Question

“A mathematician is a machine for turning coffee into theorems.” ——Alfred R ?enyi 1 Paul Erdo ?s, one of the most prolific mathematicians, used amphetamines heavily in order to do math. He complained that math was “set back by a month” when he stopped taking the drug for a month. Do you think cognitive enhancement is permissible? Present what you take to be the strongest argument for your claim in the premise-and-conclusion form and briefly justify the premises. (. No more than 2-3 premises.) Compare cognitive enhancement with doping in sports. Explain what you consider as the most important similarity and the most important difference between them.

Answer 1

Cognitive enhancement involves the use of any natural or artificial intervention to improve cognitive functions like memory, learning, attention, and focus and so on in normal individuals. Now we will examine whether the cognitive enhance is morally permissible or not. Our Argument is based on following two principles.

Argument based on Autonomy

Autonomy may be referred to as an individual’s ability to self-govern. In other words autonomy is to acknowledge and facilitate an individual’s right to hold views, to make choices, and to take actions based on that individual’s personal values and beliefs. One salient argument in favour of enhancing cognition lies in the freedom of individual choice. In general, people have a right to pursue happiness and, as such, they have a right to control their own means of doing so. If a person is well-informed as to the potential risks and benefits, then the decision to enhance cognition or not enhance cognition rests solely with him or her.

While this argument is particularly powerful within the highly individualistic society in which we currently live, it is not enough by itself to justify the use of cognitive enhancements. While individual freedoms are important, any civil liberty must be appropriately balanced against safeguarding the public good. Personal choice does not alone make something ethically, socially, or legally permissible.

Argument from the point of Beneficence

With the use of cognitive enhancements, society has the potential to benefit from more individual contributions that can add to overall productivity. Cognitive enhancements can help individuals excel where they otherwise may not have. This argument, while appealing, is still insufficient. While cognitive enhancement can provide benefit on both an individual and a societal level, this does not, in and of itself, make the use of cognitive enhancers ethically acceptable.

Hence the use of Cognitive enhancements is not permissible.