human enhancement technologies

Dr. M. Ji Sun 09/03/09euro-technoprogressives.50webs.org

HumanEnhancement Technologies


The Artificial Humanof Today (below 5mio.$)

artificial blood(oxycyte can carry 5 times more oxygen than hemoglobin)

stents

cochlear implant

neurostimulator

artificial visionsystem

BCI implant

bionic arm

bionic hand

bionic liver machine

intelligent leg prosthesis

implantable insulin pump

neurostimulator/implanted drugdelivery system

portable dialysis

artificial heart

artificial lung

windpipe with stem cell technology

euro-technoprogressives.50webs.org

Internal Version Prepared for TNO

artificial skin

bio engineeredear

hip replacement

RFIDimplant

artificial foot

Dr. M. Ji Sun 09/03/09

Definitions (M. Ji Sun):

a human enhancement (HE) procedure is any kind of method that is aimed at increasing a human individual’s “possibility space” of capabilities beyond the current status quo.

human enhancement technologies (HET) are human enhancement procedures based on science andtechnology as methods.

goal: HET = safe and evidence-based HE


Goals of HE(T):

enhance cognitive abilities

enhance physical abilities

modify psychology

get non-human abilitieslife-span enhancement

• cognitive stimulants• neurotechnology• neurochips

• modified biological functions• prosthetics/exoskeleton

• stimulants / medication• neurotechnology

• night-vision technology etc.• prosthetics/implants• modified biological functions• genetic engineering


“Traditional” HE:

• specific practices (e.g. meditation, yoga, kung fu, body building)

• natural substances with HE-effects (e.g. green tea, coffee, ginkgo, marihuana, nicotine)

• conventional technology (e.g. telephone, car, crane)


Current HET under Evaluation:

• medication (e.g. modafinil, ritalin, prozac)

• neurotechnology (e.g. TMS, neurostimulation, BCIs, deep brain stimulation)

• prosthetics / implants / surgery (e.g. exoskeletons, LASIK, functional body modification)

• genetic / biological HET (e.g. PID, “gene doping”, anabolic steroids)


Future HET in Research:

• nan(bio)otech (e.g. nanobots, artificial immune system)

• anti-aging / Health-Life-Extension (medication for altering natural body functions, tissue engineering)

• genetic engineering (e.g. hybrids, artificial chromosomes)

• implants/prosthetics (“Cyborg” technologies, BCI)

• “supersoldier” (US/DARPA)


From Therapy to HET

• reconstructive surgery cosmetic surgery functional body modification

• anabolic steroids: used for therapeutic purposes (e.g. burns, anemia, osteoporosis) (illegally) used by athletes/bodybuilders to enhance muscle mass (negative side effects)

• modafinil, ritalin etc.: therapy for nacrolepsy, ADHD use for performance/cognitive enhancement (problem: insufficient proof regarding healthy subjects, dispute over negative side effects)

?


From Therapy to HET

• prosthetics: assistance for disabled improvement beyond the healthy normal (e.g. oscar pistorius)

• powered exoskeletons: developed to assist aged and weak persons assistance for healthy people (e.g. in military, construction, rescue operations)

• gene therapy same method is used for “gene doping”


From Therapy to HET

• artificial organs/tissue engineering future: use for anti-aging and life-extension?

• nanomedicine future: nano-based HET (e.g. respirocytes)

• medication against degenerating cognitive diseases (e.g. alzheimer’s) future: cognitive enhancement for healthy?

• BCIs: help tetraplegics to communicate future: neurochips for cognitive HET?


5 Possible Approaches for Europe

STOA-workshop on HET (Feb. 24, 2009 in EU-Parliament/Brussels)

• laisser faire (“libertarian” - let the individual and market decide)

• pro-enhancement (“technoprogressive” – allow and promote

safe HET and prevent harm)

• case by case (“dutch approach” – give room to experiment and

then find a solution from experience)

• restrictive ( “precautionary” – define strict limits in advance)

• total ban (“conservative” - total ban of HET)

(source: Rathenau Institute)


Outcome and Problems

interest, but still no conclusions…

• discussion gets very philosophical (e.g. can Europe agree on a definition about human nature)

• shouldn’t we not concentrate on other issues than HET? (e.g. financial crisis, hunger, environment)

• if we ban HET, what about therapy and vice versa?

• more public dialogue is needed


Outcome and Problems

interest, but still no conclusions, however…

• discussion gets very philosophical (e.g. can Europe agree on a definition about human nature)

• shouldn’t we not concentrate on other issues than HET? (e.g. financial crisis, hunger, environment)

• if we ban HET, what about therapy and vice versa?

• more public dialogue is needed

pragmatic approach (M. Ji Sun)


Pragmatic Policy Approach (M. Ji Sun)

premises:

• the necessary technology is there or under development

• people are interested in HE(T) (e.g. boom of energy drinks, natural HE-”medicine”)

• people will try out HET legally or illegally

• the current social climate may force HET practice (“destructive performance society”, performance norms)


Pragmatic Policy Approach (M. Ji Sun)

proposal for legal considerations:

• ensure safety controls for HET testing

• minimize fraud and wrongful claims evidence-based

• harmful/disabling practices should be banned (HET should always maximize not minimize a human’s possibilities)

• symmetric evaluation of “natural HE” methods and HET

• consider both: improving technology or modifying humans to achieve a HE-goal (e.g. human factors research)

• create a favourable social climate of respect for diversity



Culture/Economy

Eco

logy

Conservative Liberal

Liberal

Biopolitical LandscapeBiopolitical Landscape

„ Social Democrat“

Biopolit

ics

„Liberal“Bright

Dark

„Techno-Libertarian“

based on graphic by J. Hughes

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„Bio Conservatives“

humaniststranshumanists

„Technoprogressive“

human enhancement technologies

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