Tag: BP06

Me, Myself, and I

Luci S.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

I believe, in my lifetime human augmentation will become more common because of advances in technology. We might see advanced things like brain implants that help us think faster and/or remember more. These improvements could make our bodies and minds stronger, and I believe theyā€™ll be especially useful for athletes or people who need to be highly focused in their work.

“Robot” byĀ firepileĀ is licensed underĀ CC BY 2.0.

Personally, Iā€™m not sure if I would fully embrace the technology once it becomes available, but for now, Iā€™d be open to trying things that could improve physical recovery, especially as an athlete, or enhance brain function, as long as they are safe and donā€™t raise major ethical concerns. I believe these types of advancements have the potential to help people live healthier and more fulfilling lives, especially when it comes to improving physical abilities or enhancing cognitive performance. As an athlete, recovering faster and staying in peak condition are essential, and technology that supports this could be a game-changer. Likewise, enhancing mental clarity or memory could be beneficial in many aspects of life, whether it’s academics, professional work, or everyday tasks. Of course, I think itā€™s important to carefully consider the risks and benefits of any new technology, ensuring it doesnā€™t compromise personal well-being or lead to unintended consequences. For now, Iā€™d like to keep an open mind and explore what might be possible, as long as it is used responsibly and ethically.

But even if I am open to new technology I also have some doubts about it, especially when it comes to technology used to control peopleā€™s minds or emotions or extreme changes to the body or mind that go too far from being human. Also, I wouldnā€™t want some people to have access to these enhancements while others donā€™t, creating a ever bigger gap of inequality. Human augmentation should be about making lives better, not making it worse and creating new divides between people.

Beyond Biology: The Ethics of Human Enhancement

Makeda M.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Throughout this class, I’ve explored complex questions about human augmentation, from the boundary-shifting nature of working from home to the limits of merging humanity with technology. Considering the evolving landscape of human augmentation, I envision options arising that seem right out of science fictionā€”enhancements that blend our biological selves with digital and mechanical systems, allowing people to transcend physical and cognitive limitations. The question, though, is not just “Can we?” but “Should we?”

Depiction of human augmentation.

I think accessible augmentations will focus on improving everyday life, including implants that enhance memory retention, devices that monitor and adapt to our mental and physical health in real time, and sensory improvements like augmented vision or hearing. These feel like natural extensions of devices we already rely on (phones, wearables), and I could see myself experimenting with technology that boosts my cognitive efficiency or helps manage health.

However, there are limits to what Iā€™d be comfortable with. The potential for invasive neural implants or gene-editing enhancements aimed purely at ā€œupgradingā€ humans sits on a moral fault line. Such adaptations risk reinforcing social inequalities, creating a divide between the augmented and non-augmented. As someone with a background in public health, I see how disparities in access to healthcare already affect vulnerable communities. Unequal access to these technologies could deepen these gaps, turning what should be human improvement into a new form of discrimination.

Iā€™m open to augmentations that preserve and protect my natural abilities. For example, using technology to manage health conditions is acceptable. But I would reject enhancements that alter my identity or biological essenceā€”anything that risks turning me into something fundamentally different from the person I am today. We will all have choices about the type of augmentation we accept, and those choices will reflect our values and identity. My personal line lies where technology starts to replace what it means to be human instead of enhancing it. Navigating these choices will require us to consider not only the benefits but the ethical and social impact on our society and our sense of self.