The neuroethics field emerged in the early 2000s in an effort to face important philosophical dilemmas and anticipate disruptive social changes linked to the use of neurotechnology (Safire, 2002). From very early on, this field grew out of two core issues, namely inquiries into the ethics of neuroscience –concerning the moral use of knowledge and technology– and inquiries into the neuroscience of ethics –on how new brain function evidence can change human self-understanding (Roskies 2002). Similarly, neurolaw is now on a (...) parallel path with two main pillars as Chandler (2018) suggested, (1) “self-reflexive inquiry” (the neuroscience of law) and (2) “inquiry into the development and use of brain science and technologies” (the law of neuroscience). In this paper, I suggest that these two lines of research are still excessively disconnected from one another and, to support this claim, I analyze the three potential point-of-no-return risks that Aldous Huxley associated with technological challenges, namely centralization of power, bureaucratic alienation, and scientific idealism. In addition, I show how Huxley shifted analysis of technological problems from a focus on the rights of potential victims to the duties of potential aggressors. Finally, I argue that Aldous Huxley’s view on how to build a bridge that brings pillars 1) and 2) closer together also helps prevent the technological point-of-no-return. According to Huxley, the key is found in paying particular attention to understanding contemplative activity, reinforcing its role in the study of reality, and, eventually, returning the romantic gaze updated to academia. (shrink)

In recent years, the term populism has become indeed popular. Among its variants, a very particular one stands out. It is the so-called managerial populism, in which prominent businessmen have entered the arena of politics with a program focused on the regeneration of economic and social life. Donald Trump, perhaps, has been the most outstanding example. In this article, our aim is to analyze this phenomenon of managerial populism, addressing a number of issues. Firstly, we will discuss the emergence of (...) a certain type of charismatic leadership in business or management ideologies as a development that largely precedes the consolidation of these figures in the political scene; the implications of these ideologies in the political and social sphere; and the importance of the forms of discursive use of the concept of people in these popular discourses. (shrink)