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. Front Matter....Pages i-vi Introduction....Pages 1-5 The History of Medical Enhancement: From Restitutio ad Integrum to Transformatio ad Optimum? ....Pages 9-24 Therapy, Enhancement and Improvement....Pages 25-37 Medical Enhancement: A Destination of Technological, not Human, Betterment....Pages 39-53 How to Defend Genetic Enhancement....Pages 55-67 A Critical History of Posthumanism....Pages 71-94 Posthumanity, Transhumanism and Human Nature....Pages 95-106 Why I Want to be a Posthuman when I Grow Up....Pages 107-136 What is the Good of Transhumanism?....Pages 137-156 Cosmetic Surgery....Pages 159-174 Decelerating and Arresting Human Aging....Pages 175-189 Germline Genetic Modification....Pages 191-205 Bioelectronics and Implanted Devices....Pages 207-224 Converging NBIC Technologies for Improving Human Performance....Pages 225-235 Back Matter....Pages 237-240 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 Gordijn_FM.pdf 1 Gordijn_Introduction.pdf 7 Gordijn_Ch01.pdf 12 Gordijn_Ch02.pdf 29 Gordijn_Ch03.pdf 42 Gordijn_Ch04.pdf 57 Gordijn_Ch05.pdf 70 Gordijn_Ch06.pdf 95 Gordijn_Ch07.pdf 107 Gordijn_Ch08.pdf 137 Gordijn_Ch09.pdf 157 Gordijn_Ch10.pdf 174 Gordijn_Ch11.pdf 189 Gordijn_Ch12.pdf 204 Gordijn_Ch13.pdf 222 Gordijn_Afterword.pdf 233