Natasha Loder, Health Editor at The Economist, joins Charles Brenner, a metabolism and aging researcher, and Arthur Caplan, a medical ethicist from NYU, to discuss the frontier of human enhancement. They explore the ethics of gene editing, brain implants, and performance-enhancing drugs. The conversation raises questions about redefining aging, the societal impact of enhancement technologies, and the need for regulation in this evolving field. With insights into innovations and personal journeys, they delve into both the potential and pitfalls of becoming 'superhuman'.
The Enhanced Games aim to redefine human performance by allowing athletes to use enhancements, raising ethical concerns about health risks and responsibility.
Advancements in biotechnology are shifting from treating ailments to enhancing capabilities, prompting discussions on equity, societal divides, and the essence of humanity.
Deep dives
The Emergence of Enhanced Games
The Enhanced Games represent a bold new international sporting competition where athletes are allowed to use performance-enhancing substances without the restrictions typical of other competitions. The founder, Aaron D'Souza, envisions this as a transformative event, aiming to push the boundaries of human capability and redefine what it means to be human. By allowing the use of enhancements, the Games seek to demonstrate that biological limits can be surpassed, potentially leading to astonishing athletic performances, such as a 40 to 50-year-old running faster than Usain Bolt. Critics voice concerns about the ethical implications and safety of such practices, questioning whether this approach to sports is responsible or poses dangers to athletes' health.
The Science of Human Enhancement
Human enhancement, framed as transcending biological limitations through technology, is increasingly pursued through advanced medical biotechnology. From gene editing to brain implants, the application of these innovations is moving beyond treating ailments to enhancing healthy individuals' performance and capabilities. The conversation is also shifting, with figures like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel leading efforts to integrate these advancements into broader societal norms and health practices. This shift raises significant ethical questions about accessibility and the potential creation of an 'enhanced elite' that may exacerbate social inequalities.
A Framework for Safe Enhancement
Addressing the health and ethical concerns surrounding human enhancement entails establishing robust regulatory frameworks that ensure safety without stifling innovation. Proponents argue that creating systems for testing and approving enhancement products is crucial in moving these technologies into the mainstream and promoting public acceptance. The approach would involve rigorous scientific oversight, akin to what is done with medical drugs, to ensure public safety while also enabling individuals to make informed choices regarding their bodies. This could ultimately lead to standardized enhancement options becoming available, promoting health and performance across the general population.
The Future of Aging and Identity
Advancements in biotechnology and human enhancement challenge traditional notions of aging and personal identity, potentially enabling individuals to live significantly longer, healthier lives. As these technologies develop, they force society to confront profound questions about mortality and the essence of being human, particularly regarding how prolonged life may alter our social relationships and responsibilities. Ethicists warn of the risks associated with creating a society of enhanced individuals, fearing the potential for societal divides based on access to enhancements. Navigating these complexities will require careful consideration of both the scientific and ethical implications of pursuing such technologies.
From drugs to gene editing and brain implants, modern biotechnology has the potential to make humans stronger, more intelligent and perhaps even live longer. These ideas have largely existed at the fringes of scientific research, however, championed by eccentric billionaires whose aims include evading death. But investment and interest in human enhancement is growing—and some of those billionaires have now reached the heart of political power in America. How can human enhancement research be brought into the mainstream, so that it could one day benefit everyone?
Host: Alok Jha, The Economist’s science and technology editor, with health editor Natasha Loder. Contributors: Aron D'Souza of the Enhanced Games; Charles Brenner of City of Hope National Medical Center; Arthur Caplan of New York University Grossman School of Medicine; and Bryan Johnson, a tech entrepreneur and self-declared “rejuvenation athlete”.
If you enjoyed this, listen to The Weekend Intelligence’s episode on human growth hormone. How far would you go in the pursuit of perfection?
