Seminar: Dr Neil Levy, "Cognitive Enhancement and Intuitive Dualism"

Past Event

Date
18 February 2009, 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Location
Lecture Theatre, Oxford Martin School
34 Broad Street (corner of Holywell and Catte Streets), Oxford, OX1 3BD

Dr Neil Levy, The Oxford Centre for Neuroethics, University of Oxford

Abstract: In this paper I aim to explain what I call the excess opposition to cognitive enhancement: that is, the fact that people tend to be more worried about cognitive enhancement then other kinds. I argue that this excess opposition is the product of the fact that cognitive enhancement causes unease, because it violates our intuitive (substance) dualism. I present anthropological and experimental evidence for intuitive dualism, and explore methods of testing the hypothesis empirically.