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How Does Enhancing Cognition Affect Human Values? How Does This Translate into Social Responsibility?

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Ethical Issues in Behavioral Neuroscience

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences ((CTBN,volume 19))

Abstract

The past decade has seen a rise in the use of different technologies aimed at enhancing cognition of normal healthy individuals. While values have been acknowledged to be an important aspect of cognitive enhancement practices, the discussion has predominantly focused on just a few values, such as safety, peer pressure, and authenticity. How are values, in a broader sense, affected by enhancing cognitive abilities? Is this dependent on the type of technology or intervention used to attain the enhancement, or does the cognitive domain targeted play a bigger role in how values are affected? Values are not only likely to be affected by cognitive enhancement practices; they also play a crucial role in defining the type of interventions that are likely to be undertaken. This paper explores the way values affect and are affected by enhancing cognitive abilities. Furthermore, it argues that knowledge of the interplay between values and cognitive enhancement makes a strong case for social responsibility around cognitive enhancement practices.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Such a view can be contested, as there might be many other things apart from enhanced cognition that would be needed in order to bring the improvement they claim.

  2. 2.

    TMS involves a train of magnetic pulses administered by electromagnets in the head.

  3. 3.

    tDCS involves applying a weak direct current to the scalp via two saline-soaked sponge electrodes.

  4. 4.

    In particular as the effects of the enhancer in action might not fade away just after a few hours or when someone is done with the task at hand.

  5. 5.

    The studies argue that by using brain stimulation cognitive conceptual knowledge biases are removed.

  6. 6.

    The classical liberal position doesn't deny that our actions as individuals might have all sorts of effects on others, but it distinguishes between effects and harms, with the latter being a subset of the former. According to the classical liberal, only harms are an issue for morality.

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Acknowledgments

I thank Kieran Donoghue and Madeline Kilty for their insightful comments and for helping with proof reading this chapter. I also thank the editors for their insightful comments and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Core for Neuroethics, The University of British Columbia, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Koerner S124, Vancouver, BC, V6T2B5, Canada

    Laura Y. Cabrera

  2. Institute of Biomedical Ethics, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 28, 4056, Basel, Switzerland

    Laura Y. Cabrera

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  1. Laura Y. Cabrera
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Correspondence to Laura Y. Cabrera .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Core for Neuroethics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Grace Lee

  2. National Core for Neuroethics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Judy Illes

  3. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Frauke Ohl

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Cabrera, L.Y. (2014). How Does Enhancing Cognition Affect Human Values? How Does This Translate into Social Responsibility?. In: Lee, G., Illes, J., Ohl, F. (eds) Ethical Issues in Behavioral Neuroscience. Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, vol 19. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2014_334

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