What are the ethics of cognitive enhancement?
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The Ethics of Cognitive Enhancement
Introduction to Cognitive Enhancement Ethics
Cognitive enhancement, particularly through pharmacological means, has become a topic of significant ethical debate. The use of cognition-enhancing drugs (CEDs) is increasingly common in academic and workplace settings, raising numerous ethical questions about fairness, authenticity, and the nature of accomplishment1 2. This article explores the ethical considerations surrounding cognitive enhancement, drawing on various perspectives and recommendations from recent research.
Fairness and Authenticity in Cognitive Enhancement
Fairness Concerns
One of the primary ethical concerns about cognitive enhancement is fairness. Critics argue that the use of CEDs in competitive environments can create an uneven playing field, where those who use these drugs have an unfair advantage over those who do not4. This concern is particularly pronounced in academic and professional settings, where success is often measured against the performance of peers. Studies have shown that fairness-based concerns are a significant factor in opposition to cognitive enhancement, even when the drugs are legal, accessible, and affordable4.
Authenticity and Accomplishment
Another major ethical issue is the authenticity of accomplishments achieved through cognitive enhancement. The Accomplishment Argument posits that work produced under the influence of CEDs is less valuable or authentic because it does not reflect the individual's true capabilities1. However, some scholars argue that this view is based on an individualistic notion of authorship and that a more collaborative perspective could mitigate these concerns. They suggest that cognitive enhancement can be consistent with values like humility and transparency, promoting a culture of open enhancement1 2.
Autonomy and Cognitive Enhancement
Enhancing Autonomy
The relationship between cognitive enhancement and autonomy is complex. Some argue that cognitive enhancement can actually enhance autonomy by improving individuals' cognitive capacities, thereby enabling them to make better decisions and exercise greater control over their lives9. However, this perspective is not universally accepted. Critics contend that cognitive enhancement could undermine autonomy by creating dependencies on external substances and altering individuals' authentic selves9.
Limits of Autonomy Enhancement
Research has explored the limits of cognitive enhancement in relation to autonomy. It is suggested that while cognitive enhancement can improve certain aspects of autonomy, such as competence, it may not necessarily enhance the authenticity of one's decisions and actions9. This distinction is crucial for understanding the ethical boundaries of cognitive enhancement.
Broader Ethical and Regulatory Challenges
Bioethical Recommendations
The ethical debate on cognitive enhancement has led to various recommendations from bioethical authorities. For instance, the US Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues has examined the implications of cognitive enhancement and provided guidelines for its ethical use3 7. These recommendations emphasize the need for a balanced approach that considers both the potential benefits and the ethical risks associated with cognitive enhancement.
Non-Pharmacological Enhancements
While much of the ethical debate focuses on pharmacological enhancements, non-pharmacological methods such as nutrition, physical exercise, and meditation also play a role in cognitive enhancement10. These methods are often seen as more ethically acceptable because they do not involve the same risks and dependencies as pharmaceutical interventions. However, they still raise ethical questions about fairness and the nature of enhancement10.
Conclusion
The ethics of cognitive enhancement is a multifaceted issue that encompasses concerns about fairness, authenticity, autonomy, and broader societal implications. While cognitive enhancement offers potential benefits, it also poses significant ethical challenges that need to be carefully considered. A balanced approach that promotes transparency, fairness, and respect for individual autonomy is essential for navigating the ethical landscape of cognitive enhancement.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
Humility pills: building an ethics of cognitive enhancement.
An ethics of cognitive enhancement based on toleration, transparency, and humility can address criticisms of enhanced work and build a culture of open cognitive enhancement in academic and workplace settings.
Cognitive Enhancement, Cheating, and Accomplishment
Cognitive enhancement is acceptable in non-zero-sum activities and when the importance of process is outweighed by the importance of outcome, aligning with collaborative authorship and shifting praise and blame from individual creators to the product of their efforts.
Highly CitedCognitive Enhancement and Beyond: Recommendations from the Bioethics Commission
Media outlets are reporting that cognitive enhancement is reaching epidemic levels, but evidence is lacking and ethical questions remain. The US Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues (Bioethics Commission) has examined the issue, and we lay out the commission's findings and their relevance for the scientific community.
How pills undermine skills: Moralization of cognitive enhancement and causal selection
Normalization of cognitive enhancement practices in competitive contexts alleviates fairness-based concerns, but does not address purity-based concerns.
Observational StudyThe Epistemology of Cognitive Enhancement.
Cognitive enhancement can be framed in terms of cognitive achievement rather than knowledge, and can be compatible with active externalist approaches in philosophy of mind and cognitive science.
Buddhism and neuroethics: the ethics of pharmaceutical cognitive enhancement.
Buddhists, particularly from Mahyna traditions, should advocate for pharmaceutical enhancements if they lead to further insight into self-nature or reduced dissatisfaction.
Pharmacological Human Enhancement: An Overview of the Looming Bioethical and Regulatory Challenges
Pharmacological human enhancement methods, such as nootropics and neural modifiers, raise ethical concerns and require regulation, highlighting the potential for profound societal changes.
Ethical Considerations in the Framing of the Cognitive Enhancement Debate
Cognitive enhancement can be divided into four empirical frameworks to address various ethical and medical concerns, avoiding speculation and reifying cognitive enhancement as an entity.
Autonomy and the limits of cognitive enhancement.
Cognitive enhancement can enhance competence and authenticity, but not all dimensions of autonomy can be directly enhanced through cognitive interventions.
Non-pharmacological cognitive enhancement
Non-pharmacological cognitive enhancement strategies, such as nutrition, physical exercise, sleep, meditation, mnemonic strategies, computer training, and brain stimulation, may be more effective than pharmaceuticals.
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