Will we see the development of technologies to improve physical and intellectual abilities of the human being? What health issues, social and ethical?
- Technologies for improving human capabilities
Since the early 2000s, especially in favor of the convergence of nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology and cognitive science, a number of reports suggest the possible development of new technologies to significantly improve the capabilities physical and intellectual human being ( human enhancement technologies ). The reality of these developments as well as their desirability or not do today debate. The majority of scientists believe that we are probably still far the most futuristic visions, whether enchanted or otherwise catastrophic proposed by some authors.
Certainly, knowledge of living and the ability of man to handle have made great progress, as shown by example the emergence of synthetic biology. However, recent developments in tissue engineering, gene therapy, or the neuromodulation of pharmacology suggest that the development of technologies that can significantly increase the performance and safe cognitive and / or physical human beings are always the assumption, even if it has gained credibility. In any event, the possible development of these technologies raises many questions and concerns, both in terms of health and environmental risks of destabilization of social balance and questioning of fundamental ethical principles. This note describes the principal terms of these debates.
Summary
- Increase the capacity of man: a dream that one begins to (re) talk seriously
- Technologies to improve physical and cognitive abilities: the state of the art
- Improving skills: a perspective concerned
- Author: Pierre-Yves Cusset Department Social Issues
Keywords: bioéhique, NBIC convergence, human enhancement technologies , transhumanism, doping.