Ethics fear as technology blurs human and machine
Source: Agencies |
March 2, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A BRITISH ethics group has launched a debate on the ethical dilemmas posed by new technologies that tap into the brain and could bring super-human strength, highly enhanced concentration or thought-controlled weaponry.
With the prospect of future conflicts between armies controlling weapons with their minds, the Nuffield Council on Bioethics launched a consultation yesterday to consider the risks of blurring the lines between humans and machines.
"Intervening in the brain has always raised both hopes and fears in equal measure. Hopes of curing terrible diseases, and fears about the consequences of trying to enhance human capability beyond what is normally possible," said Thomas Baldwin, a professor of philosophy at Britain's York University who is leading the study.
"These challenge us to think carefully about fundamental questions to do with the brain: What makes us human? What makes us an individual? And how and why do we think and behave in the way we do?"
The council, wants to focus on three main areas of neurotechnologies that change the brain: brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), neurostimulation techniques and neural stem cell therapy.
These technologies are at various stages of development for use in treating conditions including Parkinson's disease and strokes.
But they also have huge potential outside of health. In military applications, BCIs are being used to develop weapons or vehicles controlled remotely by brain signals, and there is big commercial scope in the gaming industry.
However, Baldwin stressed that major concerns remain.
"If brain-computer interfaces control weapons from far away, who takes ultimate responsibility for the actions? Could this be blurring the line between man and machine?" Baldwin asked.
With the prospect of future conflicts between armies controlling weapons with their minds, the Nuffield Council on Bioethics launched a consultation yesterday to consider the risks of blurring the lines between humans and machines.
"Intervening in the brain has always raised both hopes and fears in equal measure. Hopes of curing terrible diseases, and fears about the consequences of trying to enhance human capability beyond what is normally possible," said Thomas Baldwin, a professor of philosophy at Britain's York University who is leading the study.
"These challenge us to think carefully about fundamental questions to do with the brain: What makes us human? What makes us an individual? And how and why do we think and behave in the way we do?"
The council, wants to focus on three main areas of neurotechnologies that change the brain: brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), neurostimulation techniques and neural stem cell therapy.
These technologies are at various stages of development for use in treating conditions including Parkinson's disease and strokes.
But they also have huge potential outside of health. In military applications, BCIs are being used to develop weapons or vehicles controlled remotely by brain signals, and there is big commercial scope in the gaming industry.
However, Baldwin stressed that major concerns remain.
"If brain-computer interfaces control weapons from far away, who takes ultimate responsibility for the actions? Could this be blurring the line between man and machine?" Baldwin asked.
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