Are We Obliged to Enhance for Moral Perfection?
Archer,Alfred
Archer,Alfred
Abstract
In recent years a number of philosophers have discussed whether we have a duty to morally enhance ourselves through biomedical means if the opportunity were available. This paper investigates the possible limits of such a duty through investigating the related question of whether it would be desirable to create a world populated entirely with morally perfect people. I will argue that we have reason to be grateful that we do not live in a world in which everyone is morally perfect, which should serve as a limitation on attempts to morally improve people through the use of technology. I will also argue that the less ambitious forms of moral enhancement currently being explored in the literature give us no reason to worry about preventing valuable non-moral ways of life. Rather, they might serve as an aid to help people fulfill valuable non-moral goals in a way that is morally permissible.
Description
Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Research Projects
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Journal Issue
Keywords
moral enhancement, moral philosophy, moral obligation, bioenhancement, Supererogation
Citation
Archer, A 2018, 'Are We Obliged to Enhance for Moral Perfection?', Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, vol. 43, no. 5. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmp/jhy017
License
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess