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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?