Better Humans?: The Politics of Human Enhancement and Life ExtensionPaul Miller, James Wilsdon We all share a desire for self-improvement.Whether through education, work, parenthood or adhering to religious or ethical codes, each of us seeks to become a 'better human' in a variety of ways. And for some people, more consumerist pursuits hold the key to self-improvement: working out in the gym, wearing makeup, buying new clothes, or indulging in a spot of cosmetic surgery. But now a new set of possibilities is opening up. Advances in biotechnology, neuroscience, computing and nanotechnology mean that we are in the early stages of a period of huge technological potential. Within the next 30 years, it may become commonplace to alter the genetic make-up of our children, to insert artificial implants into our bodies, or to radically extend life expectancy. This collection of essays by leading scientists and commentators explores the implications of human enhancement technologies and asks how citizens and policy-makers should respond. |
Contents
Acknowledgements | 9 |
Is it wrong to try to improve human nature? | 31 |
Welcome to a world of exponential change | 40 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
abilities accessed 11 Jan ADHD advances anti-meliorists argues argument artificial intelligence Aubrey de Grey become better Bill McKibben biological biotechnology brain Caprioli cent Citizen Cyborg claims cognitive enhancers cosmetic surgery culture death debate Demos designer baby disabled disease Drexler effects engineering enhancement technologies Esfandiary ethical feel Fertilisation and Embryology Fukuyama future genes genetic going Habermas human enhancement Human Fertilisation human nature idea impairment important improve individuals inequity Kurzweil Licence Licensor live forever London look machines McKibben means Metchnikoff methylphenidate modafinil nanotechnology neuroscience Nick Bostrom ourselves patients person political possible potential predictions problem publicly question radical Raj Persaud Ray Kurzweil recently reproductive science and technology scientific scientists smart drugs social society suicide talking techniques therapy things transhumanism transhumanist movement unenhanced University Up-Wingers Wilsdon Wolbring women World Transhumanist Association