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Is it ethical to use cognitiveenhancing drugs to improveour academic performance?

"Soma was servedwith the coffee.Lenina took twohalf-grammetablets and Henrythree."

Aldous Huxley, BraveNew World, 1932.

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Definitions

Drug-any chemical substance that, when absorbedinto the body of a living organism, alters normal bodilyfunction

Cognitive enhancing-improving eitherconcentration, awareness/wakefulness, short or longterm memory, or judgement

Academic performance- broadly defined asperformance when studying or working

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An ethical question

The Principle of Utility:

An action is right if it produces the

greatest good/happiness for the

greatest number.

Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)

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A Current Global Issue

World health

Organisation

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Facts & Figures

The MoD has been trialling Modafinil onoperations as a replacement foramphetamines

250,000 users of Ritalin in UK

Use in US Universities between 5 and 25 %

Most are not available without prescription

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Facts & FiguresResults of online Naturesurvey of 1427 people

69.7% of respondents were from US. 6%from UK. 5% from Canada.

79% felt that healthy people should beallowed to take cognitive enhancers

20.2% had used cognitive enhancers

45.1% think their use should be restricted insituations like exam entry into university, allstandardized testing situations etc.

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The Science of Common

Cognitive Enhancers

ModafinilUsually prescribed for narcoleptics

Few side effects- selective, unlikeamphetamine.

Some conflicting studies, but mostpoint to enhancement ofconcentration, awareness andworking memory

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The Science of CommonCognitive Enhancers

Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

Amphetamine

Focuses users attention

UK doctors write out 30,000 prescriptions

per month

The controversy over the drug is largelydue to the controversy over ADHD, notthe drug itself!

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The main argumentsagainst the use of

cognitive enhancers

They are not natural, customary, or

traditional

There is a stigma attached to the word

drug

Accomplishments achieved with the use ofnootropics are unearned.

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The Level Playing Field

Main argument AGAINST cognitive enhancersis that they provide unfair advantages in

university exams and academic careers. This idea is irrational.

I believe the playing field is already unlevel

Genetics, Upbringing and Education are fargreater factors influencing intelligence

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Why is it ethicallyacceptable to use

cognitive enhancers?

The Level Playing Field Utilitarianism

Relativism- Analogy with Alcohol and

Cosmetic Enhancement Beneficial Social Implications

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Analogy with alcohol and

cosmetic enhancement Society has deemed these practices

ethically acceptable

Alcohol misuse costs UK 20billion ayear and 1 million are treated in A&Eper year because of it.

Risks of Cosmetic surgery are fargreater than risks when using cognitiveenhancement

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Moral Social Implications

Increased safety for users no need topurchase drugs from unknown online

sources

Reduction in crime criminalising use

will create criminals it is better toregulate use.

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Conclusion:In many cases we have a moral

imperative to allow the use of cognitive

enhancers.

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What next?

Do doctors have an ethical imperative to monitor the use of cognitiveenhancers amongst their patients?

Are non pill forms of cognitive enhancement, such as through geneticselection and manipulation and neurotechnology, also ethicallyacceptable?

Should individuals be free to make their own choices over the use ofcognitive enhancement?

Is it ethical to impose boundaries on parents over the application ofcognitive enhancement to their present or future children?

What are the long term effects of using nootropics? Further clinicalresearch is necessary.

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Thank you for listening!

Any questions?