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Is moral bioenhancement dangerous?

Journal of Medical Ethics

|November 11, 2015

Summary

Moral bioenhancement may not be dangerous, contrary to Nicholas Agar's claims. This study argues that enhanced moral capacities do not necessarily worsen judgment and that normal moral judgment isn't a reliable standard.

Area of Science:

Bioethics
Moral Philosophy
Neuroethics

Background:

Nicholas Agar argues moral bioenhancement is dangerous because it disrupts the balance of moral subcapacities.
Agar posits that enhancing specific moral subcapacities leads to flawed moral judgments.

Purpose of the Study:

To refute Agar's argument against moral bioenhancement.
To demonstrate that enhanced moral capacities do not inherently lead to worse moral judgments.
To challenge the reliability of normal moral judgment as a benchmark.

Main Methods:

Philosophical argumentation and critical analysis of Agar's claims.
Examination of the relationship between moral subcapacities and overall moral judgment.
Evaluation of the epistemic status of normal moral judgment.

Keywords:

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Main Results:

Strength in a particular moral subcapacity does not necessarily impair overall moral judgment.
Enhanced moral capacities can represent a strength in specific moral aspects.
Normal moral judgment is not consistently accurate enough to serve as a definitive standard.

Conclusions:

Agar's argument that moral bioenhancement is dangerous is flawed.
Moral bioenhancement does not inherently lead to mistaken moral judgments.
The standard for evaluating moral judgments should not solely rely on normal moral judgment.