GENERAL ETHICS
Transhumanism, medical technology and slippery slopes
Centre for Philosophy, Humanities and Law in Healthcare, School of Health Science, University of Wales, Swansea, UK
Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr Mike McNamee
Centre for Philosophy, Humanities and Law in Healthcare, School of Health Science, University of Wales, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK; m.j.mcnamee{at}swansea.ac.uk
In this article, transhumanism is considered to be a quasi-medical ideology that seeks to promote a variety of therapeutic and human-enhancing aims. Moderate conceptions are distinguished from strong conceptions of transhumanism and the strong conceptions were found to be more problematic than the moderate ones. A particular critique of Boströms defence of transhumanism is presented. Various forms of slippery slope arguments that may be used for and against transhumanism are discussed and one particular criticism, moral arbitrariness, that undermines both weak and strong transhumanism is highlighted.
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[Abstract] [Full Text]
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