Policy implications of technologies for cognitive enhancement

Sarewitz, Daniel R; Karas, Thomas H

doi:10.2172/901973

Title: Policy implications of technologies for cognitive enhancement

Full Record
Other Related Research

Abstract

The Advanced Concepts Group at Sandia National Laboratory and the Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes at Arizona State University convened a workshop in May 2006 to explore the potential policy implications of technologies that might enhance human cognitive abilities. The group's deliberations sought to identify core values and concerns raised by the prospect of cognitive enhancement. The workshop focused on the policy implications of various prospective cognitive enhancements and on the technologies/nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology, and cognitive science--that enable them. The prospect of rapidly emerging technological capabilities to enhance human cognition makes urgent a daunting array of questions, tensions, ambitions, and concerns. The workshop elicited dilemmas and concerns in ten overlapping areas: science and democracy; equity and justice; freedom and control; intergenerational issues; ethics and competition; individual and community rights; speed and deliberations; ethical uncertainty; humanness; and sociocultural risk. We identified four different perspectives to encompass the diverse issues related to emergence of cognitive enhancement technologies: (1) Laissez-faire--emphasizes freedom of individuals to seek and employ enhancement technologies based on their own judgment; (2) Managed technological optimism--believes that while these technologies promise great benefits, such benefits cannot emerge without an active government role; (3) Managed technological skepticism--views that the qualitymore »« less

Authors:

Sarewitz, Daniel R ^[1]; Karas, Thomas H

Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

Publication Date:: Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2007

Research Org.:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 901973

Report Number(s):: SAND2006-7909
TRN: US200717%%32

DOE Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000

Resource Type:: Technical Report

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY AND ECONOMY; BIOTECHNOLOGY; ETHICAL ASPECTS; STANDARD OF LIVING; AUGMENTATION; BRAIN; PUBLIC POLICY; Human information processing.; Human behavior.; Cognitive science.; Arts and Humanities-Society and Culture; Automation-Human factors.

Citation Formats


                    Sarewitz, Daniel R, and Karas, Thomas H. Policy implications of technologies for cognitive enhancement.  United States: N. p., 2007. 
        Web.  doi:10.2172/901973.

Copy to clipboard


                    Sarewitz, Daniel R, & Karas, Thomas H. Policy implications of technologies for cognitive enhancement.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.2172/901973

Copy to clipboard


                    Sarewitz, Daniel R, and Karas, Thomas H. 2007.  
        "Policy implications of technologies for cognitive enhancement".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.2172/901973.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/901973.

Copy to clipboard


                    
@article{osti_901973,

  title        = {Policy implications of technologies for cognitive enhancement},

  author       = {Sarewitz, Daniel R and Karas, Thomas H},

  abstractNote = {The Advanced Concepts Group at Sandia National Laboratory and the Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes at Arizona State University convened a workshop in May 2006 to explore the potential policy implications of technologies that might enhance human cognitive abilities. The group's deliberations sought to identify core values and concerns raised by the prospect of cognitive enhancement. The workshop focused on the policy implications of various prospective cognitive enhancements and on the technologies/nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology, and cognitive science--that enable them. The prospect of rapidly emerging technological capabilities to enhance human cognition makes urgent a daunting array of questions, tensions, ambitions, and concerns. The workshop elicited dilemmas and concerns in ten overlapping areas: science and democracy; equity and justice; freedom and control; intergenerational issues; ethics and competition; individual and community rights; speed and deliberations; ethical uncertainty; humanness; and sociocultural risk. We identified four different perspectives to encompass the diverse issues related to emergence of cognitive enhancement technologies: (1) Laissez-faire--emphasizes freedom of individuals to seek and employ enhancement technologies based on their own judgment; (2) Managed technological optimism--believes that while these technologies promise great benefits, such benefits cannot emerge without an active government role; (3) Managed technological skepticism--views that the quality of life arises more out of society's institutions than its technologies; and (4) Human Essentialism--starts with the notion of a human essence (whether God-given or evolutionary in origin) that should not be modified. While the perspectives differ significantly about both human nature and the role of government, each encompasses a belief in the value of transparency and reliable information that can allow public discussion and decisions about cognitive enhancement. The practical question is how to foster productive discussions in a society whose attention is notably fragmented and priorities notably diverse. The question of what to talk about remains central, as each of the four perspectives is concerned about different things. Perhaps the key issue for initial clarification as a condition for productive democratic discussion has to do with the intended goals of cognitive enhancement, and the mechanisms for allowing productive deliberation about these goals.},

  doi          = {10.2172/901973},

  url          = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/901973},
  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2007},

  month        = {Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2007}

}

Copy to clipboard

Technical Report:

View Technical Report (0.41 MB)

https://doi.org/10.2172/901973

Save / Share:

Export Metadata

Save to My Library

Similar records in OSTI.GOV collections:

From Crisis to Transition: The State of Russian Science Based on Focus Groups with Nuclear Physicists

Conference Gerber, T; Ball, D

The collapse of the Soviet system led to a sharp contraction of state funding for science. Formerly privileged scientists suddenly confronted miserly salaries (often paid late), plummeting social prestige, deteriorating research facilities and equipment, and few prospects for improvement. Many departed the field of science for more lucrative opportunities, both within Russia and abroad. The number of inventions, patent applications, and publications by Russian scientists declined. Reports of desperate nuclear physicists seeking work as tram operators and conducting hunger strikes dramatized the rapid collapse of one of the contemporary world's most successful scientific establishments. Even more alarming was the 1996more »« less
Full Text Available
Support for the Core Research Activities and Studies of the Computer Science and Telecommunications Board (CSTB)

Technical Report

The Computer Science and Telecommunications Board of the National Research Council considers technical and policy issues pertaining to computer science (CS), telecommunications, and information technology (IT). The functions of the board include: (1) monitoring and promoting the health of the CS, IT, and telecommunications fields, including attention as appropriate to issues of human resources and funding levels and program structures for research; (2) initiating studies involving CS, IT, and telecommunications as critical resources and sources of national economic strength; (3) responding to requests from the government, non-profit organizations, and private industry for expert advice on CS, IT, and telecommunications issues;more »« less
https://doi.org/10.2172/928060

Full Text Available
Politics of nuclear waste

Book Colglazier, Jr, E

In November of 1979, the Program in Science, Technology and Humanism and the Energy Committee of the Aspen Institute organized a conference on resolving the social, political, and institutional conflicts over the permanent siting of radioactive wastes. This book was written as a result of this conference. The chapters provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the governance issues connected with radioactive waste management as well as a sampling of the diverse views of the interested parties. Chapter 1 looks in depth of radioactive waste management in the United States, with special emphasis on the events of the Carter Administrationmore »« less
Assessing Models of Public Understanding In ELSI Outreach Materials

Technical Report Bruce V Lewenstein, Ph; Dominique Brossard, Ph

Advances in the science of genetics have implications for individuals and society, and have to be taken into account at the policy level. Studies of ethical, legal and social issues related to genomic research have therefore been integrated in the Human Genome Project (HGP) since the earliest days of the project. Since 1990, three to five percent of the HGP annual budget has been devoted to such studies, under the umbrella of the Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) Programs of the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institute of Health, and of the Office of Biological andmore »« less
https://doi.org/10.2172/876753

Full Text Available
DIALOG: Fostering Early Career Development Across the Aquatic Sciences

Technical Report Caroline Susan Weiler, PhD

A total of 447 dissertation abstracts were received for the DIALOG V Program, with 146 individuals applying for the DIALOG V Symposium; 47 were invited and 45 have accepted. This represents a significant increase compared to the DIALOG IV Program in which 221 abstracts were registered and 124 applied for the symposium. The importance of the dissertation registration service is indicated by the increasing number of individuals who take time to register their dissertation even when they are not interested in applying to the symposium. The number of visits to the webpage has also increased significantly over the years. Thismore »« less
https://doi.org/10.2172/958041

Full Text Available

Similar Records