scholarly journals Science fiction and human enhancement: radical life-extension in the movie ‘In Time’ (2011)

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 287-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johann A. R. Roduit ◽  
Tobias Eichinger ◽  
Walter Glannon
Keyword(s):  
Science Fiction ◽  
Human Enhancement ◽  
Life Extension ◽  
Radical Life Extension

The Relevance of Value Theory for the Ethical Discussion of Human Enhancement

2014 ◽  
pp. 11-26
Author(s):  
Tobias Hainz
Keyword(s):  
Human Life ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Human Enhancement ◽  
Value Theory ◽  
Life Extension ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
A Value ◽  
Ethical Discussion ◽  
Radical Life Extension ◽  
Theoretical Issues

The aim of this chapter is to provide a practical introduction to the central issues of value theory in order to demonstrate their relevance for the ethical discussion of human enhancement technologies. Among the value-theoretical issues discussed are value lexicality, the monism-pluralism dichotomy, and incommensurability. A particular enhancement technology analyzed from a value-theoretical perspective is radical life extension, the direct and intentional extension of the maximum human life span. Several examples are given to show how value-theoretical concepts are implicitly reflected in arguments for and against human enhancement. At the end of the chapter, it should be clear that value theory can and should make stronger contributions to the ethical discussion of human enhancement and that, in this discussion, an increased awareness of value-theoretical issues is desirable.

Human Flourishing, Joy, and the Prospect of Radical Life Extension

2018 ◽  
Vol 129 (12) ◽  
pp. 554-561
Author(s):  
Victoria Lorrimar
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Genetic Engineering ◽  
Good Life ◽  
Human Enhancement ◽  
Life Extension ◽  
The Good Life ◽  
Human Flourishing ◽  
Academic Teaching ◽  
Secular Humanist ◽  
Radical Life Extension

The prospect of human enhancement through the use of genetic engineering, artificial intelligence and nanotechnology is generating increasing interest in academic and commercial circles. Responses to human enhancement technology are derived from, and therefore may illuminate, underlying notions of what human flourishing ought to look like. Miroslav Volf’s anatomy of joy is used to compare representative understandings of the good life from transhumanist and secular humanist perspectives as they correspond to attitudes concerning human enhancement, particularly the question of radical life extension. The argument is advanced that a joyful Christian vision of the good life, which answers both the secular humanist respect for creaturely finitude and the transhumanist hope for glorious transformation, possesses strong normative potential for academic teaching and discourse as we contemplate the future of human being.

The Relevance of Value Theory for the Ethical Discussion of Human Enhancement

2015 ◽  
pp. 1408-1423
Author(s):  
Tobias Hainz
Keyword(s):  
Human Life ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Human Enhancement ◽  
Value Theory ◽  
Life Extension ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
A Value ◽  
Ethical Discussion ◽  
Radical Life Extension ◽  
Theoretical Issues

The aim of this chapter is to provide a practical introduction to the central issues of value theory in order to demonstrate their relevance for the ethical discussion of human enhancement technologies. Among the value-theoretical issues discussed are value lexicality, the monism-pluralism dichotomy, and incommensurability. A particular enhancement technology analyzed from a value-theoretical perspective is radical life extension, the direct and intentional extension of the maximum human life span. Several examples are given to show how value-theoretical concepts are implicitly reflected in arguments for and against human enhancement. At the end of the chapter, it should be clear that value theory can and should make stronger contributions to the ethical discussion of human enhancement and that, in this discussion, an increased awareness of value-theoretical issues is desirable.

2. Speaking of God in the Post-Human Era: An Examination of Radical Life Extension in Relation to Key Theological Concepts and Narratives

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaitlyn Barton
Keyword(s):  
Human Life ◽  
Life Extension ◽  
The Core ◽  
Psychological Suffering ◽  
The Cross ◽  
And Function ◽  
Radical Life Extension ◽  
The Way ◽  
Changing World

Rapid advancements in radical life extension technologies contribute to humanity’s ever-changing world. The normalization of radical life extension technologies would signify that the present era in which biology and evolution act as dictators of human life and health would come to an end, thereby ushering in the age of the post-human. The purpose of this paper is to engage in a theological analysis of how and to what degree the ways in which humanity speaks about God could be changed or influenced if radical life extension becomes normative within society. . It is likely that this powerful technology would have a significant impact on many facets of culture, including the way in which humanity engages with religion, in particular Christianity. To accomplish this, the technology that could potentially support radical life extension, namely nanotechnology and cybernetic immortality, will be explained in terms of their relevance and function. Subsequently, the affects of radical life extension for human life will be addressed. Specifically, the implications of the partial or full eradication of human biological and psychological suffering and death through the use of cybernetic immortality and nanotechnology and will be considered. From there, the core theological concepts and narratives will be analyzed in the context of the potential actualization of radical life extension technology. A focus will be placed on the ethic of loving thy neighbour, Christ’s suffering on the cross, the hope of salvation and the Christian hope of entrance into heaven after death. 

scholarly journals A Life with Limits: A Christian Ethical Investigation of Radically Prolonging Human Lifespans

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manitza Kotzé
Keyword(s):  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Christian Ethics ◽  
Life Extension ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Relationship With God ◽  
Social Divisions ◽  
Human Lifespan ◽  
Relational Concept ◽  
God's Image ◽  
Radical Life Extension

Recent biotechnological advances pose topical challenges to Christian ethics. One such development is the attempt to try and enhance human beings and what it means to be human, also through radical life extension. In this contribution I am especially interested in limited human lifespan and attempts to radically prolong it. Although there are a number of ethical issues raised by critics, one of the most profound ethical and theological issues raised by these efforts is the question of equity and justice. This artice looks at questions such as whether this biotechnology could exacerbate existing social divisions. Who will be experimented on in the development of this technology, as well as who will have access to it and be able to afford it, should it become commercially available? Being created in God’s image is a relational concept, referring not only to humanity’s relationship with God, but also with each other. Disrupting these relationships through the possible enlarging socioeconomic divisions between people through the utilisation of enhancement technology is a serious bioethical and theological question.

scholarly journals Motivations for Pursuing Radical Life Extension

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Lucinda April Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Life Extension ◽  
Life And Death ◽  
Ethical Implications ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Radical Life Extension ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Human Life Span

<p>In bio-ethics, the potential practical and ethical implications of radical life extension are being seriously debated. However, the role of motivation in relation to dramatically increasing the human life span has been largely overlooked. I propose that motivation is a crucial aspect to consider within the radical life extension discourse by conjecturing about why it might appeal and the possible ways it could impact outcomes where it is successfully developed and implemented. I do not thereby present an argument that supports or opposes radical life extension technology. This is ultimately a speculative piece. In exploring the relationship between motivation and radical life extension, I present a conceptual framework called the Thanatophobic and Romantic Motivational Spectrum (TRM Spectrum) designed to assist deeper examination on the subject. It captures what I suggest are two key motivators related to life and death, that is, the fear of death (Thanatophobia) and the “love” of life (Romanticism). The motivational spectrum is then applied to the death penalty versus life imprisonment, and euthanasia and suicide debates to demonstrate how it can be used for analysis of ethical issues in relation to the potential introduction of radical life extension technology.</p>

Value Lexicality and Human Enhancement

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 54-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Hainz
Keyword(s):  
Ethical Theory ◽  
Applied Ethics ◽  
Human Enhancement ◽  
Life Extension

One idea discussed in ethical theory is that values can be put in a lexical ordering. One value that ranks higher in a lexical ordering always outweighs a lower-ranked value, regardless of the amount or intensity of both values. An account of value lexicality that focuses on the practical applicability of this concept will be developed and subsequently applied to the debate about life extension technologies and human enhancement in general. Finally, a sketch of a heuristic will be provided that shows how the concept of value lexicality could be of assistance when assessing the quality of arguments in various fields of applied ethics, one of which is the debate about human enhancement.

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