Duty to cognitively enhance?

Front Syst Neurosci. 2014 Jul 17;8:131. doi: 10.3389/fnsys.2014.00131. eCollection 2014.

How cognitive enhancement can change our duties.

Santoni de Sio F1, Faulmüller N2, Vincent NA3.

Author information

• 1Department Values, Technology and Innovation, Faculty Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology Delft, Netherlands.
• 2Department Values, Technology and Innovation, Faculty Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology Delft, Netherlands ; Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford Oxford, UK.
• 3Department Values, Technology and Innovation, Faculty Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology Delft, Netherlands ; Department of Philosophy, Georgia State University Atlanta, GA, USA.

Abstract

This theoretical paper draws the scientific community's attention to how pharmacological cognitive enhancement may impact on society and law. Namely, if safe, reliable, and effective techniques to enhance mental performance are eventually developed, then this may under some circumstances impose new duties onto people in high-responsibility professions-e.g., surgeons or pilots-to use such substances to minimize risks of adverse outcomes or to increase the likelihood of good outcomes. By discussing this topic, we also hope to encourage scientists to bring their expertise to bear on this current public debate.