Ethics of Enhancement

Flashcards focusing on key vocabulary and concepts related to the ethics of biomedical enhancement.

Biomedical Enhancement

The use of medical technology to improve human abilities or characteristics beyond what is considered normal or necessary for health.

Therapy vs. Enhancement

Therapy aims to restore health by treating illnesses, while enhancement seeks to improve human capabilities beyond normal health.

Human Growth Hormone (hGH)

A hormone used medically to treat children with growth deficiencies, sometimes used as an enhancement to increase height.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

Medications that increase serotonin levels in the brain, often used to treat depression, but may also enhance sociability.

Moral Boundary

A concept used to distinguish between acceptable medical practices (therapy) and those considered ethically dubious (enhancements).

Incoherency Argument

The claim that there is no rational basis for distinguishing between acceptable and unacceptable forms of enhancement.

Argument from Liberty

The assertion that individuals should have the freedom to choose any means to pursue their ends, including enhancements.

Resistance is Futile

The belief that efforts to restrict biomedical enhancements are destined to fail due to societal pressures and desires for improvement.

Promethean Ideal

The notion that humans should strive to shape and enhance themselves, often resulting in the pursuit of more advanced enhancement technologies.

Social Norms

Culturally established expectations for behavior that can become reinforced or undermined by practices such as enhancement.

Distributive Justice

An ethical framework concerned with the fair allocation of benefits and burdens in society, particularly regarding access to enhancements.

Heightism

A social prejudice that values height, often influencing decisions to use hGH for enhancement.