Macroethics exploration with impact: technological innovators reconsider profound personal and societal questions after viewing the film FIXED: The Science/Fiction of Human Enhancement
Title
Macroethics exploration with impact: technological innovators reconsider profound personal and societal questions after viewing the film FIXED: The Science/Fiction of Human Enhancement
The subject of this paper is a macroethical, nonclassroom ethics education experience on the topic of human enhancement, encompassing the spectrum from therapy to alteration beyond observed natural bounds, offered by the lead author as embedded educator and investigator. It reports the research results of a pre- and post-intervention (group viewing of the documentary film FIXED) survey administered to faculty investigators and doctoral students directly involved in research pertaining to biologically inspired future computer architectures applied to devices interfacing with humans. Taken together, initial participant responses reflect normative discrimination in evaluating aims and outcomes of technological interventions on the spectrum of body modification possibilities. Responses to individual survey items and factor analysis reveal the impact of viewing FIXED on innovator thinking about ethical and societal issues surrounding human enhancement, including the ways human attributes are valued and personal outlook on life in the context of prospective physical disability.
