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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Published on: September 28, 2018

Moral enhancement and freedom.

¹University of Manchester, School of Law. john.harris@manchester.ac.uk

|December 8, 2010

Summary

Traditional methods like socialization and education are the most reliable for moral enhancement. High-tech interventions targeting specific ethical capacities show limited success in human enhancement research.

Area of Science:

Bioethics
Neuroscience
Human Enhancement

Background:

Human enhancement has become a significant bioethical concern over the past two decades.
Moral enhancement, a subset of human enhancement, is currently a topic of intense research and ethical debate.

Purpose of the Study:

To critically evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of various moral enhancement strategies.
To analyze contemporary approaches to moral enhancement in light of historical and technological advancements.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on human enhancement and bioethics.
Analysis of proposed high-tech (genetic, chemical, surgical, neurological) and traditional methods for moral enhancement.
Critical examination of prominent theories advocating for specific moral enhancement techniques.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Published on: September 28, 2018

Main Results:

Traditional methods such as socialization, education, and parental supervision remain the most reliable for moral enhancement.
High-tech interventions, including genetic, chemical, surgical, and neurological manipulation, are not currently viable for targeted moral enhancement.
General cognitive enhancement methods show more promise than those specifically targeting 'ethical' capacities.
Contemporary advocates' specific proposals for enhancing moral qualities or emotions have limited prospects for success.

Conclusions:

The most effective methods for moral enhancement are long-established practices like education and socialization.
Future advancements in high-tech human enhancement are unlikely to yield specific moral improvements in the near future.
Research should focus on the limitations of current high-tech approaches and the enduring efficacy of traditional methods for moral development.