euro-technoprogressives.50webs.org Dr. M.

Ji Sun 09/03/09
Human
Enhancement
Technologies
euro-technoprogressives.50webs.org Dr. M. Ji Sun 09/03/09
 BCI implant
Internal Version Prepared for TNO cochlear implant
artificial vision
The Artificial Human system neurostimulator
of Today (below 5mio.$) windpipe with stem
cell technology
stents bionic arm
RFID artificial lung
implant artificial heart
neurostimulator/ implantable
implanted drug insulin pump
delivery system
artificial skin bionic hand
portable
dialysis
bio engineered hip replacement
ear
intelligent leg
artificial blood prosthesis
(oxycyte can carry
5 times more oxygen bionic liver
than hemoglobin) machine artificial foot

euro-technoprogressives.50webs.org Dr. M. Ji Sun 09/03/09

Definitions (M. Ji Sun):

a human enhancement (HE) procedure is any kind of

method that is aimed at increasing a human individual’s
“possibility space” of capabilities beyond the current
status quo.

human enhancement technologies (HET) are human

enhancement procedures based on science and
technology as methods.

 goal: HET = safe and evidence-based HE

euro-technoprogressives.50webs.org Dr. M. Ji Sun 09/03/09

Goals of HE(T):
• cognitive stimulants
enhance cognitive abilities • neurotechnology
• neurochips

• modified biological functions

enhance physical abilities • prosthetics/exoskeleton

• stimulants / medication
modify psychology
• neurotechnology

• night-vision technology etc.

get non-human abilities • prosthetics/implants
life-span enhancement • modified biological functions
• genetic engineering

euro-technoprogressives.50webs.org Dr. M. Ji Sun 09/03/09

“Traditional” HE:

• specific practices
(e.g. meditation, yoga, kung fu, body building)

• natural substances with HE-effects

(e.g. green tea, coffee, ginkgo, marihuana, nicotine)

• conventional technology (e.g. telephone, car, crane)

euro-technoprogressives.50webs.org Dr. M. Ji Sun 09/03/09

Current HET under Evaluation:

• medication (e.g. modafinil, ritalin, prozac)

• neurotechnology (e.g. TMS, neurostimulation, BCIs,

deep brain stimulation)

• prosthetics / implants / surgery (e.g. exoskeletons,

LASIK, functional body modification)

• genetic / biological HET (e.g. PID, “gene doping”,

anabolic steroids)

euro-technoprogressives.50webs.org Dr. M. Ji Sun 09/03/09

Future HET in Research:

• nan(bio)otech (e.g. nanobots, artificial immune system)

• anti-aging / Health-Life-Extension (medication for

altering natural body functions, tissue engineering)

• genetic engineering (e.g. hybrids, artificial chromosomes)

• implants/prosthetics (“Cyborg” technologies, BCI)

• “supersoldier” (US/DARPA)

euro-technoprogressives.50webs.org Dr. M. Ji Sun 09/03/09

From Therapy to HET
• reconstructive surgery  cosmetic surgery 
functional body modification
?
• anabolic steroids: used for therapeutic
purposes (e.g. burns, anemia, osteoporosis)
 (illegally) used by athletes/bodybuilders to
enhance muscle mass (negative side effects)

• modafinil, ritalin etc.: therapy for nacrolepsy,

ADHD  use for performance/cognitive
enhancement (problem: insufficient proof
regarding healthy subjects, dispute over
negative side effects)

euro-technoprogressives.50webs.org Dr. M. Ji Sun 09/03/09

From Therapy to HET
• prosthetics: assistance for disabled 
improvement beyond the healthy normal
(e.g. oscar pistorius)

• powered exoskeletons: developed to assist

aged and weak persons  assistance for
healthy people (e.g. in military, construction,
rescue operations)

• gene therapy  same method is used for

“gene doping”

euro-technoprogressives.50webs.org Dr. M. Ji Sun 09/03/09

From Therapy to HET
• artificial organs/tissue engineering
 future: use for anti-aging and life-extension?

• nanomedicine
 future: nano-based HET (e.g. respirocytes)

• medication against degenerating cognitive

diseases (e.g. alzheimer’s)
 future: cognitive enhancement for healthy?

• BCIs: help tetraplegics to communicate

 future: neurochips for cognitive HET?

euro-technoprogressives.50webs.org Dr. M. Ji Sun 09/03/09

5 Possible Approaches for Europe
STOA-workshop on HET (Feb. 24, 2009 in EU-Parliament/Brussels)

• laisser faire (“libertarian” - let the individual and market decide)

• pro-enhancement (“technoprogressive” – allow and promote

safe HET and prevent harm)
• case by case (“dutch approach” – give room to experiment and
then find a solution from experience)
• restrictive ( “precautionary” – define strict limits in advance)

• total ban (“conservative” - total ban of HET)

(source: Rathenau Institute)

euro-technoprogressives.50webs.org Dr. M. Ji Sun 09/03/09

5 Possible Approaches for Europe
STOA-workshop on HET (Feb. 24, 2009 in EU-Parliament/Brussels)

• laisser faire (“libertarian” - let the individual and market decide)

• pro-enhancement (“technoprogressive” – allow and promote

safe HET and prevent harm)
• case by case (“dutch approach” – give room to experiment and
then find a solution from experience)
• restrictive ( “precautionary” – define strict limits in advance)

• total ban (“conservative” - total ban of HET)

(source: Rathenau Institute)

euro-technoprogressives.50webs.org Dr. M. Ji Sun 09/03/09

Outcome and Problems
interest, but still no conclusions…
• discussion gets very philosophical (e.g. can Europe agree
on a definition about human nature)

• shouldn’t we not concentrate on other issues than HET?

(e.g. financial crisis, hunger, environment)

• if we ban HET, what about therapy and vice versa?

• more public dialogue is needed

euro-technoprogressives.50webs.org Dr. M. Ji Sun 09/03/09

Outcome and Problems
interest, but still no conclusions, however…
• discussion gets very philosophical (e.g. can Europe agree
on a definition about human nature)

• shouldn’t we not concentrate on other issues than HET?

(e.g. financial crisis, hunger, environment)

• if we ban HET, what about therapy and vice versa?

• more public dialogue is needed

 pragmatic approach (M. Ji Sun)

euro-technoprogressives.50webs.org Dr. M. Ji Sun 09/03/09

Pragmatic Policy Approach (M. Ji Sun)

premises:

• the necessary technology is there or under development

• people are interested in HE(T)

(e.g. boom of energy drinks, natural HE-”medicine”)

• people will try out HET legally or illegally

• the current social climate may force HET practice

(“destructive performance society”, performance norms)

euro-technoprogressives.50webs.org Dr. M. Ji Sun 09/03/09

Pragmatic Policy Approach (M. Ji Sun)
proposal for legal considerations:

• ensure safety controls for HET  testing

• minimize fraud and wrongful claims  evidence-based
• harmful/disabling practices should be banned
(HET should always maximize not minimize a human’s possibilities)
• symmetric evaluation of “natural HE” methods and HET
• consider both: improving technology or modifying
humans to achieve a HE-goal (e.g. human factors research)
• create a favourable social climate of respect for diversity

euro-technoprogressives.50webs.org Dr. M. Ji Sun 09/03/09

 Biopolitical Lanscape
Culture/Economy
Conservative Liberal
„Bio Conservatives“
c s
il ti Dark
p o
o
Liberal Bi

„ Social Democrat“

Ecology
humanists
Bright
„Liberal“
transhumanists

„Technoprogressive“

*
„Techno-Libertarian“

based on graphic by J. Hughes

euro-technoprogressives.50webs.org Dr. M. Ji Sun 09/03/09