Part One: Medical Enhancement I. Urban Wiesing: The History of Medical Enhancement: from Restitutio ad Integrum to Transformatio ad Optimum? II. Ruth Chadwick: Therapy, Enhancement and Improvement III. Kevin FitzGerald, SJ: Medical Enhancement: A Destination of Technological, Not Human, Betterment IV. Nicholas Agar: How to Defend Genetic Enhancement Part Two: Posthumanity V. Andy Miah: A Critical History of Posthumanism VI. Dieter Birnbacher: Posthumanity, Transhumanism and Human Nature VII. Nick Bostrom: Why I want to be a Posthuman When I Grow Up VIII. Charles T. Rubin: What is the Good of Transhumanism? Part Three: Current Developments IX. Mary Deveraux: Cosmetic Surgery X. Walter Glannon: Decelerating and Arresting Human Aging XI. Rebecca Dresser: Germline Genetic Modification XII. Ellen M. McGee: Bioelectronics and Implanted Devices XIII. Bert Gordijn: Converging NBIC Technologies for Improving Human Performance Michael J. Selgelid: Afterword. Advancing Posthuman Enhancement Dialogue

O autorze

Bert Gordijn is Chair of Ethics and Director of the Ethics Institute at Dublin City University. He has studied Philosophy and History at the Universities of Utrecht (Netherlands), Strasbourg (France) and Freiburg in Breisgau (Germany). In 1995 he was awarded a doctorate in Philosophy; in 2003 he received a doctorate in Bioethics. He was a Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Economic and Social Aspects of Genomics at Lancaster University (UK), the Center for Clinical Bioethics at Georgetown University (USA) and the Fondation Brocher (Switzerland). Bert is Editor-in-Chief of the academic book series The International Library of Ethics, Law and Technology (published by Springer). In addition he is Editor-in-Chief of two peer reviewed journals: Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy (also published by Springer) and Studies in Ethics, Law and Technology (published by Berkeley Electronic Press). Bert has been appointed to the Scientific Advisory Board of the European Patent Organization, the External Science Advisory Panel to the Long-Range Research Initiative of the European Chemical Industry Council and has served on the UNESCO expert committee on ethics and nanotechnology.

Blurb

As we are increasingly using new technologies to change ourselves beyond therapy and in accordance with our own desires, understanding the challenges of human enhancement has become one of the most urgent topics of the current age. This volume contributes to such an understanding by critically examining the pros and cons of our growing ability to shape human nature through technological advancements. The authors undertake careful analyses of decisive questions that will confront society as enhancement interventions using bio-, info-, neuro- and nanotechnologies become widespread in the years to come. They provide the reader with the conceptual tools necessary to address such questions fruitfully. What makes the book especially attractive is the combination of conceptual, historical and ethical approaches, which makes it highly original. In addition, the well-balanced structure of the volume allows both favourable and critical views to be voiced. Moreover, the work has a crystal clear structure. As a consequence, the book is accessible to a broad academic audience. The issues raised are of interest to a wide reflective public concerned about science and ethics, as well as to students, academics and professionals in areas such as philosophy, applied ethics, bioethics, medicine and health management.