Better than human : the promise and perils of enhancing ourselves /

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Author / Creator:Buchanan, Allen E., 1948- author.
Imprint:Oxford [UK] ; New York : Oxford University Press, [2011]
©2011
Description:1 online resource (vi, 199 pages).
Language:English
Series:Philosophy in action: small books about big ideas
Philosophy in action.
Subject:
Format: E-Resource Book
URL for this record:http://pi.lib.uchicago.edu/1001/cat/bib/11119589
Hidden Bibliographic Details
ISBN:9780199797998
0199797994
9780199797875
0199797870
Notes:Includes bibliographical references and index.
Print version record.
Summary:"Is it right to use biomedical technologies to make us better than well or even perhaps better than human? Should we view our biology as fixed or should we try to improve on it? College students are already taking cognitive enhancement drugs. The U.S. army is already working to develop drugs and technologies to produce "super soldiers." Scientists already know how to use genetic engineering techniques to enhance the strength and memories of mice and the application of such technologies to humans is on the horizon. In Better Than Human, philosopher-bioethicist Allen Buchanan grapples with the ethical dilemmas of the biomedical enhancement revolution. Biomedical enhancements can make us smarter, have better memories, be stronger, quicker, have more stamina, live much longer, avoid the frailties of aging, and enjoy richer emotional lives. In spite of the benefits that biomedical enhancements may bring, many people instinctively reject them. Some worry that we will lose something important-our appreciation for what we have or what makes human beings distinctively valuable. Others assume that biomedical enhancements will only be available to the rich, with the result that social inequalities will worsen. Buchanan shows that the debate over enhancement has been distorted by false assumptions and misleading rhetoric. To think clearly about enhancement, we have to acknowledge that human nature is a mixed bag and that our species has many 'design flaws.' We should be open be open to the possibility of becoming better than human, while never underestimating the risks that our attempts to improve may back-fire."--Publisher description.
Standard no.:9786613297006

MARC

LEADER 00000cam a2200000Ii 4500
001 11119589
006 m o d
007 cr cnu---unuuu
008 110118s2011 enk ob 001 0 eng d
005 20240628162423.5
020 |a 9780199797998  |q (electronic bk.) 
020 |a 0199797994  |q (electronic bk.) 
020 |z 9780199797875  |q (hbk. ;  |q acid-free paper) 
020 |z 0199797870  |q (hbk. ;  |q acid-free paper) 
024 8 |a 9786613297006 
035 |a (OCoLC)759685982 
035 9 |a (OCLCCM-CC)759685982 
040 |a CDX  |b eng  |e rda  |e pn  |c CDX  |d OCLCQ  |d E7B  |d N$T  |d OCLCQ  |d YDXCP  |d OCLCF  |d OCLCQ  |d COU  |d NLGGC  |d OCLCQ  |d D6H  |d JBG  |d LOA  |d OCLCO  |d COCUF  |d AGLDB  |d MOR  |d PIFAG  |d ZCU  |d OCLCQ  |d WRM  |d OCLCQ  |d VTS  |d OCLCQ  |d OCLCO  |d AJS 
049 |a MAIN 
050 4 |a QH332  |b .B83 2011eb 
072 7 |a MED  |x 050000  |2 bisacsh 
100 1 |a Buchanan, Allen E.,  |d 1948-  |e author.  |0 http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n81146279 
245 1 0 |a Better than human :  |b the promise and perils of enhancing ourselves /  |c Allen Buchanan. 
264 1 |a Oxford [UK] ;  |a New York :  |b Oxford University Press,  |c [2011] 
264 4 |c ©2011 
300 |a 1 online resource (vi, 199 pages). 
336 |a text  |b txt  |2 rdacontent 
337 |a computer  |b c  |2 rdamedia 
338 |a online resource  |b cr  |2 rdacarrier 
490 1 |a Philosophy in action: small books about big ideas 
504 |a Includes bibliographical references and index. 
505 0 |a 1. Breathless Optimism, Hysterical Loathing -- 2. Why Evolution Isn't Good Enough -- 3. Changing Human Nature? Or: Unnatural Acts, and Not Just with Sheep Like Dolly -- 4. Playing God, Responsibly -- 5. Will the Rich Get Biologically Richer? -- 6. Is Enhancement Corrupting? -- 7. The Enhancement Enterprise. 
520 |a "Is it right to use biomedical technologies to make us better than well or even perhaps better than human? Should we view our biology as fixed or should we try to improve on it? College students are already taking cognitive enhancement drugs. The U.S. army is already working to develop drugs and technologies to produce "super soldiers." Scientists already know how to use genetic engineering techniques to enhance the strength and memories of mice and the application of such technologies to humans is on the horizon. In Better Than Human, philosopher-bioethicist Allen Buchanan grapples with the ethical dilemmas of the biomedical enhancement revolution. Biomedical enhancements can make us smarter, have better memories, be stronger, quicker, have more stamina, live much longer, avoid the frailties of aging, and enjoy richer emotional lives. In spite of the benefits that biomedical enhancements may bring, many people instinctively reject them. Some worry that we will lose something important-our appreciation for what we have or what makes human beings distinctively valuable. Others assume that biomedical enhancements will only be available to the rich, with the result that social inequalities will worsen. Buchanan shows that the debate over enhancement has been distorted by false assumptions and misleading rhetoric. To think clearly about enhancement, we have to acknowledge that human nature is a mixed bag and that our species has many 'design flaws.' We should be open be open to the possibility of becoming better than human, while never underestimating the risks that our attempts to improve may back-fire."--Publisher description. 
588 0 |a Print version record. 
650 0 |a Bioethics.  |0 http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85014136 
650 0 |a Medical innovations  |x Moral and ethical aspects. 
650 1 2 |a Bioethics. 
650 2 2 |a Biomedical Enhancement  |x ethics. 
650 7 |a MEDICAL  |x Ethics.  |2 bisacsh 
650 7 |a Bioethics.  |2 fast  |0 (OCoLC)fst00832038 
650 7 |a Medical innovations  |x Moral and ethical aspects.  |2 fast  |0 (OCoLC)fst01014190 
655 0 |a Electronic books. 
655 4 |a Electronic books. 
830 0 |a Philosophy in action.  |0 http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2006135453 
903 |a HeVa 
929 |a oclccm 
999 f f |i 8e206118-451f-561e-b131-1aecadcff6cb  |s 7311dd10-b691-5205-a014-c7e7569b80e5 
928 |t Library of Congress classification  |a QH332 .B83 2011eb  |l Online  |c UC-FullText  |u https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=e000xna&AN=395504  |z eBooks on EBSCOhost  |g ebooks  |i 12358564