What is one of the contributions of professionals working in fields shaping human future? A) They fully support all proposed scenarios B) They find the scenarios unrealistic C) They ignore the historical context D) They focus only on ethical concerns E) They advocate for immediate implementation of enhancements
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What moral stance do some optimists claim regarding human enhancement?
They claim a moral duty to enhance ourselves.
What potential does the Transhumanist Declaration envision?
Broadening human potential by overcoming aging and cognitive limitations.
Who wrote 'Icarus 2.0: A historian’s perspective on human biological enhancement'?
Bess M.
What did the 2002 advisory report from the Health Council of the Netherlands suggest?
It suggested that 'the future of our selves' might be at risk.
What concept does Chapter 1 explore?
The emergence of the concept of human engineering.
What is the significance of The Young Academy in the context of this book?
It includes members selected for academic excellence and interdisciplinary backgrounds, making it ideal for a collective research project.
What perspective does Bostrom provide in his 2003 article on human genetic enhancements?
A transhumanist perspective.
What shift in the debate does Savulescu and Bostrom highlight?
The issue has moved from fiction to practical ethics, focusing on specific forms of enhancement and the future of humanity.
Who are some of the optimists mentioned in the debate about human enhancement?
Pioneering scientists like Warwick, visionaries like Kurzweil, and ethicists like Harris.
What is a Cyborg as defined by Warwick?
A being that is part human and part machine.
What do professionals in fields shaping human future think about the scenarios of human engineering?
They do not consider these scenarios to be realistic.
What is the main concern regarding the merger of technologies as per contemporary scientists?
Legislation or ethical standards may prevent the implementation of the proposed technological advancements.
What is the main purpose of involving academics from various disciplines in the debate about 'makeable man'?
To gauge the coherence of the debate.
What are the two perspectives on the projections of technological, medical, and scientific developments?
They may either justify the debate or be driven by fictional scenarios that provoke unfounded hopes and fears.
What idea is gaining traction in contemporary society according to the chapter?
The idea of 'transhumans'.
What is the concern raised about the debate on human enhancement?
It may provoke distressingly unanswerable questions.
What is the main ethical concern regarding human engineering?
Whether it is ethical to interfere with the human body to a significant extent.
What is the main subject of Fukuyama's book 'Our posthuman future'?
Consequences of the biotechnology revolution.
What does Kurzweil discuss in 'The singularity is near'?
When humans transcend biology.
What does Sandel caution about the consequences of engineering human life?
We may lose appreciation for natural gifts and humility, and struggle to improve the world around us.
In what areas is the term 'human engineering' being discussed?
Technology, science, and sports.
What historical perspective is used to address concerns about human enhancement?
It shows that many expectations and fears have a long history, reducing their urgency and novelty.
What primarily causes public debates regarding biotechnological changes?
The speed and intensity of progress in the biotechnological domain.
What traditional approach is used to discuss human enhancement issues?
Dividing the discussion into thematic issues like prenatal diagnostics, artificial intelligence, or human rights.
What do many contemporary scientists think about the predictions of transhumanism?
They find them highly unrealistic and question the feasibility of the proposed technological mergers and timelines.
What is the title of the book by Benford and Malartre published in 2007?
Beyond human: living with robots and cyborgs.
What questions arise regarding the future of biotechnological advancements?
The realism of future ideas, scientific possibilities, and the likelihood of fictional ideas becoming reality.
What is a common reaction to scenarios of human enhancement?
They provoke discussions, anxieties, fantasies, and expectations.
What is the focus of Sandel's book 'The case against perfection'?
Ethics in the age of genetic engineering.
What does Dekker warn against in the pursuit of human enhancement?
The endeavor to improve humans out of hubris may lead to dangerous side effects, including the loss of human dignity.
What is a common warning from pessimists regarding human enhancement?
The impending loss of 'naturalness' in human life.
What does the Transhumanist Declaration (1998) emphasize?
A vision of the near future and the convergence of technological accomplishments to create a new type of human being, the 'transhuman'.
What does the term 'human enhancement' imply?
The improvement of already existing functions and capacities.
What does the Transhumanist Declaration of 1998 state about humanity?
Humanity will be profoundly affected by science and technology in the future.
What is uncertain about the changes proposed by human engineering?
The extent to which these changes can transform the human condition.
List three topics discussed at the Technology Festival related to human enhancement.
Cloning, gene therapy, and cosmetic surgery.
What does the Transhumanist Declaration advocate for?
The philosophy of transhumanism.
What concern is raised about the broad debate on human enhancement?
Whether it mixes separate issues and engenders fear.
What is the predicted role of nanobots by circa 2030 according to Kurzweil?
To expand our minds through the merger of biological and nonbiological intelligence, enhancing cognitive abilities.
Which works are mentioned to illustrate the historical context of human enhancement debates?
Rostand’s 'Can Man Be Modified?' and Ramsey’s 'Fabricated Man'.
How do slow changes in technology typically affect public resistance?
They tend to cause little resistance.
What does the German term 'die Perfektionierung des Menschen' imply?
A positive connotation of improvement without implying discontinuity.
What cultural phenomenon reflects the changes in healthcare and body awareness?
The flourishing of a health culture and glorification of 'body consciousness'.
What is the goal of the authors in this book regarding the debate on human enhancement?
To enhance the international debate on 'makeable man' by combining perspectives from different disciplines.
What combination of developments contributes to the idea of the post-human Übermensch?
Advancements in healthcare, robotics, and artificial intelligence.
Who collaborated to create this book on human enhancement?
Members of The Young Academy and the Centre for Society and Genomics at Radboud University Nijmegen.
What ethical issues does Gavaghan address in 'Defending the genetic supermarket'?
Law and ethics of selecting the next generation.
What does Gesang's work focus on in the context of human enhancement?
Finding utilitarian answers to distinguish between desirable and undesirable alterations of human nature.
What is Fukuyama's view on designing out human suffering?
He argues that it would lead to a loss of meaning in human life, as happiness requires an understanding of unhappiness.
What are alternative terms to 'human enhancement' mentioned in the text?
'Artificial man' and 'transhuman'.
What ethical preparation does philosopher Bostrom advocate for?
Preparing for our future as 'transhumans', genetically and bionically modified creatures.
What are some examples of technological interventions that exist today?
Genetic engineering, performance enhancers, plastic surgery, and prosthetic medicine.
What is Gavaghan's stance on individual rights regarding genetic engineering?
Individuals have the right to decide for themselves whether or not, and how, to engineer human life, barring harmful consequences.
What has been the trend in infant mortality and life expectancy due to technological changes?
Decrease in infant deaths and an increase in average life expectancy.
What does the Dutch term 'de maakbare mens' mean?
'Makeable man', a value-neutral term that includes various techniques applied to changing human nature.
What potential future communication method is suggested in the text?
Wireless communication from one brain to another, leading to telepathic communication.
How do discussions about human enhancement vary across countries?
Each country or linguistic community conducts discussions differently based on the terminology used.
What was the theme of the 2003 Technology Festival in Amsterdam?
Homo Sapiens 2.0: Festival about the 'Makeable Man'.
What did the Rathenau Institute inquire about in 2007?
Whether there should be limits to the engineering of 'makeable humans'.
What type of course has Maastricht University offered related to the concept of 'Makeable Man'?
A course entitled 'Makeable Man' in its Bachelor degree programme 'Arts and Culture'.
What was the focus of the 2003 Technology Festival held in Amsterdam?
The issue of the 'makeable man' and various procedures related to human enhancement.
What concern does Kass raise about the de-humanization of humans?
Important aspects of human life lose meaning when placed outside of the traditional life cycle.
What ethical case does Harris present in his 2007 book?
The ethical case for making better people.
What question does Glover seek to answer regarding biotechnology?
What sort of people should there be, and how biotechnology might strengthen aspects of human nature.
What does the organization 'Makeable Man' focus on?
It describes itself as a 'critical movement for bio-ethics'.
What does the illustration on the 'Homo Sapiens 2.0' festival flyer suggest?
A future where human beings will be artificially produced, resembling humans superficially.
What is the implication of viewing cloning, anti-aging techniques, and cosmetic surgery as stepping stones?
It may oversimplify the complexities and differences between various types of human enhancement.
What ethical question was posed in the 2004 essay contest organized by the Flemish Institute for Science and Technology Assessment?
'Artificial muscles for the disabled. A chip implanted in your head. Technology makes man. Dream or nightmare?'
What types of interventions are suggested to be more meaningfully categorized?
Enhancement of existing functions, methods of selection in reproduction, replacement or expansion of natural elements, steering human behavior, and development of human-like robots.
