How moral bioenhancement affects perceived praiseworthiness.

Area of Science:

• Moral Psychology
• Neuroethics
• Biomedical Ethics

Background:

• Cognition-enhancing technologies reduce perceived praiseworthiness of actions.
• Limited understanding exists regarding the impact of moral bioenhancement on perceived praiseworthiness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if moral bioenhancement diminishes perceived praiseworthiness.
• To identify the underlying reasons for any observed effect on praiseworthiness.

Main Methods:

• Empirical examination of perceived praiseworthiness for actions facilitated by moral bioenhancement versus traditional moral enhancement.
• Analysis of attributions for diminished praise, distinguishing between aversion to bioenhancement and perceived effort.

Main Results:

• Actions facilitated by morally bioenhanced individuals are deemed less praiseworthy than those from traditional moral enhancement.
• The diminished praise is primarily linked to a perceived lack of effort by bioenhanced individuals, not an aversion to the technology itself.

Conclusions:

• Moral bioenhancement can reduce the perceived praiseworthiness of actions.
• The perceived effort is a critical factor in the attribution of praise for morally enhanced actions.
• Findings inform the philosophical debate on the permissibility of moral bioenhancement.