Human Enhancement Technologies Research Articles

Genetic enhancement from the perspective of transhumanism: exploring a new paradigm of transhuman evolution.

Transhumanism is a movement that advocates for the enhancement of human capabilities through the use of advanced technologies such as genetic enhancement. This article explores the definition, history, and development of transhumanism. Then, it compares the stance on genetic enhancement from the perspectives of bio-conservatism, bio-liberalism, and transhumanism. This article posits that transhuman evolution has twofold implications, allowing for the integration of transhumanist research and evolutionary biology. First, it offers a compelling scientific framework for understanding genetic enhancement, avoiding technological progressivism, and incorporating concepts of evolutionary biology. Second, it represents a new evolutionary paradigm distinct from traditional Lamarckism and Darwinism. It marks the third synthesis of evolutionary biology, offering fresh perspectives on established concepts such as artificial selection and gene-culture co-evolution. In recent decades, human enhancement has captivated not only evolutionary biologists, neurobiologists, psychologists, and philosophers, but also those in fields such as cybernetics and artificial intelligence. In addition to genetic enhancement, other human enhancement technologies, including brain-computer interfaces and brain uploading, are currently under development, which the paradigm of transhuman evolution can better integrate into its framework.

The ethical acceptability of human enhancement technologies: A cross-country Q-study of the perception of insideables

This paper aims to identify the ethical considerations driving the acceptance of and resistance to the use of insideable technology for human enhancement purposes, which are crucial to understand for the development of the cyborg technology market and businesses. While the literature privileges quantitative approaches, investigations focused on a strand of ethical theory or a specific value, this study adopts a qualitative and holistic approach. Based on prior interview data and a literature review, 33 items representing various ethical considerations of interest are identified. A qualitative Q-study was conducted, in which 55 individuals in three different countries expressed their points of view on insideables regarding these items. Hence, four different views are presented, highlighting drivers of acceptance of human enhancement technologies, conditional acceptance, and mere rejection. These views reveal the trade-offs between values made by respondents, shedding light on the ethical bricolage at play. The role of ethical concerns and theories in models to study the acceptance of human enhancement technologies and their potential business implications are discussed.

Redesigning Humans in the Nano-Age

The blurring boundaries between therapy and human enhancement raise a lot of ethical questions that need to be addressed. Therapy is healing and restoring the sick to health; enhancement is improving the normal functioning of the body. With nanomedicine, the boundary becomes even hazier. Nanomedicine refers to the application of nanotechnology to the prevention and treatment of diseases. The European Science Foundation defines it as the science and technology of diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease and traumatic injury, relieving pain, and preserving and improving human health using molecular tools and knowledge of the human body (ESF, 2005). While nanomedicine delivers numerous and unprecedented benefits to the health and general well-being of individuals, nano- enabled human enhancement technologies will be the gateway to the transhumanist vision of immortality. Transhumanism contends that through the advancements in science and technology, we can overcome our physical and cognitive limitations, extend human lifespan, and attain perpetual existence. The blurring boundaries between enhancement will have remarkable consequences on what it means to be a human being. The study will make use of New and Emerging Science and Technology (NEST) Ethics as a framework for addressing dichotomous approaches and polarizing perspectives on human enhancement.

Peculiarities of Translating an Oral Text in the Field of Neuro-Legal and its Transformation into Written Text

Due to the practical usage of neuro-technologies in all areas of our life, lawyers make attempts to provide a legal definition of such a philosophical category as mind, which expresses the highest type of thinking activity, and to develop legal norms and standards in this field. The area of law that deals with the impact of neuroscience discoveries on the regulation of social relations is referred to as neurolaw. This branch of law is considered to be interdisciplinary establishing close connections with a spectrum of sciences such as neuropsychology, neurogenetics, neurobiology, neurosociology and many other neurosciences and links a brain with law. As a result this area of law often employs categories and concepts of those sciences. This is a reason for legal terminology in this field of law to be constantly broadened. New legal terms are of great interest to translators who create and analyze conceptual fields in the area of “neuro-law”. For translators it is a real challenge to deal with specialized legal texts when they can apply not only their translation skills, techniques and methods but also their knowledge in a particular field of neuro-technology application in the real sector of economy. The author of the article makes an attempt to reveal the peculiarities and features of translation of the texts which deal with human body enhancement technologies and legal issues related to their application. New legal terms and concepts are of great interest to understand a developing area of law.

Human Enhancement Technologies: Moral Compass and Legal Regulations

Human Enhancement Technologies: Moral Compass and Legal Regulations

Payment implants as an element of human enhancement technology

Technology leads to changes that cause the biosphere and the techno-sphere to interpenetrate and co-evolve. This paper is part of a wider research project on the social acceptance of payment implants as an example of Human Enhancement Technology. At this stage, the focus was on identifying the characteristics attributed to users of this form of augmentation in order to assess social attitudes towards them. The study used the method of projection techniques, recognizing that real attitudes towards payment implants may be unconscious or reluctantly verbalized by a person. The research results indicate that the profile of people using payment implants as perceived by society and the set of characteristics attributed to them differs depending on whether the user is a woman or a man. Attention was also drawn to the differences in social and individual attitudes towards this form of augmentation.

Society's Attitudes Towards Human Augmentation and Performance Enhancement Technologies (SHAPE) Scale

Human augmentation technologies (ATs) are a subset of ubiquitous on-body devices designed to improve cognitive, sensory, and motor capacities. Although there is a large corpus of knowledge concerning ATs, less is known about societal attitudes towards them and how they shift over time. To that end, we developed The Society's Attitudes Towards Human Augmentation and Performance Enhancement Technologies (SHAPE) Scale, which measures how users of ATs are perceived. To develop the scale, we first created a list of possible scale items based on past work on how people respond to new technologies. The items were then reviewed by experts. Next, we performed exploratory factor analysis to reduce the scale to its final length of thirteen items. Subsequently, we confirmed test-retest validity of our instrument, as well as its construct validity. The SHAPE scale enables researchers and practitioners to understand elements contributing to attitudes toward augmentation technology users. The SHAPE scale assists designers of ATs in designing artifacts that will be more universally accepted.

Human enhancement technologies and the arguments for cosmopolitanism

According to political minimalism, a debate is considered political when it revolves around the question “What shall we do?” This account suggests that certain issues related to human enhancement technologies (HETs), which have traditionally been addressed in the realm of applied ethics, could be better approached from a political standpoint. However, this raises the question of who constitutes the “we” – the communities that face the political challenges posed by HETs. We argue that there is a global human community that directly faces at least some of these challenges, and this fact underscores the relevance of a cosmopolitan perspective. While some authors have already advocated for a cosmopolitan approach in addressing issues such as poverty or climate change, they often do so from a moral outlook, without adequately distinguishing between ethics and politics. In contrast, we assert that HETs present compelling arguments in favour of cosmopolitanism as a political stance. In support of this claim, we consider two cases: the pills that would allow people to eat at will without gaining weight, and the choice between different types of cognitive enhancers.

Human Technological Enhancement and Theological Anthropology

Human Technological Enhancement and Theological Anthropology

Representing (Post) Human Enhancement Technologies in Twenty-First Century US Fiction by Carmen Laguarta-Bueno

<i>Representing (Post) Human Enhancement Technologies in Twenty-First Century US Fiction</i> by Carmen Laguarta-Bueno

The Problem of Human Self-Understanding in the Era of Challenges of the Technologically Developing World

Today, in the era of technoscience challenges, while NBICS technologies allow transformation of human nature, the problem is readdressed. What should we do not to lose a human nature while deploying human enhancement technologies? In what way the theme of human nature and the theme of human evolution relate to each other? What is the difference between the attitudes of new humanism, transhumanism and posthumanism, in the context of which the evolution of human being is discussed today? Achievements of science and technology in studying the consciousness, brain, genes, human evolution, as well as the impact of NBICS technologies on humans and programs of human enhancement have actualized the problems of human self-understanding. In the discussion of the problem of human future, several contexts were identified in which various options for transforming a human, human extension, transition to a posthuman are considered. The very idea of formation of the posthuman concept speaks of the acceptance of the human transformation under the influence of high technologies and the will to discuss the mechanisms of its species evolution. The projects of new humanism focus on improving the human being according to the programs of human enhancement. Transhumanism and posthumanism are characterized by the unifying principle of antihumanism, the rejection of human as a measureof all things. The paper presents the concepts of human and his evolution that have developed in classical philosophical anthropology, a comparative analysis of the philosophical attitudes of humanism, transhumanism and posthumanism in understanding human evolution is carried out. We show the danger of the involutional development path, which hides behind many constructs of a person proposed in transhumanism, posthumanism, in the humanological concept of human evolution.

디지털과 바이오 융합기술에서 새로운 인권의 형성

ICT(information and communication technology) goes beyond facilitating information communication between people through machines communication, enabling communication between machines and humans, that is, convergence between humans and machines through communication devices inserted into the human body. This paper explores the concept of human enhancement triggered by information and communication technology enabling the convergence of the human body and machines, from which the implication of human rights derives. The ethical discussions over the concept of human enhancement derives from biochemical technology and biological technology such as plastic surgery, growth hormone, and gene editing. Ethical discussions have begun from augmenting and improving the innate performance and ability of humans, but Advances in neuroscience and neurotechnology, such as brain implants, deep brain stimulation (DBS), transcranial brain stimulation(TMS, tDCS) and brain-computer interface (BCI), have enabled brain intervention and cognitive enhancement, called neuro-enhancement, to lead to a wide range of ethical, social, and legal issues. To examine the views and approaches to human enhancement at the national level, the official opinion on human enhancement is reviewed where national committees have advised national policy in the life sciences, ethics and law in the UK, USA, France and Singapore. Since the concept of “human enhancement” is not established as a legal concept, if it is to be legally regulated, it is first necessary to explore how it affects human rights and whether it is related to constitutional rights. By examining the concept of human enhancement, which has been dealt with by national committees of each country, and the scope of ethical debate among them, the direction and implications of regulation for human enhancement are prospected, and human rights improved owing to information and communication technology is reviewed. It is reviewed about the human rights implications of Brain-Computer Interface(BCI) which is an example of human enhancement technology and a technology that enables external devices to be controlled and communicated with the outside by reading nerve signal data from brain. The brain-computer interface has issues of autonomy and responsibility of human actions, issues of protection from illegal infringement, issues of the right to refuse to make statements and privileges to deny self-incrimination, and human rights issues in the right to privacy. Neuro-enhancement or human enhancement technologies raise the need to be protected as new human rights that have not been protected in the existing human rights areas, such as the right to cognitive freedom, the right to mental privacy, the right to mental integrity, and the right to psychological continuity. In Chile, the content of protecting brain activity and brain data is specified as a fundamental right in the 2021 constitutional amendment, showing an example of building a legal system to protect the realm of the mind in preparation for a future dominated by mankind, which will be renewed by neuro enhancement.

Techne and Teleios: A Christian Perspective on the Incarnation and Human Enhancement Technology

Abstract Does the idea of human enhancement presuppose a goal or an ideal to direct technological modifications? In the absence of such an agreed ideal in today’s culture, can Christian theology help clarify the goal or the meaning of “perfection” when applied to human beings? A theological perspective rooted in scripture and in the writings of theologians such as Irenaeus, Athanasius, and Gregory of Nyssa suggests that theology instead of offering its own definition of the human ideal, theology rejects the possibility of any defined human goal. An analysis of the biblical word teleios (“mature” or “perfect”), along with Gregory’s view of infinite ascent, leads to the conclusion that the human goal is found in relationship to the triune God and not in any anthropologically-definable status.

Not Too Risky. How to Take a Reasonable Stance on Human Enhancement

Following a trend in bioethical/applied ethics approaches, one of the frustrating features of studies on technological human enhancement is their dichotomous tendency. Often, benefits and risks of technological human enhancement are stated in theoretically and empirically vague, polarized, unweighted ways. This has blocked the debate in the problematic ‘pros vs. cons’ stage, leading to the adoption of extremist positions. In this paper, we will address one side of the problem: the focus on risks and the imprecise approach to them. What motivates our approach is the identification of the weaknesses of the anti-enhancement criticism, which stem from its use of the concept of risk, as well as the heuristic of fear and the precautionary principle. Thus, ‘taking a step back’ to move forward in the debate, our purpose is to establish some theoretical foundations concerning the concept of risk, recognizing, at the same time, its complexity and importance for the debate. Besides the concept of risk, we emphasize the concept of existential risk, and we make some considerations about epistemic challenges. Finally, we highlight central features of more promising approaches to move the debate forward. Keywords: Human enhancement technologies, risk, uncertainty, conceptual problem, epistemic challenges.

Exoskeletons at your service: a multi-disciplinary structured literature review

PurposeExoskeletons are characterized as wearable, mechanical orthoses that augment the physical performance of the wearer, enhance productivity and employee well-being when used in value producing contexts. However, limited research involving exoskeleton usage by service employees in frontline contexts has been undertaken within service research. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of exoskeleton research undertaken within the context of value-producing roles, introduce exoskeletons conceptually to the service research domain, provide new conceptualizations of service exchange interactions involving physically augmented service actors and propose future avenues of exoskeleton research in alignment with key service theories.Design/methodology/approachA multi-disciplinary structured literature review based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses method was undertaken across a variety of literature fields. A final selection of n = 25 papers was selected for analysis from an initial sample of N = 3,537. Given the emergent nature of exoskeleton research and the variety of methodology types used between literature fields, a thematic analysis approach was used for analysing identified papers.FindingsThe literature review identified four main themes within role-focused exoskeleton research. These themes informed proposals for future exoskeleton research with respect to key service theories and typologies. The findings demonstrate that the presence of an exoskeleton changes the behaviours and interactions of service employees. The augmented social presence AugSP typology is conceptualized to explain the influences of human enhancement technologies (HETs) within service actor interactions.Originality/valueThis research introduces the AugSP typology to conceptualize the impacts that exoskeletons and HETs impose within technologically mediated service interactions and provides a service-specific definition of exoskeleton technology to guide future service research involving the technology.

Human enhancement technologies and the future of consumer well-being

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework that highlights transhumanism’s ideals of achieving superintelligence, super longevity and super well-being through human enhancement technologies (HET) and their relations with services marketing principles.Design/methodology/approachFramed by the transformative service research (TSR), this conceptual work articulates the 7Ps of the marketing mix with four macro-factors that create tensions at both the marketplace and consumer levels.FindingsHET has potential for doing good but also tremendous bad; greater attention is needed from services marketing researchers especially in one proprietary research area: bioethics.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors contribute to the growing work on TSR investigating how the interplay between service providers and consumers affects the well-being of both. Additionally, the authors call for novel interdisciplinary work in transhuman services research.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first papers in services marketing research to explore the promises and perils of transhumanism ideals and human enhancement technologies.

Regulating Human Enhancement Technologies

This article provides a framework for the global regulation of human enhancement technologies. I argue that competition between states in the international sphere blocks the emergence of a regulatory framework. The reason is international anarchy or the absence of powers that stand above the nation-state. After considering different ways to overcome anarchy—namely international institutions, more amenable relations between democracies and international norms—I rule them out as insufficient. Then, I argue that only a world state can effectively regulate human enhancement technologies. A world state is not a new idea and was already proposed as an answer to, for example, the threat of nuclear annihilation. However, regulating human enhancements provide an even bigger incentive to overcome nationalism.

Why catastrophic events, human enhancement and progress in robotics may limit individual health rights.

Despite the fact that people usually believe that individual health rights have an intrinsic value, they have, in fact, only extrinsic value. They are context dependent. While in normal conditions the current societies try to guarantee individual health rights, the challenge arises in emergency situations. Ones of them are pandemics including current covid-19 pandemic. Emergency situations challenge individual health rights due to insufficient medical resources and non-random criteria of selection of patients. However, there are some reasons to assume that societal and technological processes in the near future will threaten permanently individual health rights in normal conditions. Such processes include progress in commonly available human enhancement technologies, and progress in robotics and automation. In this paper I show how individual health rights will be challenged in both scenarios including catastrophic events and future technological progress. In both cases, the idea of assisted dying is discussed as possibly the unique healthcare principle available for people whose individual health rights will be limited or canceled due to catastrophes or technological and financial exclusion. The special case of future space missions is also discussed as an example of an extreme environment affecting the way moral norms are viewed in health care ethics.

Challenges in the Human Enhancement Debate

The discussion about human enhancement technologies has primarily focused on exchanging views about the dangers and benefits of these interventions. However, the debate could benefit from a systematic attempt to move beyond pro et contra exchange. Thus, in this paper, I analyze key issues in the human enhancement debate, and I outline a set of methodological guidelines that could help to progress future research. I propose that we should pay special attention to the following conditions: (i) whether a particular enhancement project is plausibly coherent, feasible, and effective; (ii) whether it conflicts with fundamental moral values and norms; and (iii) whether it is compatible with or promotes socio-political goals of equality and justice. This approach should help us minimize normative ambiguity and facilitate the moral assessment of different enhancements and their particular applications.

“超人類主義”是主體形而上學的新形式

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in Chinese; abstract also in English.&#x0D; Transhumanism is a contemporary form of Western “subject metaphysics” that combines the dual elements of Cartesianism and Nietzsche's “metaphysics of will.” The essence of Eros is the human desire for totality, which is interlinked with the secret desire for today's “human enhancement” technology. The Confucian idea of “the unity of heaven and man”（天人合一）can solve many problems in the debate between biological conservatism and bioprogressivism. The ideological foundation of this idea in Laozi's and Zhuangzi's thought should be taken seriously. Recognition of human limitations is an important aspect of traditional Confucian—Taoist wisdom, but human enhancement technology is in essence a tool for “excessive reduction”.