The Ethical Issues Of Human Enhancement - 2228 Words

One of the most prominent ethical issues faced today is that of human enhancement. The ethical issues that occur when looking at the concept of human enhancement are defined by the ideas of â€Å"human nature, personal identity, moral status, well-being, and problems in normative ethics, political philosophy, philosophy of mind, and epistemology† (Savulescu, 2) There are a plethora of ways in which human enhancement can become an issue in every profession such as sports, marketing, and any job that requires heightened brain use. Three categories that are most talked about are: the use of steroids, cosmetic enhancement, and the use of drugs for enhancement (Savulescu, 17). These categories of enhancements can be argued for because of the idea that one’s body is one’s own- one has the right to do what they want with their body, whether it be piercing, tattooing, or enhancing the inside of your body. For those who say, â€Å"human enhancement is not a just system and not right,† the response would be, don’t we live in a world of constant human enhancement? Take shoes and clothing for example. This can be looked at as an â€Å"enhancement† to our bodies and skin. Our shoes are protecting our feet daily and are an enhancement to what we were born with. Similarly, think of when you write down a number, your notes in class, or a date on the calendar; these are all enhancements of our own memory. Everything we learn in school and are taught throughout our lives, such as math skills and readingShow MoreRelatedThe Case Against Perfection by Michael Sandels935 Words   |  4 Pagesbrought attention to the ethical issues surrounding human enhancement. While these breakthroughs have many positive aspects, such as the treatment and prevention of many debilitating diseases and extending human life expectancy well beyond its current limits, there are profound moral implications associated with the ability to manipulate our own nature. Michael Sandel’s â€Å"The Case Against Perfection† examines the ethical and moral issues as sociated with human enhancement while Nick Bostrom’s paperRead MoreThe Ethics for Engineers in Combining Humans with Advanced Robotics1498 Words   |  6 Pagessciences may one day permit for the blending of human and robotic functioning at scales where they become indistinguishable from each other. These future achievements in engineering could potentially redefine human properties; undoubtedly, the ethical concerns will be profoundly important to the direction of the human species. Should we allow Human Enhancement? Should we make thinking machines? Will merging with machines, make humans perfect? Human enhancement and machine intelligence are the big topicRead MoreThe Ethics of Genetically Enhancing Children Essay1330 Words   |  6 Pagesagainst genetic enhancement is not well-founded. A more open-minded inspection of the issue reveals that the idea of parents improving their children’s life prospects through genetic engineering (provided it is safe) is, at its c ore, not unethical. In fact, some genetic enhancement in addition to correcting deleterious genes to prevent disease is a moral obligation. It is moral to make rational decisions using the science and technology known to us to improve the lives of humans and promote well-beingRead MoreGenetic Enhancements And Environmental Enhancements1012 Words   |  5 Pages genetic enhancement has been around for many years with the genetic modification of crops. Just this year, researchers from Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou were the first to modify the genomes of human embryos in order to find a way to eliminate genetic diseases. The researchers used the gene editing technique CRISPR/Cas9, which, in layman’s terms, cuts out the bad genes and replaces the gaps with healthy genes. While this is a major scientific advancement, there are many ethical reasons whyRead MoreAcademic Ethical Dilemma: Learning Enhancement Through Chemistry1573 Words   |  7 PagesAcademic Ethical Dilemma : Learning Enhancement Through Chemistry There is a trend occurring in the academic world that is gaining in popularity and has many in the academic world worried. This trend is the increase use of drugs to enhance the brains ability to not only work harder, longer and faster but also to retain that knowledge. Doping is no longer the exclusive realm of sports professionals (Block,2003). Not only does this create opportunities for todays students to excel but itRead MoreEssay about Genetic Testing and Reproductive Freedom977 Words   |  4 Pagespresent some issues that are technically, legally and ethnically complicated. Genetic testing allows for parents to choose which embryos to implant in a woman based on the genetic tests results. This has brought up a lot of new scientific, social and ethical predicaments. Many people have began to consider not just the implications of these new genetic diagnostic tool but whether core ethical and practical concerns surrounding IVF are really all that settled. There has been a majo r ethical concern givenRead MoreWhat Makes Us Human Genome? Essay1427 Words   |  6 PagesThirteen years have passed since the human genome has been decoded. From then on, we knew exactly what makes us human: a string of code telling our cells what to do. Unsurprisingly, the public’s imagination had never been so zealous in discerning what a single biological discovery meant for the future of humanity. Thirteen years ago, news sources buzzed with hot-topic articles warning us of designer babies and man-made crops. Based on the frantic journalistic climate of the time, one might thinkRead MoreBenefits And Benefits Of Retirement Programs1115 Words   |  5 Pagesqualified for the job without the enhancement. Practically, too, enhancements can lead to problems. If an enhancement existed that extended a human’s lifetime by twenty or thirty years, though it may have initially seemed beneficial, many retirement programs would have to be revamped to account for their clien ts living twenty to thirty years longer. Healthcare, employment, and even retirement itself would have to be completely changed as a result of the new enhancement. This, in turn, would ripple downRead MoreA New Science Of Genetic Engineering Essay1130 Words   |  5 PagesAfter years of work, Dr. Smith, has successfully edited the human genome. Shortly after, he began to marvel at the possibilities he unlocked, but also begged the question of the possible consequences he created from this achievement which would affect the impending future. He worried as to how the public would react to his life work. The growing potential of gene editing is sweeping the US, filled with both overwhelming hope as well as fear. This is a bridge which must be crossed to achieve trustRead MoreHuman Enhancement : The Questionable Evolution For Humanity798 Words   |  4 PagesHuman Enhancement: The Questionable Evolution for Humanity I have chosen human enhancement as my main ethics discussion, particularly the prosthetic limbs side of human enhancement. Mechanical prosthetic limbs have been around since World War I time (The Conversation, para 3). As we all know prosthetic limbs are meant to replace either a disability/cut off arm or leg. The goal of that prosthetic arm or leg is for the individual to be able to perform everyday activities as she/he would with a normal