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The Ethics of Biomedical Enhancement :: An Online Course

Dates & Time:

(Mondays) April 22, 29, May 6, 13

5 - 7 pm

Cost: Free!

Course description:

Recent advances in biomedical knowledge and innovation- such as sequencing of the human genome, gene therapy and genome editing, the biology of aging, behavioral genetics, etc.- raise the prospect that science could be utilized to “enhance” our biology rather than simply search for treatments for specific diseases. In his book Beyond Humanity? (Oxford University Press, 2011) the philosopher Allen Buchanan defines biomedical enhancement as “a deliberate intervention, applying biomedical science, which aims to improve an existing capacity that most or all normal human beings typically have, or to create a new capacity, by acting directly on the body or brain”. This course will introduce students to both the science and ethics of biomedical enhancement, covering a range of topics like eugenics, genetics, the therapy/enhancement distinction, procreative liberty, aging, and memory modification.

Instructor: Colin Farrelly

Colin Farrelly (he/him) is the Sir Edward Peacock Professor of Political Theory in the Department of Political Studies at Queen’s University and is cross appointed with Philosophy. He has held academic appointments at universities in England, Scotland, the United States, Türkiye, and Canada. Recent publications include two books on the ethics of the genetic revolution and a series of journal articles on the science of aging in venues like the British Medical Journal, The Journals of Gerontology, Aging Cell, Royal Society Open Science, and the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. Colin is also the organizer of the local Philosophy Meetup (Kingston), which brings local residents into pubs and parks to discuss philosophical topics in ethics, science, politics, and psychology.

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