Title

Untangling the Debate: The Ethics of Human Enhancement

Author Info

Patrick Lin, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis ObispoFollow
Fritz Allhoff, Western Michigan University

Recommended Citation

Postprint version. Published in Nanoethics, Volume 2, Issue 3, December 1, 2008, pages 251-264.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11569-008-0046-7.

Abstract

Human enhancement, in which nanotechnology is expected to play a major role, continues to be a highly contentious ethical debate, with experts on both sides calling it the single most important issue facing science and society in this brave, new century. This paper is a broad introduction to the symposium herein that explores a range of perspectives related to that debate. We will discuss what human enhancement is and its apparent contrast to therapy; and we will begin to tease apart the myriad intertwined issues that arise in the debate: (1) freedom & autonomy, (2) health & safety, (3) fairness & equity, (4) societal disruption, and (5) human dignity.

Disciplines

Philosophy

Copyright

2008 Springer.