Transhumanism, Ethics and the Therapeutic Revolution: Agents of Change

Description

This book explores the impact of developments in pharmaceutical medicine in the twentieth century on a Christian ethical evaluation of transhumanism and future "hi-tech" medical enhancement technologies. It suggests that the Christian ethical assessment of proposed future radical transhumanist biomedical technologies should be conducted in the light of responses to past medical advances. Two specific case studies are featured, focusing on the oral contraceptive pill and on Prozac and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants. Whilst future biomedical technologies may have therapeutic benefits for the relief of disease and contribute to improving human health and welfare, the book considers the implications for society and their acceptability as therapies from a Christian perspective. Stressing the inadequacy of natural law alone, the author proposes an ethical framework for assessing novel biomedical technologies according to the effects on personal autonomy, embodiment and bodily life, and on the imago Dei. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Contents About the Author Acknowledgements Introduction: Therapy Plus: An Ultimate Cure I.1 Transhumanism: From Therapy to Enhancement I.2 Transhumanist Technologies: What They Are I.3 Study Methodology I.3.1 Case Studies I.3.2 Choice of Case Studies I.3.3 Objective Criteria I.4 Summary of the Book Note References 1. Biomedical Science and Medical Ethics: Past and Future 1.1 Introduction: Medicine and Human Flourishing 1.2 The Twentieth-Century Therapeutic Revolution 1.3 Medical Ethics: Ancient, Modern and Post Modern 1.4 Agents of Change: Learning From Past Successes 1.5 Medical Ethics and Christian Pastoral Care Notes References 2. Transhumanism: Losing Our Humanity? 2.1 What Is Transhumanism? 2.2 Origins of Transhumanism 2.3 Approaches to Transhumanism 2.4 Therapy or Enhancement? 2.5 Evaluating Transhumanist Technologies 2.6 Transhumanism and Religions 2.7 Transhumanism and Christianity 2.7.1 Immortality and Social Justice 2.7.2 Autonomy 2.7.3 Nature 2.7.4 Embodiment 2.7.5 Imago Dei 2.8 Theological Criteria for Transhumanist Developments 2.9 Preliminary Evaluation of Transhumanist Technology Notes References 3. New World, New People: The Contraceptive Pill 3.1 The Birth of the Contraceptive Pill 3.2 Flashpoint for Social Transformation - The Social and Cultural Impact of the Pill 3.3 Contraception and the Church 3.4 The Pill and Transhumanism 3.5 An Ethical Re-evaluation of the Pill Notes References 4. Better than Well: Prozac and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Antidepressants 4.1 Psychopharmacology in the Twentieth Century 4.2 The Elvis of Pharmaceuticals - the Social and Cultural Impact of SSRIs 4.3 The Drug and the Soul - Christian Engagement with the Prozac Phenomenon 4.4 SSRIs and Transhumanism 4.5 An Ethical Re-evaluation of SSRI Antidepressants Notes References 5. Towards a New Therapeutic Ethic: Re-evaluation of Transhumanism 5.1 The Legacy of the Therapeutic Revolution 5.2 The Ethical Issues of Transhumanism 5.2.1 Autonomy 5.2.2 Nature 5.2.3 Embodiment 5.2.4 Imago Dei 5.3 Transhumanism and the Therapeutic Revolution 5.4 Past Controversies and Future Hopes 5.5 Re-evaluating Transhumanism 5.6 Refining the Ethical Criteria for New Biomedical Technologies Notes References 6. Braver New World: Reimagining Transhumanism 6.1 Agents of Change - Therapy, Then and Now 6.2 Conclusions - Medicine, Ethics and Society 6.3 A Four Domains Ethical Method to Evaluate Biomedical Technology 6.4 Transhumanism in Historical Perspective - The New Therapeutic Revolution References Glossary Annotated Bibliography Index