In Defense of Pharmaceutically Enhancing Human Morality

Scientific publication - Journal Article uoadl:2902836 248 Read counter

Unit:
Falulty of Philosophy
Title:
In Defense of Pharmaceutically Enhancing Human Morality
Languages of Item:
English
Abstract:
I will discuss the prospect of pharmaceutically enhancing human morality and decision making in such a way as to eliminate morally unjustifiable choices and promote desirable ones. Our species in the relatively short period since it has emerged has enormously advanced in knowledge, science, and technical progress. When it comes to moral development, the distance it has covered is almost negligible. What if we could medically accelerate our moral development? What if we could once and for all render our species totally immune to certain vices? I will examine whether pharmaceutically intervening in human morality would compromise the autonomy of moral agents. I will argue that the argument from the autonomy of the moral agent is neither stable nor convincing. In the light of Kantian ethics we might consider moral enhancement by pharmaceutical means to be a perfect duty for moral agents.
Publication year:
2017
Authors:
Evangelos D. Protopapadakis
Journal:
Current Therapeutic Research
Publisher:
Elsevier
Volume:
86
Number:
1
Pages:
9-12
Keywords:
autonomy, biomedicine, free will, Kantian ethics, moral enhancement
Main subject category:
Philosophy - Psychology
27. Evangelos D. Protopapadakis, In defense of pharmaceutically enhancing human morality.pdf (213 KB) Open in new window