Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Cognitive Liberty in the Neurotechnology Era James J. Hughes Ph.D. Executive Director, World Transhumanist Association & Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Public Policy, Trinity College, Hartford CT September 21, 2006 Neuroethics Seminar University of Pennsylvania

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Overview Cognitive Liberty Neurotechs Risks to Cognitive Liberty Limits of Cognitive Liberty

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Cognitive Liberty Bodily autonomy: right to control own brain Freedom of conscience, thought, belief Brain privacy Liberal individualism’s idea of a discrete, autonomous decider (increasingly problematic)

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Cog Liberty Enhanced & Challenged by All Tech Internal External HardwareSoftware

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies External Hardware Pictures, written language and numbers outsourced the brain Started with clay and paper Today wearable computers Cell phones The wireless exo-cerebrum

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies External Software Calendars To do lists Google Info visualization Biofeedback Expert systems Intelligent agents

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Internal Software Better thinking Education Mnemonics Cognitive therapy Meditation and concentration

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Internal Hardware Gene therapies Emoticeuticals, nootropics Brain-computer interfaces Transcranial magnetic stimulation Stem cell generation & tissue engineering Deep brain stimulation

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Enhancement Goals Internal hardware methods Memory (anti-Alzheimers drugs, stem cells) Fear (Propanalol) Mood (Prozac, brain stims) Alertness (Ritalin, Provigil) Creativity (TMS) Empathy (Oxytocin, Ecstasy) Sensory (cochlear implants)

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Emerging Technologies Tech that will radically change human brain: –Psychopharmacology –Genetic engineering –Nanotechnology –Artificial intelligence –Cognitive science The accelerating convergence of all these “for improving human performance”

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies NanoNeural Network 2040? Self-replicating Two-way communication with neurons Networked

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Laproscopic Implantation “Neuro-vascular central nervous recording/stimulating system: Using nanotechnology probes,” Rodolfo R. Llinás, Kerry D. Walton, Masayuki Nakao, et al., Journal of Nanoparticle Research 2005

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Risks to Cognitive Liberty Lack of Privacy Overt Control Ownership Social Norms Neurotech doesn’t pose novel challenges

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Lack of Privacy Extension of privacy of written and electronic records, drug tests Brain fingerprinting eventually functional Need for laws requiring warrants for brain scans, protecting brain privacy at work

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Overt Control Extension of debates over indoctrination, involuntary commitment Uses of neurotech to control desire, identity, ideation, knowledge Defend liberal society, fight totalitarianism Ongoing need to parse legitimate cog liberty from insanity and criminality

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Ownership and Openness Extension of debates over IP, open source, voting machines, pharma trials Right to cog lib supercede proprietary rights over cog tech? Google Desktop added 10 points to my IQ – do I need to know how it works?

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Independence from Social Norms Extension of concerns over conformity Ability to suppress non- conformist impulses Sex re-assignment or gender identity correction? Divorce or self-agnegation? Encourage individualism

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Virus Protection for the Brain Conscious control of susceptibility to pressure to conform, obey Having an internal locus of control Becoming aware of external influences Turning off submission to authority Steve Mann’s spam filters

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Limits of Liberty Need to protect/enhance Flourishing Equality Empathy & solidarity Moral behavior

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Self-Enslavement Today’s Drug War is a crime Cannabis users are political prisoners Dependence is a public health issue But… Meth and opiates foreshadow future neurotechs that permanently change motivation, identity, thought Should be heavily regulated Auto-reset fail-safe?

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Therapies for Drug Dependency Alcohol aversion drugs, e.g. naltrexone Buprenorphine for opiates Vaccines and gene therapies to prevent or cure: Alcoholism Cocaine addiction Heroin addiction Nicotine dependency

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Protect/enhance equality Parallel to education policy, access to mental health treatment, digital divide Universal access, and even mandatory enhancement, may be necessary for individual opportunity and social equity Literacy is the first step to cyborgization

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Ensure Universal Access “…enhancing intelligence or changing personality or modifying our memory, maybe that should be available to everyone as a guarantee of equal opportunity.” Some Guy

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Protect/enhance solidarity Extension of problems of dehumanizing of the Other, social studies & civics ed, sensitivity training Tech control of empathy and group identity

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Xenophobia Disorder Attitudes toward immigrants has a genetic component Debate over pathological racism & homophobia as a mental disorder

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Empathy Therapies Screening for, and subsidized enhancement of, the genetic and neurophysiological bases of empathy and agreeableness

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Oxytocin and Trust Breastfeeding Orgasm Bonding and trust “Neuroactive hormones and interpersonal trust: International evidence” Zak & Fakhar, Economics and Human Biology –Oxytocin deficits?

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Autists’ Rights? If empathy is a valued and encouraged, autism/AS is a disease right? Pushing the limits of neurodiversity

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Protect/enhance moral behavior “We may be able… to control our passions by some more direct method than fasting and flagellation…to deal with perverted instincts by physiology rather than prison.” JBS Haldane “Daedalus, or Science and the Future”

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Engineering Virtue Personality Factors Character & Virtues Potential Enhancers Agreeableness Humanity, CompassionOxytocin, Endorphins (PMS), Dilantin (aggression) Conscientiousness Temperance & Self-discipline ADD stimulants, testosterone, vasopressin, norepinephrine Neuroticism Equanimity, Transcendence SSRIs, cognitive behavioral therapy Extraversion Courage, DiligenceModafanil, testosterone, coffee Openness to experience Wisdom & Knowledge Transcendence Methylphenidate, meditation, psychedelics, MDMA

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Expert Moral Systems “Contemporary Man does not foresee the real Superman will snap his superfingers at all Man’s present trumpery ideals of right, duty, honor, justice, religion, even decency, and accept moral obligations beyond present human endurance.” George Bernard Shaw in Man and Superman

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Cyber-Moral Reasoning

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Morality PDAs Remind us of relevant principles and similar cases Behavior-triggered warnings: e.g. flame filters

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Better Citizens… More happy & intelligent More self-aware & independent More socially minded Better moral & political decision-making

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies …or Brave New World? Risk of neuro-totalitarianisms Brain fingerprinting for thoughtcrimes Remote-controlled minds Blissed-out citizens Corporate-owned brain operating systems: Microsoft Brain 9.0 Self-enforced cognitive uniformity

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Final Thoughts Importance of cognitive liberty Every person controlling their brain in self-determined ways Importance of liberal and social democratic societies - Liberté, egalité, solidarité - celebration of diversity & individualism Need for a positive model of human personality

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Teaser Neurotech will continue to erode the illusory continuous, autonomous self What political model will replace one- brain/one-vote liberal individualism?