Adapting Ourselves, Instead of the Environment

An Inquiry into Human Enhancement for Function and Beyond

Bibliographic Data

ID6071111
AuthorsNiklas Alexander Döbler (0000-0001-7935-727X, University of Bamberg, corresponding author), Claus-Christian Carbon (0000-0002-3446-9347, University of Bamberg)
Year2024
Volume58
Issue2
Pages589-637
Publication date2024-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueIntegrative Psychological and Behavioral Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1932-4502 • E-ISSN: 1936-3567
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s12124-023-09797-6
PMID37597122
OpenAlexW4386001007
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited182

Technology enables humans not only to adapt their environment to their needs but also to modify themselves. Means of Human Enhancement — embodied technologies to improve the human body’s capabilities or to create a new one — are the designated means of adapting ourselves instead of the environment. The debate about these technologies is typically fought on ethical soil. However, alarmist, utopian, and science fiction scenarios distract from the fact that Human Enhancement is a historical and pervasive phenomenon incorporated into many everyday practices. In the vein of disentangling conceptual difficulties, we claim that means of Human Enhancement are either physiologically or psychologically embodied, rendering the merging with the human user their most defining aspect. To fulfill its purpose, an enhancement must pass the test-in-the-world, i.e., assisting with effective engagement with a dynamic world. Even if failing in this regard: Human Enhancement is the fundamental and semi-targeted process of changing the users relationship with the world through the physical or psychological embodiment of a hitherto external object and/or change of one’s body. This can potentially change the notion of being human. Drawing on a rich body of theoretical and empirical literature, we aim to provide a nuanced analysis of the transformative nature of this phenomenon in close proximity to human practice. Stakeholders are invited to apply the theory presented here to interrogate their perspective on technology in general and Human Enhancement in particular

Cognitive science · Embodied cognition · Epistemology · Function (biology · Human enhancement · Object (grammar · Perspective (graphical · Phenomenon · Sociology · Transformative learning · Computer Science · Embodied and Extended Cognition · Innovative Human-Technology Interaction · Neuroethics, Human Enhancement, Biomedical Innovations · Psychology

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