Hughes on “Virtue Engineering”

http://www.yale.edu/bioethics/studygrps_techno.shtml

Wednesday, October 7, 2009   4:15-5:45

Location: 77 Trumbull St (corner Prospect– Entrance in the new addition on Prospect), New Haven CT – Yale Univ. Institution for Social and Policy Studies – lower level seminar room.

Dr. James J. Hughes will speak on

Engineering Virtue

Abstract: In the near future we will have neuro-technologies that will allow us to control our emotions and behavior, shape our reasoning. 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. When these virtue-enhancing technologies are safe and available we may be morally obliged to use them, and to encourage their use.

Readings:

Mark Walker. (2008) Genetic Virtue.

Thomas Douglas. (2008) Moral Enhancement. Journal of Applied Philosophy, Vol. 25, No. 3, 2008

Ingmar Persson and Julian Savulescu. (2008) The Perils of Cognitive Enhancement and the Urgent Imperative to Enhance the Moral Character of Humanity.

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This meeting is open to everyone (undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, administration, and community members) whether or not you have participated in previous sessions of the Technology and Ethics Working Group

Contact Brooke Crockett for dinner reservations at (203) 432-5680 or brooke.crockett @ yale.edu

Parking: The parking lot next to ISPS has been turned into a construction site, but there is another parking lot ½ block down on the left that opens at 4PM. The access for this second lot is now open off of Trumbull Street.