Fenton Andrew
Novel Tech Ethics, Intellectual Commons, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 3P7, Canada.
Dev World Bioeth. 2009 Aug;9(2):47-56. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-8847.2007.00226.x. Epub 2008 Aug 7.
This paper integrates some Buddhist moral values, attitudes and self-cultivation techniques into a discussion of the ethics of cognitive enhancement technologies - in particular, pharmaceutical enhancements. Many Buddhists utilize meditation techniques that are both integral to their practice and are believed to enhance the cognitive and affective states of experienced practitioners. Additionally, Mahāyāna Buddhism's teaching on skillful means permits a liberal use of methods or techniques in Buddhist practice that yield insight into our selfnature or aid in alleviating or eliminating duhkha (i.e. dissatisfaction). These features of many, if not most, Buddhist traditions will inform much of the Buddhist assessment of pharmaceutical enhancements offered in this paper. Some Buddhist concerns about the effects and context of the use of pharmaceutical enhancements will be canvassed in the discussion. Also, the author will consider Buddhist views of the possible harms that may befall human and nonhuman research subjects, interference with a recipient's karma, the artificiality of pharmaceutical enhancements, and the possible motivations or intentions of healthy individuals pursuing pharmacological enhancement. Perhaps surprisingly, none of these concerns will adequately ground a reflective Buddhist opposition to the further development and continued use of pharmaceutical enhancements, either in principle or in practice. The author argues that Buddhists, from at least certain traditions - particularly Mahāyāna Buddhist traditions - should advocate the development or use of pharmaceutical enhancements if a consequence of their use is further insight into our self-nature or the reduction or alleviation of duhkha.
本文将一些佛教道德价值观、态度和自我修养技巧融入到对认知增强技术伦理的讨论中——特别是药物增强。许多佛教徒运用冥想技巧，这些技巧既是他们修行不可或缺的部分，也被认为能提升有经验的修行者的认知和情感状态。此外，大乘佛教关于方便法门的教义允许在佛教修行中灵活运用各种方法或技巧，这些方法能让我们洞察自性或有助于减轻或消除苦（即不满）。许多佛教传统（即便不是大多数）的这些特点将为本文中佛教对药物增强的评估提供诸多依据。在讨论中，将探讨一些佛教对药物增强使用效果和背景的担忧。同时，作者将思考佛教对于可能降临到人类和非人类研究对象身上的危害、对受助者业力的干扰、药物增强的人为性，以及追求药物增强的健康个体可能的动机或意图的观点。或许令人惊讶的是，无论是在原则上还是在实践中，这些担忧都不足以成为深思熟虑的佛教徒反对药物增强进一步发展和持续使用的充分理由。作者认为，至少某些传统的佛教徒——尤其是大乘佛教传统——如果使用药物增强的结果是能进一步洞察我们的自性或减少或减轻苦，就应该倡导药物增强的发展或使用。
