UMYSŁ VS. UMYSŁ 2.0. SPOŁECZNE KONSEKWENCJE WZMOCNIENIA POZNAWCZEGO

Abstract

Superintelligence is one of the main ideas of transhumanism philosophy. To put this idea into effect we need to improve the capabilities of the human mind and brain. One possible approach is cognitive enhancement, defined as the amplification or extension of core mind capacities through improvement or augmentation of either internal or external information processing systems. In general, cognitive enhancements are all activities aimed at improving and expanding basic human capabilities by improving and supplementing cognitive systems. This includes intelligence and attention improvements, reinforcement of creativity and memory, and extension of the range of perception. Cognitive enhancement may be accomplished by various methods both invasive and non-invasive. Those methods can be divided into five basic groups: neuropharmacological, genetics, “natural”, social prevention, and computational. Transhumanism optimists are of the view that cognitive enhancement has a positive infl uence both on individuals and on society. Conversely, bio- and techno-conservatives are apprehensive about the idea. The article presents the concept of cognitive enhancement, including methods and ways of implementation. The main purpose is to present social consequences of cognitive enhancement. The article raises the following matters: (1) Opportunities and threats of cognitive enhancement both for the individual and for the society: should we improve human nature? (2) is cognitive enhancement a tool of the new eugenics, and who can be enhanced? (3) the availability of the cognitive enhancement methods: should it be regulated? (4) cognitive enhancement as a biopolitical tool: could mind improvement technologies become an apparatus of social control?

Keywords

• cognitive enhancement
• transhumanism
• philosophy of technology
• bioethics
• social philosophy