Abstract
In recent years, the prospects and perils of cognitive enhancement (CE) have been a matter of great debate. This chapter examines three objections to the use of CE. All three objections are based on potential effects that the use of CE is thought to have on the value of achievement. According to the first objection, the reason that we should oppose the use of CE is that it would cause us to no longer be responsible for our achievements. The second objection, in contrast, holds that we should oppose the use of CE because it would make us too responsible for our achievements, or the lack thereof. According to the third objection, we should oppose the use of CE because it would have character-eroding effects. This chapter examines a number of counter-arguments against each of these three objections. The chapter concludes that none of the three objections succeed as in principle objections to the use of CE.
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Notes
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It could be argued that the “natural” distribution of abilities ought to be valued (and preserved) because it is undesirable to interfere too much with nature, but this is an altogether different objection to the use of enhancement.
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Forsberg, L. (2013). No Pain, No Gain? Objections to the Use of Cognitive Enhancement on the Basis of Its Potential Effects on the Value of Achievement. In: Hildt, E., Franke, A. (eds) Cognitive Enhancement. Trends in Augmentation of Human Performance, vol 1. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6253-4_14
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6253-4_14
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