Intelligence, empathy, and memory: Exploring moral enhancement through gene editing, training, and computer–brain interfaces

In this research article, I seek to expand the conversation regarding moral enhancement by identifying traits or capacities that if enhanced would lead to an increase in moral behaviour. I decided to focus on the three capacities: intelligence, empathy and memory. These abilities do not necessarily...

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Autor principal:	Braden Molhoek
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	AF EN NL
Publicado:	AOSIS 2021
Materias:	transhumanism moral enhancement gene editing empathy and morality memory and prudence bioethics virtue empathy training The Bible BS1-2970 Practical Theology BV1-5099
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/c8e15f40056e40c49fef5451aa4807e7
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id	oai:doaj.org-article:c8e15f40056e40c49fef5451aa4807e7
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:c8e15f40056e40c49fef5451aa4807e72021-11-24T07:40:39ZIntelligence, empathy, and memory: Exploring moral enhancement through gene editing, training, and computer–brain interfaces0259-94222072-805010.4102/hts.v77i3.6728https://doaj.org/article/c8e15f40056e40c49fef5451aa4807e72021-10-01T00:00:00Zhttps://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/6728https://doaj.org/toc/0259-9422https://doaj.org/toc/2072-8050In this research article, I seek to expand the conversation regarding moral enhancement by identifying traits or capacities that if enhanced would lead to an increase in moral behaviour. I decided to focus on the three capacities: intelligence, empathy and memory. These abilities do not necessarily lead to moral behaviour on their own; however, building on a study on the relationship of intelligence and morality, I argued that enhancing intelligence and empathy simultaneously allows for moral behaviour as an emergent property. Intelligence alone is not sufficient because even though greater intelligence leads to more prosocial behaviour, prosocial behaviour is not inherently moral. Empathy alone can lead to partiality, especially favouring those who are a part of one’s in-group. The virtue of prudence, practical wisdom, relies on more than intellect or reason; it requires lived experience in order to effectively deliberate. Memory provides intelligence with that information. There are a variety of ways in which human enhancement can be pursued. I chose to focus on three methods in this study: gene editing, training and computer–brain interfaces. Turning to the existing scientific literature, I attempted to find examples or potential ways in which intelligence, empathy and memory could be enhanced through these methods. Genetic examples are difficult given the complexity of multi-gene traits, and that heritability is only a small percentage of overall variance. Training these capacities has had limited success, and there is no consensus in the literature on how effective is the training. Computer–brain interfaces appear to offer potential, but some experiments have only just begun on human subjects, whilst other approaches are still being tested on other animals. Contribution: This article ends with an appeal to prioritise moral enhancements over other forms. Doing so allows for a great impact on society and a safer overall approach to enhancements.Braden MolhoekAOSISarticletranshumanismmoral enhancementgene editingempathy and moralitymemory and prudencebioethicsvirtueempathy trainingThe BibleBS1-2970Practical TheologyBV1-5099AFENNLHTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies , Vol 77, Iss 3, Pp e1-e8 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	AF EN NL
topic	transhumanism moral enhancement gene editing empathy and morality memory and prudence bioethics virtue empathy training The Bible BS1-2970 Practical Theology BV1-5099
spellingShingle	transhumanism moral enhancement gene editing empathy and morality memory and prudence bioethics virtue empathy training The Bible BS1-2970 Practical Theology BV1-5099 Braden Molhoek Intelligence, empathy, and memory: Exploring moral enhancement through gene editing, training, and computer–brain interfaces
description	In this research article, I seek to expand the conversation regarding moral enhancement by identifying traits or capacities that if enhanced would lead to an increase in moral behaviour. I decided to focus on the three capacities: intelligence, empathy and memory. These abilities do not necessarily lead to moral behaviour on their own; however, building on a study on the relationship of intelligence and morality, I argued that enhancing intelligence and empathy simultaneously allows for moral behaviour as an emergent property. Intelligence alone is not sufficient because even though greater intelligence leads to more prosocial behaviour, prosocial behaviour is not inherently moral. Empathy alone can lead to partiality, especially favouring those who are a part of one’s in-group. The virtue of prudence, practical wisdom, relies on more than intellect or reason; it requires lived experience in order to effectively deliberate. Memory provides intelligence with that information. There are a variety of ways in which human enhancement can be pursued. I chose to focus on three methods in this study: gene editing, training and computer–brain interfaces. Turning to the existing scientific literature, I attempted to find examples or potential ways in which intelligence, empathy and memory could be enhanced through these methods. Genetic examples are difficult given the complexity of multi-gene traits, and that heritability is only a small percentage of overall variance. Training these capacities has had limited success, and there is no consensus in the literature on how effective is the training. Computer–brain interfaces appear to offer potential, but some experiments have only just begun on human subjects, whilst other approaches are still being tested on other animals. Contribution: This article ends with an appeal to prioritise moral enhancements over other forms. Doing so allows for a great impact on society and a safer overall approach to enhancements.
format	article
author	Braden Molhoek
author_facet	Braden Molhoek
author_sort	Braden Molhoek
title	Intelligence, empathy, and memory: Exploring moral enhancement through gene editing, training, and computer–brain interfaces
title_short	Intelligence, empathy, and memory: Exploring moral enhancement through gene editing, training, and computer–brain interfaces
title_full	Intelligence, empathy, and memory: Exploring moral enhancement through gene editing, training, and computer–brain interfaces
title_fullStr	Intelligence, empathy, and memory: Exploring moral enhancement through gene editing, training, and computer–brain interfaces
title_full_unstemmed	Intelligence, empathy, and memory: Exploring moral enhancement through gene editing, training, and computer–brain interfaces
title_sort	intelligence, empathy, and memory: exploring moral enhancement through gene editing, training, and computer–brain interfaces
publisher	AOSIS
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/c8e15f40056e40c49fef5451aa4807e7
work_keys_str_mv	AT bradenmolhoek intelligenceempathyandmemoryexploringmoralenhancementthroughgeneeditingtrainingandcomputerbraininterfaces
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Intelligence, empathy, and memory: Exploring moral enhancement through gene editing, training, and computer–brain interfaces

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