Barbara Maria Stafford
- Published in print:
- 2019
- Published Online:
- January 2020
- ISBN:
- 9780226630489
- eISBN:
- 9780226630656
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University of Chicago Press
- DOI:
- 10.7208/chicago/9780226630656.001.0001
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind
Imagine these essays as cross-disciplinary field trips exploring the inscrutable digital networks and ineffable Big Data characterizing our uncertain times. Taken together, they trace a dark thread ...
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Imagine these essays as cross-disciplinary field trips exploring the inscrutable digital networks and ineffable Big Data characterizing our uncertain times. Taken together, they trace a dark thread running through the bright techno-utopian rhetoric on AI, Alternative Realities, gene editing, cognitive enhancement. Addressing opaque inventions and ambiguous concepts—involving the technological, the theological, the neurological, the cultural—this book questions whether key contemporary arts and sciences have embraced a misunderstood “romantic” ideal of creativity without constraint or forethought, one resulting in enigmatic productions that are incomprehensible to a non-expert public. Seeking to fill a practical as well as a philosophical gap, these reflections ask, among other things, what are the ethical repercussions of the laboratory sciences becoming increasingly speculative or aestheticized while the experimental BioArts and computational New Media risk losing the qualitative self in the fathomless coding sciences. As an ensemble, then, these essays trace an arc from jewelry to robotics, painting to textiles, the chromatics of passion to projected displays. They demonstrate how artists shape cognizability by configuring shadowy experiences for which there are no ready words or numbers.Less
Imagine these essays as cross-disciplinary field trips exploring the inscrutable digital networks and ineffable Big Data characterizing our uncertain times. Taken together, they trace a dark thread running through the bright techno-utopian rhetoric on AI, Alternative Realities, gene editing, cognitive enhancement. Addressing opaque inventions and ambiguous concepts—involving the technological, the theological, the neurological, the cultural—this book questions whether key contemporary arts and sciences have embraced a misunderstood “romantic” ideal of creativity without constraint or forethought, one resulting in enigmatic productions that are incomprehensible to a non-expert public. Seeking to fill a practical as well as a philosophical gap, these reflections ask, among other things, what are the ethical repercussions of the laboratory sciences becoming increasingly speculative or aestheticized while the experimental BioArts and computational New Media risk losing the qualitative self in the fathomless coding sciences. As an ensemble, then, these essays trace an arc from jewelry to robotics, painting to textiles, the chromatics of passion to projected displays. They demonstrate how artists shape cognizability by configuring shadowy experiences for which there are no ready words or numbers.
Judy Illes (ed.)
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- September 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780198786832
- eISBN:
- 9780191839894
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198786832.001.0001
- Subject:
- Neuroscience, Techniques
We have new answers to how the brain works and tools which can now monitor and manipulate brain function. Rapid advances in neuroscience raise critical questions with which society must grapple. What ...
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We have new answers to how the brain works and tools which can now monitor and manipulate brain function. Rapid advances in neuroscience raise critical questions with which society must grapple. What new balances must be struck between diagnosis and prediction, and invasive and noninvasive interventions? Are new criteria needed for the clinical definition of death in cases where individuals are eligible for organ donation? How will new mobile and wearable technologies affect the future of growing children and aging adults? To what extent is society responsible for protecting populations at risk from environmental neurotoxins? As data from emerging technologies converge and are made available on public databases, what frameworks and policies will maximize benefits while ensuring privacy of health information? And how can people and communities with different values and perspectives be maximally engaged in these important questions? Neuroethics: Anticipating the Future is written by scholars from diverse disciplines—neurology and neuroscience, ethics and law, public health, sociology, and philosophy. With its forward-looking insights and considerations for the future, the book examines the most pressing current ethical issues.Less
We have new answers to how the brain works and tools which can now monitor and manipulate brain function. Rapid advances in neuroscience raise critical questions with which society must grapple. What new balances must be struck between diagnosis and prediction, and invasive and noninvasive interventions? Are new criteria needed for the clinical definition of death in cases where individuals are eligible for organ donation? How will new mobile and wearable technologies affect the future of growing children and aging adults? To what extent is society responsible for protecting populations at risk from environmental neurotoxins? As data from emerging technologies converge and are made available on public databases, what frameworks and policies will maximize benefits while ensuring privacy of health information? And how can people and communities with different values and perspectives be maximally engaged in these important questions? Neuroethics: Anticipating the Future is written by scholars from diverse disciplines—neurology and neuroscience, ethics and law, public health, sociology, and philosophy. With its forward-looking insights and considerations for the future, the book examines the most pressing current ethical issues.
István Aranyosi
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- September 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780199989607
- eISBN:
- 9780199346349
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199989607.003.0009
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind
After an introduction to the field of neuroethics and some critical remarks about the same brain-centrism in this nascent field as the one pointed out in the fields of philosophy and neuroscience, ...
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After an introduction to the field of neuroethics and some critical remarks about the same brain-centrism in this nascent field as the one pointed out in the fields of philosophy and neuroscience, the author discusses two neuroethical issues. One is the problem of the moral acceptability of abortion, when this is assumed to depend on neuroscientific facts about fetal development. The author proposes an argument and a criterion in line with the so-called classical or moderate liberal view about abortion, that is, the view according to which there is a time in fetal development before which abortion is permissible and after which it is not. The second issue is the moral acceptability of satisfying Body Integrity Identity Disorder patient’s desire to have their bodies surgically mutilated. The author puts forward a novel principle, called “Peripheral Precedence”, according to which whenever possible, if any damaging intervention on the normal functionality of the nervous system is required in order to satisfy a patient’s desire, the more basic, more peripheral components should as much as possible spared.Less
After an introduction to the field of neuroethics and some critical remarks about the same brain-centrism in this nascent field as the one pointed out in the fields of philosophy and neuroscience, the author discusses two neuroethical issues. One is the problem of the moral acceptability of abortion, when this is assumed to depend on neuroscientific facts about fetal development. The author proposes an argument and a criterion in line with the so-called classical or moderate liberal view about abortion, that is, the view according to which there is a time in fetal development before which abortion is permissible and after which it is not. The second issue is the moral acceptability of satisfying Body Integrity Identity Disorder patient’s desire to have their bodies surgically mutilated. The author puts forward a novel principle, called “Peripheral Precedence”, according to which whenever possible, if any damaging intervention on the normal functionality of the nervous system is required in order to satisfy a patient’s desire, the more basic, more peripheral components should as much as possible spared.
D. Gareth Jones
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- January 2014
- ISBN:
- 9780199682676
- eISBN:
- 9780191763168
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199682676.003.0006
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Moral Philosophy
Neuroethics traditionally pays little attention to neural degeneration and regeneration, areas central to much of current neuroscience. Underlying these interests is the ongoing plasticity of the ...
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Neuroethics traditionally pays little attention to neural degeneration and regeneration, areas central to much of current neuroscience. Underlying these interests is the ongoing plasticity of the mature brain, and the ability of stem cells to produce new neurons in adult life. Against this background there have been many attempts to tackle the motor deficits of Parkinson’s disease using neural grafts. The succession of clinical trials since the late 1980s is traced to assess the extent to which symptoms are alleviated by implanting fetal midbrain grafts. The results are ambivalent with some limited improvements in some patients. The part played by a paradigm of optimism is highlighted, while ongoing problems revolve around clinical equipoise, and the place of controls. Deep brain stimulation raises questions of authenticity and alienation. Both approaches to treatment point to the importance for ethics of an appreciation of fundamental understanding of brain connectivity, complexity, and ongoing neurogenesis.Less
Neuroethics traditionally pays little attention to neural degeneration and regeneration, areas central to much of current neuroscience. Underlying these interests is the ongoing plasticity of the mature brain, and the ability of stem cells to produce new neurons in adult life. Against this background there have been many attempts to tackle the motor deficits of Parkinson’s disease using neural grafts. The succession of clinical trials since the late 1980s is traced to assess the extent to which symptoms are alleviated by implanting fetal midbrain grafts. The results are ambivalent with some limited improvements in some patients. The part played by a paradigm of optimism is highlighted, while ongoing problems revolve around clinical equipoise, and the place of controls. Deep brain stimulation raises questions of authenticity and alienation. Both approaches to treatment point to the importance for ethics of an appreciation of fundamental understanding of brain connectivity, complexity, and ongoing neurogenesis.
Jing Bai and Renzong Qiu
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- January 2014
- ISBN:
- 9780199682676
- eISBN:
- 9780191763168
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199682676.003.0007
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Moral Philosophy
In this commentary the authors stress the importance of clinical trials for brain therapeutic interventions, including those to treat Parkinson’s disease with fetal tissue transplantation, ...
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In this commentary the authors stress the importance of clinical trials for brain therapeutic interventions, including those to treat Parkinson’s disease with fetal tissue transplantation, psychosurgical detoxification as well as ARV treatment for HIV prevention and “stem cell therapy.” Ethical issues arising from these treatments are also discussed. In addition, the authors provide information on neuroethics in China and the accompanying Chinese perspective surrounding this field.Less
In this commentary the authors stress the importance of clinical trials for brain therapeutic interventions, including those to treat Parkinson’s disease with fetal tissue transplantation, psychosurgical detoxification as well as ARV treatment for HIV prevention and “stem cell therapy.” Ethical issues arising from these treatments are also discussed. In addition, the authors provide information on neuroethics in China and the accompanying Chinese perspective surrounding this field.
Taichi Isobe, Nozomi Mizushima, and Osamu Sakura
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- January 2014
- ISBN:
- 9780199682676
- eISBN:
- 9780191763168
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199682676.003.0008
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Moral Philosophy
The importance and effectiveness of public participation and upstream engagement have been emphasized in the field of STS (Science, Technology, and Society) studies. Here, the authors introduce these ...
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The importance and effectiveness of public participation and upstream engagement have been emphasized in the field of STS (Science, Technology, and Society) studies. Here, the authors introduce these as potential tools to clear away unethical “optimism,” which Gareth criticizes in his target article. the authors present three cases (AIDS, muscular dystrophy research, and the shepherds of Cumbria) in which public participation proved to be beneficial. Participation of non-experts within fields in which experts are exclusively involved can potentially break biases and restricted perspectives, and views from non-experts may even lead to newer research directions. Incorporation of patient and subject perspectives into research may reduce unethical, or biased, optimism in clinical research and even basic experiments. the authors surmise that this argument holds true even in the research fields of nerve grafting and nerve regeneration.Less
The importance and effectiveness of public participation and upstream engagement have been emphasized in the field of STS (Science, Technology, and Society) studies. Here, the authors introduce these as potential tools to clear away unethical “optimism,” which Gareth criticizes in his target article. the authors present three cases (AIDS, muscular dystrophy research, and the shepherds of Cumbria) in which public participation proved to be beneficial. Participation of non-experts within fields in which experts are exclusively involved can potentially break biases and restricted perspectives, and views from non-experts may even lead to newer research directions. Incorporation of patient and subject perspectives into research may reduce unethical, or biased, optimism in clinical research and even basic experiments. the authors surmise that this argument holds true even in the research fields of nerve grafting and nerve regeneration.
Jonathan D. Moreno, Michael N. Tennison, and James Giordano
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- September 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780198786832
- eISBN:
- 9780191839894
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198786832.003.0027
- Subject:
- Neuroscience, Techniques
This chapter explores uses of brain science for purposes of national security intelligence and defense, discusses the neuroethical issues that these approaches foster, and posits ways that such ...
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This chapter explores uses of brain science for purposes of national security intelligence and defense, discusses the neuroethical issues that these approaches foster, and posits ways that such ethical concerns can be addressed. The chapter begins with a historical overview of military attempts to employ the tools and techniques of brain and cognitive science, and illustrates ethical problems generated by these attempts. It then focuses on the ways that ethical systems and approaches might be utilized or limited in neuroscience and neurotechnology for military and security operations. With recognition of the global trends and the power dynamics that such scientific capacity can yield, the chapter emphasizes the importance of neuroethical preparedness and provides a novel paradigm for neuroethical risk assessment and mitigation. The authors of this chapter offer their insights through their perspectives as American scholars engaged not only in American issues, but as scholars engaged through collaboration and cooperation on the global stage.Less
This chapter explores uses of brain science for purposes of national security intelligence and defense, discusses the neuroethical issues that these approaches foster, and posits ways that such ethical concerns can be addressed. The chapter begins with a historical overview of military attempts to employ the tools and techniques of brain and cognitive science, and illustrates ethical problems generated by these attempts. It then focuses on the ways that ethical systems and approaches might be utilized or limited in neuroscience and neurotechnology for military and security operations. With recognition of the global trends and the power dynamics that such scientific capacity can yield, the chapter emphasizes the importance of neuroethical preparedness and provides a novel paradigm for neuroethical risk assessment and mitigation. The authors of this chapter offer their insights through their perspectives as American scholars engaged not only in American issues, but as scholars engaged through collaboration and cooperation on the global stage.