Cognitive enhancement, cheating, and accomplishment

Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal
Rob Goodman

Abstract

An ethics of enhancement should not rest on blanket judgments; it should ask us to distinguish between the kinds of activities we want to enhance. Both students and academics have turned to cognition-enhancing drugs in significant numbers--but is their enhancement a form of cheating? The answer should hinge on whether the activity subject to enhancement is zero-sum or non-zero-sum, and whether one is more concerned with excellence in process or excellence in outcome. Cognitive enhancement should be especially tolerated when the activities at stake are non-zero-sum and when the importance of process is outweighed by the importance of outcome. The use of cognition-enhancing drugs does not unnaturally cheapen accomplishments achieved under their influence; instead, cognitive enhancement is in line with well-established conceptions of collaborative authorship, which shift the locus of praise and blame from individual creators to the ultimate products of their efforts.

Citations

May 23, 2014·The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy·Rob Goodman
Aug 10, 2012·Thérapie·Jean-Arthur Micoulaud-FranchiChristophe Lancon
Aug 7, 2014·Journal of Neural Transmission·Lara TuchaJohannes Thome
Jun 16, 2016·Frontiers in Psychology·Elisabeth J Vargo, Andrea Petróczi
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May 10, 2019·AJOB Neuroscience·Erin C ConradAnjan Chatterjee
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Jun 12, 2020·Substance Use & Misuse·Aaron C T SmithKate Westberg
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Jun 17, 2020·Australasian Journal of Philosophy·Hannah MaslenCarin Hunt
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Nov 17, 2020·AJOB Neuroscience·Claire T DinhAnjan Chatterjee
Apr 27, 2021·Canadian Journal of Philosophy·Lisa Forsberg, Anthony Skelton

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