The Ultimate Enhancement of Morality (SpringerBriefs in Ethics) - Softcover

Rakić, Vojin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 3030724727 ISBN 13: 9783030724726

Publisher: Springer, 2021

Synopsis

This book deals with good, evil, happiness and morally enhanced post-humans. It offers a succinct historical elaboration of philosophical stances towards morality and happiness, focusing on Kant's ideas in particular.  Human augmented ethical maturity in a futuristic version of Kant’s Ethical Commonwealth implies, among else, voluntary moral bio-enhancement (VMBE); consequently, more happiness – as morality and happiness are in a circularly supportive relationship; ultimate morality (UM). UM is in its own way a universal morality. In line with the contention that Kant’s vision of the (not immediate but more distant) future of humanity is one of a cosmopolitan moral order in which humans act virtuously in the broadest possible community, that is, humanity, it is justified to conclude that successful VMBE is conducive to Kant’s vision. In this context the book is of great interest to a broad audience, such as those interested in VMBE and novel conceptions of morality, andthose with an interest in the historical development of morality and happiness, in philosophy (specifically, ethics) and in post-humanity. 

About this title

About the Author

Vojin Rakić, Full Professor, is Director of the Center for the Study of Bioethics, Head of the European Division of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics (Haifa), and Director of the Center for Philosophy of the Institute for Social Sciences. Vojin Rakić, Full Professor, is Director of the Center for the Study of Bioethics, Head of the European Division of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics (Haifa), and Director of the Center for Philosophy of the Institute for Social Sciences. He is also Chair of the Cambridge Working Group for Bioethics Education in Serbia. Rakić is also Head of the Serbian Unit of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics. He has a Ph.D. in Political Science from Rutgers University in the USA (1998). He graduated philosophy in Serbia, and has M.A. degrees in European Studies from the Central European University in Prague and from the Department of Political Science of Rutgers University. He worked as Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Higher Education Policy Studies at the University of Twente in the Netherlands (1999–2001). Between 2001 and 2003, he was UN Special Adviser to the Government of Serbia. Since 2003, he works as University Professor in Belgrade. Rakić publishes primarily in English. His publications include various books and edited collections, as well as numerous articles from the domain of (bio-)ethics, and political philosophy (recent publications: articles in the Journal of Medical Ethics, American Journal of Bioethics, the Cambridge Quarterly of Health Care Ethics, Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, Bioethics, Developing World Bioethics, Sexuality and Culture, American Journal of Bioethics – Neuroscience, BioMed Research International, Annals of Internal Medicine, etc.). 

From the Back Cover

This book deals with good, evil, happiness and morally enhanced post-humans. It offers a succinct historical elaboration of philosophical stances towards morality and happiness, focusing on Kant's ideas in particular.  

Human augmented ethical maturity in a futuristic version of Kant’s Ethical Commonwealth implies, among else, the following features: 1. Voluntary Moral Bio-Enhancement (VMBE); 2. Consequently, more happiness – as morality and happiness are in a circularly supportive relationship; 3. Ultimate Morality (UM). In feature 2, deontological practice would result in a utilitarian outcome. By fulfilling our moral duties based on UM, we would gradually create a world of post-humans who approach moral and thus felicific perfection. 

UM is in its own way a universal morality. In line with the contention that Kant’s vision of the (not immediate but more distant) future of humanity is one of a cosmopolitan moral order in which humans act virtuously in the broadest possible community, that is, humanity, it is justified to conclude that successful VMBE is conducive to Kant’s vision. Therefore, this book is of great interest to a broad audience, such as those interested in VMBE and novel conceptions of morality, and those with an interest in the historical development of morality and happiness, in philosophy (specifically, ethics) and in post-humanity. 

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3030724727
• ISBN 13: 9783030724726
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 100