The Ultimate Enhancement of Morality

Springer Verlag (2021)
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Abstract

This book deals with good, evil, happiness and morally enhanced post-humans. It offers a succinct historical elaboration of philosophical stances towards morality and happiness, focusing on Kant's ideas in particular. Human augmented ethical maturity in a futuristic version of Kant’s Ethical Commonwealth implies, among else, voluntary moral bio-enhancement ; consequently, more happiness – as morality and happiness are in a circularly supportive relationship; ultimate morality. UM is in its own way a universal morality. In line with the contention that Kant’s vision of the future of humanity is one of a cosmopolitan moral order in which humans act virtuously in the broadest possible community, that is, humanity, it is justified to conclude that successful VMBE is conducive to Kant’s vision. In this context the book is of great interest to a broad audience, such as those interested in VMBE and novel conceptions of morality, and those with an interest in the historical development of morality and happiness, in philosophy and in post-humanity.

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Chapters

Morality: Innate, Universal?

Why to be good? Answers to this question vary. Religious people will be inclined to invoke Divine commands, deontologists the duty to act in a way that can be universalized as a moral rule, utilitarians the maximization of happiness as the aspired outcome, other consequentialists different outcomes,... see more

Morality: Origin and Future

The reasonable way for humans to proceed is therefore to embark on moral enhancement. If it has to be supported by biomedical means we call it moral bioenhancement . MBE might curb uncontrolled human enhancement that can even lead to the obliteration of humanity. This can be caused by AI, big data o... see more

Free Will and Moral Bioenhancement as a Compulsory Means of Avoiding “Ultimate Harm”

In this Section much of my attention will be devoted to the MBE theory advanced by Ingmar Persson and Julian Savulescu. The reason for that is that my own position can be better understood if contrasted to Persson and Savulescu.

The Morality of a Global State, the Existence of Morally Superior Beings and “Special Suicide”—Brief Conceptual Explanations

In this chapter a number of conceptual explanations will be introduced that will be elaborated on in the essential last chapter of the second part of this book. It is also useful to the reader to have an awareness of these conceptual clarifications in the chapters preceding the last chapter of the s... see more

The Future of Happiness and Morality, Psychopathy and Utilitarianism

As a lasting feeling of happiness is something that we should aspire, the question comes up how to maximize this type of happiness. How to maximize it for us as individuals, which is in our personal interest, but also how to maximize it for other people ? How to maximize happiness for us and for as ... see more

Past and Present of Happiness and Morality

But in addition to moral behavior being conducive to happiness, happiness appears to stimulate moral behavior. Goodness and happiness operate in a circularly supportive fashion. Anik et al. discusses this relationship in the case of charitable giving. It concludes that giving and being kind increase... see more

Good 2

This conclusion is a proof of my argument. It implies that, if we care about morality, we should accept what posthumans judge to be morally preferable; and, in addition to that, we ought to act in accordance with this judgment. Consequently, and this is essential, as we have a moral duty to morally ... see more

Good 1

Furthermore, empathy is not sufficient to be good. Sometimes a degree of aggressiveness and desire for just retribution is the morally most apposite attitude to take .

Evil

It has been argued already that certain conceptions of the good are not geographically and/or historically determined. Some of these conceptions are the moral notions we have apparently been born with . Those conceptions about which there is no consensus in humankind, are prone to being differently ... see more

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