The Methods of Neuroethics

Description

This Element offers a framework for exploring the methodological challenges of neuroethics. The aim is to provide a road map for the methodological assumptions, and related pitfalls, involved in the interdisciplinary investigation of the ethical and legal implications of neuroscientific research and technology. These points are illustrated via the debate about the ethical and legal responsibility of psychopaths. Argument and the conceptual analysis of normative concepts such as ‘personhood’ or ‘human agency’ are central to neuroethics. The Element discusses different approaches to establishing norms and principles that can regulate the practices addressed by neuroethics, and that involve the use of such concepts. How to characterise the psychological features central to neuroethics, such as autonomy, consent, moral understanding, moral motivation, and control is a methodological challenge. In addition, there are epistemic challenges when determining the validity of neuroscientific evidence. Cover Title page Copyright page The Methods of Neuroethics Contents 1 Introduction 2 A Framework for the Methods of Neuroethics 2.1 Introduction 2.2 The Centrality of Argument 2.3 Neuroethics as an Interdisciplinary Field 2.4 A General Argumentative Scheme and a Case Study 2.4.1 Criminal and Moral Responsibility 2.4.2 Psychopathy 2.5 The Roles of Conceptual Analysis 2.6 Conclusion 3 Methodological Issues within the Ethical Domain 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Different Normative Approaches to the Target Practices 4 Conceptual Issues When Bridging Domains 4.1 Introduction 4.2 The Conceptual Interface Problem 4.2.1 Conceptual Issues in the Target Practice: The Case of Rationality 4.2.2 The Adoption of Scientific Psychological Constructs Speculative Interpretations and Unquestioned Interpretations of Psychological Constructs Problematic Inferences into Capacities or Incapacities 4.2.3 The Concept of Mind and Its Relation to Neuroscience: The Mind–Body Problem 4.3 Conclusion 5 Epistemic Issues When Bridging Domains 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Neuroethics Grounded in Future or Possible Neuroscience 5.3 Neuroethics Based on Current Science 5.4 Conclusion 6 Conclusion References Acknowledgements