The Current Debate: (C+M) E and Ultimate Harm

Abstract

Persson and Savulescu (2011b) is a largely successful defense of the position promoted in Persson and Savulescu (2008) against Fenton’s critique of this position in Fenton (2009). However, one of Fenton’s essential censures has remained without response: if moral enhancement (ME) is to occur at the genetic or biological level, as Persson and Savulescu suppose it can and ought to, it will not be possible without significant scientific progress, including cognitive enhancement (CE) by bio-medical means. I will offer a response here to this critique Fenton raised—a response Persson and Savulecu did not give. It will be based on the concept of “integrated neuro-enhancement”, abbreviated (C+M) E.