[Neuroethics and Human Vulnerability in Philosophical Perspective].

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Ethics
• Philosophy

Background:

• Neuroethics explores the intersection of neuroscience and ethics.
• Current debates exist on whether neuroscience can replace philosophical ethics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the potentials and limits of neuroethics.
• To advocate for a collaborative model of neuroethics (neuroethics as cooperation).
• To critique attempts at neuroethics as substitution.

Main Methods:

• Philosophical analysis of ontological and anthropological foundations.
• Exploration of Aristotelian hylomorphic conception.
• Examination of the dual aspects of neuroethics: ethics of neuroscience and neuroscience of ethics.

Main Results:

• Neuroscience and ethics should collaborate with mutual respect for their distinct identities.
• Neuroscience cannot replace philosophical ethics.
• An Aristotelian hylomorphic framework supports cooperative neuroethics.
• Cooperative neuroethics involves an ethics of neuroscience (guiding research ethically) and a neuroscience of ethics (understanding neurobiological bases of morality).

Conclusions:

• Neurobiological bases of moral agency enable but do not determine behavior.
• Studying these bases highlights the inherent vulnerability of moral agents.
• This vulnerability, rooted in human nature, requires recognition and mitigation.