Episode #13: Laura Cabrera on Human Enhancement, Communication and Values
Philosophical Disquisitions
English - October 22, 2016 17:09 - ★★★★★ - 20 ratingsPhilosophy Society & Culture Education Courses philosophy technology ethics morality artificial intelligence transhumanism digital religion Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
In this episode I interview Dr Laura Cabrera. Laura is an Assistant Professor at the Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences at Michigan State University where she conducts research into the ethical and societal implications of neurotechnology. I ask Laura how human enhancement can affect inter-personal communication and values and talk about the issues in her recent book Rethinking Human Enhancement : Social Enhancement and Emergent Technologies.
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Show Notes0:00 – 1:00 - Introduction1:00 – 11:15 - What is human enhancement- definitions and translations11:15 – 13:35 - Discussing moral enhancement - Savulescu and Persson13:35 – 14:35 - Human enhancement and communication - discussing Laura’s paper with John Wekert14:35 – 28:40 - Shared lifeworlds, similar bodies, communication problems28:40 – 39:48 - Augmented reality and sensory perception39:48 – 46:20 - Cognitive capacity and memory – Oliver Sacks & Borges46:20 – 49:50 - Ethics – hermeneutic crises and empathy gaps49:50 – 52:30 - Can technology solve communication problems?53:32 – 1:00:00 - What are human values?1:00:00 – 1:08:20 - How does cognitive enhancement affect values?1:08:20 – 1:16:00 – Neoliberalism values - pressures and competitiveness1:16:00 – End - How to prioritise values and see the positives in enhancement
Relevant LinksLaura's recent book Rethinking Human Enhancement Social Enhancement and Emergent TechnologiesHuman enhancement and communication: on meaning and shared understanding - Laura Cabrera & John WeckertLaura's homepage at the Center for Ethics & Humanities in the Life SciencesThe Perils of Cognitive Enhancement and the Urgent Imperative to Enhance the Moral Character of Humanity - by Savulescu & PerssonWhat is it like to be a Bat? - Thomas NagelThe Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat - Oliver SacksThe Country of the Blind - H.G. WellsFunes the Memorious - Borges