Remaking Homo: ethical issues on future human enhancement

Abstract

Since prehistory, the genus Homo has used technologies in order to enhance fitness. With the growth of bio-technologies, western medicine is improving the structure and function of the human body beyond its natural state. Bio-technological improvements in the next 50 yr prom- ise further increases in human life span and performance. Notwithstanding the ethical argument encouraging transhumanist technologies, present human societies have yet to come to grips with the possibility of such a future world. This article will discuss future nootropic enhancers and humananimal gene splicing as possible enhancement technologies in relation to their ethical and social implications.