One of his primary messages is that we need to be wary of anything with the prefix "neuro".
Neurotechnologic imperative: "...if you can build it, do so..."
Human flourishing prompts the questions:
- What is it to flourish?
- What is the "good"?
- How is/should it be achieved? Means, ends, limits...
Contextualized to bio-psychosocial nature of our species.
Flourishing:
- Maximizing function
- Does this mean maintaining or optimizing?
- Treatment or enhancement?
- Objectivity and/or subjectively?
- Consideration of gain vs. loss?
- Given bio-psychsocial nature, on what level(s)?
Janusian face of neuroscience: Utopian aspirations vs. dystopian anxieties
Pros and cons: A natural need to know and intervene inherent to human flourishing; inquiry and action is both right and good; partial knowledge in areas of profound impact effect broad and unforeseen consequences; there are intellectual and moral limits on inquiry.
We should not retard progress, need to mitigate non-contemplative advancement.
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