The modification of the human body: controversies

Søren Holm

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-32414-2_4

The modification of the human body: controversies

Søren Holm^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Centre for Social Ethics and Policy

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the academic debate about whether or not we should limit peoples’ ability to pursue bodily modification and relates this to important results from the Technolife project. It identifies four major controversies in the debate: (1) Is freedom the Master Value of society? (2) Is there a valid distinction between treatment and enhancement? (3) Is enhancing only the rich unjust? (4) Are there any limits at all? For each of these controversies the major arguments on each side are outlined and evaluated. It is concluded that society does have a role to play in determining limits to bodily modification, but that that role is only legitimate if there is public engagement.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Technoscience and citizenship
Subtitle of host publication	ethics and governance in the digital society
Editors	Ana Delgado
Place of Publication	Cham, Switzerland
Publisher	Springer Nature
Chapter	4
Pages	49-61
Number of pages	13
Volume	17
ISBN (Electronic)	9783319324142
ISBN (Print)	9783319324128
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32414-2_4
Publication status	Published - 2016

Publication series

Name	International Library of Ethics, Law and Technology
Volume	17
ISSN (Print)	1875-0044
ISSN (Electronic)	1875-0036

Keywords

Body modification
Enhancement
Justice
Liberalism
Natural law
Nature
Therapy
Transhumanism

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

Manchester Institute for Collaborative Research on Ageing

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-319-32414-2_4

Cite this

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The modification of the human body: controversies

Abstract

Publication series

Keywords

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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