Medical Enhancement and Posthumanity (The International Library of Ethics, Law and Technology (2))

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. 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. 9781402088513 Medical Enhancement and Posthumanity 1 Medical Enhancement and Posthumanity 4 Contents 6 Introduction 8 01. The History of Medical Enhancement 13 02. Therapy, Enhancement and Improvement 29 03. Medical Enhancement: A Destination of Technological, not Human, Betterment 42 04. How to Defend Genetic Enhancement 57 05. A Critical History of Posthumanism 70 06. Posthumanity, Transhumanism and Human Nature 94 07. Why I Want to be a Posthuman when I Grow Up 106 08. What is the Good of Transhumanism? 136 09. Cosmetic Surgery 156 10. Decelerating and Arresting Human Aging 172 11. Germline Genetic Modification 187 12. Bioelectronics and Implanted Devices 202 13. Converging NBIC Technologies for Improving Human Perfomance 220 Afterword 231 #,Publisher:,Springer,#,Number,Of,Pages:,260,#,Publication,Date:,2009-01-0 #,Publisher:,Springer,# Number Of Pages:,260,# Publication Date:,2009-01-0 Examines the pros and cons of our ability to shape human nature through technological advancements. This book offers analyses of decisive questions that confront society as enhancement interventions using bio-, info-, neuro- and nanotechnologies become widespread. It provides the reader with conceptual tools necessary to address such questions