Hughes on Using Neurotech to Become Better People

Dr. Hughes will speak on December 2, 2008 at 10am at San Jacinto College (Central campus:  8060 Spencer Hwy., Pasadena, TX 77505) on the topic of

“Using Technology to Become Better People: Enhancing Moral Cognition and Behavior with Drugs and Devices”

In the near future we will have many technologies that will allow us to modify and assist our emotions, reasoning and behavior. One of the purposes we will put these technologies to is to assist our adherence to self-chosen moral codes and citizenship obligations. For instance we will be able to suppress unwelcome desires, enhance compassion and empathy, and expand our understanding our social world and the consequences of actions. So, contrary to the bioconservative accusation that neurological self-determination and human enhancement will encourage more selfishness in society, it will probably permit people to be even more moral and responsible than they currently are.