The Unfit Brain and the Limits of Moral Bioenhancement

In light of the potential novel applications of neurotechnologies in psychiatry and the current debate on moral bioenhancement, this book outlines the reasons why more conceptual work is needed to inform the scientific and medical community, and society at large, about the implications of moral bioenhancement before a possible, highly hypothetical at this point, broad acceptance, and potential implementation in areas such as psychiatry (e.g., treatment of psychopathy), or as a measure to prevent crime in society. The author does not negate the possibility of altering or manipulating moral behavior through technological means. Rather he argues that the scope of interventions is limited because the various options available to “enhance morality” improve, or simply manipulate, some elements of moral behavior and not the moral agent per se in the various elements constitutive of moral agency. The concept of Identity Integrity is suggested as a potential framework for a responsible use of neurotechnologies in psychiatry to avoid human beings becoming orderers and orderables of technological manipulations.

“Fabrice Jotterand offers his reader a robust and critically engaged examination of the problems incumbent to and the limits of the uses of neurotechnologies for psychiatry. The examination is interrogative of the imaginings and ideals of moral bioenhancement to resolve moral pathologies—and the interrogation is far-reaching. Jotterand expertly navigates the trans-disciplinary territory with due care, philosophical integrity, and constructive response. This is a book that must be read and carefully considered.” (Ashley John Moyse, PhD, McDonald Postdoctoral Fellow in Christian Ethics and Public Life, and Healthcare and Humanities Fellow, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Oxford, UK) 

“Developments in neurotechnologies may increase calls for the moral bioenhancement of those with brains that are thought to be unfit, but is such enhancement feasible or acceptable? This monograph is a valuable resource for those who wish to consider these and related questions. Fabrice Jotterand’s new work is impressive in the way he brings together a wide range of scholarship in order to engage in this timely reflection. Whilst this insightful book has something of interest to say to scholars in a variety of disciplines, including those in the mind sciences and philosophers, it also has significant upshot for those who are interested in considering how criminal justice might and should respond to the scientific and technological advances that the book engages with. The Unfit Brain & the Limits of Moral Bioenhancement is an important contribution to a discussion that is likely to become increasingly important.” (Allan McCay, PhD, Deputy Director of The Sydney Institute of Criminology and an Academic Fellow at the University of Sydney's Law School, Australia) 

“Fabrice Jotterand’s book on moral bioenhancement presents a new perspective on the ethical challenges posed by the implementation of neurotechnologies for moral and criminal misconduct.  Sensitive both to the need for public protection as well as the rights and humanity of the morally unfit individual, he frames his account in terms of a synergy between cognition and moral emotions, and the importance of respecting the complex personal identities of ‘morally unfit’ individuals.  In doing so he moves us away from the fearsome doing-to narratives of science fiction, and moves us back to people and doing-together.  Such work should be of wide interest to scientists, clinicians, policymakers, and philosophers.” (John Z. Sadler MD, The Daniel W. Foster, M.D. Professor of Medical Ethics, Distinguished Teaching Professor, Professor of Psychiatry & Population/Data Sciences, UT Southwestern, USA) 

“In The Unfit Brain and the Limits of Moral Bioenhancement, Prof. Jotterand explores the promise - and problems - of contemporary and near future enhancement technology, and the benefits, risks and responsibilities of the institutions and societies that seek putting method to practice. In so doing, he has written a volume that makes significant contributions to both the topic, and the fields of science, ethics, philosophy and sociology at-large.” (Prof. James Giordano, PhD, Georgetown University Medical Center, USA) 

“The Unfit Brain and the Limits of Moral Enhancement, by Fabrice Jotterand, is a thoughtful and fascinating exploration of a subject of great scientific and social significance.” (Prof. William B. Hurlbut, MD, Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, USA) 

“This book is a significant contribution to the field of neuroethics. It engages key ethical questions and political challenges surrounding the use of neurotechnologies for moral enhancement. Jotterand’s constructive account of “Identity Integrity” to guard against what he takes as problematic aspects and faulty anthropological assumptions regarding forms of moral bioenhancement is bound to generate robust discussion and debate. And this is as it should be. It is a compelling work that demands a wide reading.” (Patrick T. Smith, PhD, Director of Bioethics Program, Trent Center for Bioethics, Humanities, and History of Medicine, Duke University, USA)

Dr. Fabrice Jotterand (PhD, Rice University) is Professor of Bioethics and Medical Humanities and serves as Director of the Graduate Program in Bioethics at the Medical College of Wisconsin, USA. He is also the Director of the Philosophies of Medical Education Transformation Laboratory (P-METaL) at the Kern Institute. He holds an appointment as Senior Researcher at the Institute for Biomedical Ethics at the University of Basel, Switzerland.