Anders Sandberg

Abstract:

This essay reviews different definitions and models of technological singularity. The models range from conceptual sketches to detailed endogenous growth models, as well as attempts to fit empirical data to quantitative models. The set of concepts today commonly referred to as "technological singularity" has a long history in the computer science community. Technological singularity is used in a variety of contexts, and has acquired an unfortunately large number of meanings. Some versions stress the role of artificial intelligence, others refer to more general technological change. For the purpose of this essay the author focuses on the growth aspect: accelerating change, self-improving technology, intelligence explosions, and the complexity disaster (and to some extent the inflexion point) all involve the growth of technological or cognitive capability. There is a notable lack of models of how an intelligence explosion could occur. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Abstract:

This chapter demonstrates why the freedom to modify one's body is essential not just to transhumanism, but also to any future democratic society. It sketches a core framework of rights leading up the morphological freedom, showing how it derives from and is necessary for other important rights. Given current social and technological trends issues relating to morphological freedom will become increasingly relevant over the next decades. In order to gain the most from new technology and guide it in beneficial directions we need a strong commitment to morphological freedom. A strong negative argument, possibly the most compelling argument for the acceptance of morphological freedom as a basic right that may not be infringed, is to protect from coercive biomedicine. Finally, the chapter presents the health official example pointing at a relevant issue regarding healthcare in the future. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Abstract:

The term "cognitive enhancement" usually characterizes interventions in humans that aim to improve mental functioning beyond what is necessary to sustain or restore good health. While the current bioethical debate mainly concentrates on pharmaceuticals, according to the given characterization, cognitive enhancement also by non-pharmacological means has to be regarded as enhancement proper. Here we summarize empirical data on approaches using nutrition, physical exercise, sleep, meditation, mnemonic strategies, computer training, and brain stimulation for enhancing cognitive capabilities. Several of these non-pharmacological enhancement strategies seem to be more efficacious compared to currently available pharmaceuticals usually coined as cognitive enhancers. While many ethical arguments of the cognitive enhancement debate apply to both pharmacological and non-pharmacological enhancers, some of them appear in new light when considered on the background of non-pharmacological enhancement. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Cognitive Enhancers'. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.