Neuroethics

Kramer on the Valorization of Sadness

“The Valorization of Sadness”

Peter Kramer

A Thought Experiment:

“Imagine that we have a medication that can move a person from a normal psychological state to another normal psychological state that is more desired or better socially rewarded.  What are the moral consequences of that potential, the one I called cosmetic psychopharmacology?” (131)

Elliott on Cosmetic Psychopharmacology

“Prozac as a Way of Life”

Carl Elliott

Cosmetic Psychopharmacology:

“Psychoactive drugs could be used not just to treat illnesses but to improve a person’s psychic well-being.” (119)

Question:  “Is there anything wrong with use a drug to become ‘better than well’?” (119)

From Miltown (1950s) and Librium/Valium (1960s) to Prozac and the SSRIs (1990s)

Kolber on Memory Dampening

Ethical Implications of Memory Dampening

Adam Kolber

“Although true memory erasure is still the domain of science fiction, less dramatic means of dampening the strength of a memory may have already been developed.” (97)

Traumatic memories and “therapeutic forgetting”

“By and large, the Council was skeptical of the merits of memory dampening, raising concerns that memory dampening may (1) prevent us from truly coming to terms with trauma, (2) tamper with our identities, (3) demean the genuineness of human life and experience, (4) encourage us to forget memories that we are obligated to keep, and (5) inure us to the pain of others.” (97)

Question:  In light of the Council’s skepticism, should we limit (or even prohibit) the therapeutic use of memory dampening.

The Psychology and Philosophy of Memory

One of the students from class asked me for some links to material about memory.  I thought others might find the information useful as well, so here it is:

The two entries from SIEP on the philosophy of memory can be found here and here.  Also, here is a link on the psychology of memory more generally as well as a piece on the psychology of forgetting and a helpful Wiki entry on "motivated" forgetting.  Finally, here are two papers on the psychological immune system: 

• Dan Gilbert et al. on Immune Neglect
• Lisa Shu et al. on Motivated Forgetting

If you find any other useful or interesting links, please feel free to share!

 

 

Memory Blunting: Ethical Analysis

Memory Blunting: Ethical Analysis

President’s Council on Bioethics

“If we had the power, by promptly taking a memory-altering drug, to dull the emotional impact of what could become very painful memories, when might we be tempted to use it?  And for what reasons should we yield or resist the temptation?” (88)

Example: PTSD

The PC suggests that while PTSD seems like a case well-suited for memory blunting, there are several important questions that need to be addressed even in the case of PTSD: (a) The preemptive worry--the efficacy of beta-blockers for the purposes of memory blunting require they be taken shortly after the event, which requires the decision to be made about memory blunting prior to the onset of any psychiatric problems/symptoms. (b) The apt target worry—for any given potentially traumatic event, how should we preemptively decide which of the parties to the experience need to have their memory blunted and which do not? And (c) are both the parties involved in a traumatic event as well as the witnesses of the event (who may be similarly affected by PTSD) apt targets for memory blunting?

PHIL 261: Neuroethics

Welcome to the blog for PHIL 261: Neuroethics!  During the course of this semester, I will be posting course-related materials and thoughts on this blog in the hopes that students will join the conversational fray.  If you have something you'd specifically like to post and/or discuss, let me know and I will happily post something on your behalf (or, if you'd prefer, I will invite you to post it yourself!).  Thanks in advance for playing along.  I am excited about the course!  Hopefully, this blog will take on a life of its own as we progres through the material.