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Moral enhancement increases freedom.
1Independent Scholar, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada gmccrack@uoguelph.ca.
Journal of Medical Ethics
|February 20, 2026
Summary
Biomedical moral enhancement is debated regarding its impact on freedom. This study argues it is no more harmful than other moral enhancements and may even increase freedom.
Area of Science:
- Bioethics
- Moral Philosophy
- Neuroscience
Background:
- The debate on biomedical moral enhancement (BME) centers on whether it's a moral imperative or poses unacceptable risks to freedom.
- Key objections to BME regarding freedom have been raised by prominent bioethicists.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address freedom objections to biomedical moral enhancement (BME).
- To evaluate BME's impact on freedom, considering both standard and perfectionist conceptions.
- To compare the freedom implications of BME with other forms of moral enhancement.
Main Methods:
- Philosophical analysis of freedom objections.
- Examination of arguments from Harris, Pugh, Bublitz, and Sparrow.
- Application of perfectionist freedom theory.
Main Results:
- Biomedical moral enhancement (BME) is argued to be no more detrimental to freedom than alternative moral enhancement methods.
- Evidence suggests that moral enhancement, including BME, has the potential to enhance overall freedom.
Conclusions:
- Freedom objections to biomedical moral enhancement (BME) are not insurmountable.
- BME can be compatible with, and potentially enhance, human freedom.
- Further research into the nuanced relationship between BME and freedom is warranted.
Keywords:
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