This project will focus on three areas: 1) mental enhancement, or the use of technologies to alter intelligence, personality, memory, and other mental capacities; 2) genetics and aging, or the use of genetic technologies and other treatments to slow down aging and its effects, and 3) gender identity. This last category refers to the use of surgery and hormonal treatments to alter a person's sexual identity -- for example, to alter the appearance of children who, as a result of genetic conditions, are born with both male and female sexual characteristics.
The overall purpose of the project is 1) to explore the philosophical and ethical implications of a range of enhancement technologies, 2) to generate case studies and clinical examples of enhancement technologies, 3) to consider questions about the definition of enhancement technologies and how they differ from treatment, especially in relation to clinical research, and 4) to consider how society should respond to such technologies in areas such as regulation, funding, prohibition and/or promotion.
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