Thomism and Transhumanism: Can Biotechnology enhance Human Flourishing?
25th November: 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm GMT
In this presentation, I critique transhumanism, which denies any objective account of human nature and flourishing in favour of “morphological freedom” to reshape ourselves in any way one chooses so long as it does not harm others. I also critique those who reject any non-therapeutic interventions that could alter allegedly definitive qualities of human nature. I then ethically assess proposed forms of human enhancement from the anthropological and moral perspective developed by Aquinas and various subsequent Thomists. I contend that certain “moderate” forms of human enhancement may be conducive to human flourishing, as Thomistically defined, while others would be deleterious to a human being’s self-identity and flourishing as a living, sentient, social, and rational animal. Even if such moderate forms of enhancement are in principle permissible, significant practical concerns may ultimately undermine their ethical viability.
This is the second lecture in a series delivered by the Aquinas Institute visiting fellow Professor Jason Eberl, Saint Louis University.
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upcoming Lectures in this series
Venue: Blackfriars Hall -
St Giles
Oxford,
OX1 3LY
United Kingdom
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Contact:
Aquinas Institute
aquinas@bfriars.ox.ac.uk