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Can morality be manipulated?

December 1st, 2014

A world leader in practical ethics will discuss human moral limitations and their impact on some of the greatest problems of the 21st century at a free Monash event next week. 

Guest speaker Professor Julian Savulescu, will argue that climate change, terrorism and global poverty are the result of limitations in human decision-making at a public lecture on 10 December from 6-8pm at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC).

Professor Savulescu said our success in learning to manipulate the world around us has left us facing two major threats - climate change and war.

"Modern technology provides us with many means to cause our downfall, and our natural moral psychology does not provide us with the means to prevent it. My talk will explore whether moral enhancement of humankind is necessary for there to be a way out of this predicament," Professor Savulescu said.

"Although the development and application of drugs, genetic modifications, or devices is risky - it is after all humans in their current morally-inept state who must apply them - our present situation is so desperate that this course of action must be investigated."

The lecture will conclude with a Q&A discussion between Professor Savulescu, the Sir Louis Matheson Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Centre for Human Bioethics at Monash University, and ABC Online Religion and Ethics Editor, Scott Stephens. The discussion will be broadcast at a later date on ABC RN's Big Ideas program.

The audience will also have the opportunity to ask Professor Savulescu why he believes we should use pills, brain stimulation and other brain interventions to alter our human moral limitations to solve some of the world's most pressing problems.

Event organiser, Dr Adrian Carter from Monash Biomedical Imaging said advances in neurosciences are set to transform our understanding of human cognition and behaviour.

"We believe this is something that's of interest to everyone, not just scientists and researchers. I've no doubt Professor Savulescu's talk will inspire, interest and engage – whether you agree with him or not, this is set to be an unmissable event," Dr Carter said.

The free public lecture is part of the inaugural Neuroethics Down Under 2014: Neuroscience and Society in the 21st century Symposium on 10-11 December organised by Monash University, Neuroethics Australia, the ARC Centre for Integrative Brain Function, Club Melbourne and ABC RN.

The symposium brings together leading Australian and international researcher and practitioners from psychology, neurosciences, psychiatry, neurology, philosophy, ethics, law and the social sciences. The symposium is aimed at all academics, researchers, clinicians, health care providers, and policy makers interested in the promise and pitfalls of neuroscience for society.

Professor Julian Savulescu holds the Uehiro Chair in Practical Ethics, University of Oxford and is Director of both the Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics and the Oxford Centre for Neuroethics. He is the author of over 250 publications and has given over 120 international presentations. His book, co-authored with Ingmar Persson, Unfit for the Future: The needs for Moral enhancement, was published in paperback by OUP in July this year.

Manipulating morality: using pills, drugs and brain stimulation to solve social challenges in the 21st century is on 10 December 2014, 6-8pm at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Convention Place, South Wharf. The event is free but registration is required as seats are strictly limited. To book your place visit Event Brite.

Provided by Monash University

Citation: Can morality be manipulated? (2014, December 1) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://sciencex.com/wire-news/178876358/can-morality-be-manipulated.html
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