Abstract
While neuroenhancement has been widely debated in the bioethics and neuroethics literature, the Anglo-American perspective has dominated a majority of these discussions. Thus, little is known about the motives and attitudes towards neuroenhancement in other cultures. Cultural values and linguistic peculiarities likely shape distinct attitudes and perspectives about neuroenhancement. In this paper, we aim to identify universals and points of divergence between the Anglo-American and the Hispanic discussions about neuroenhancement. We carried out a literature review of articles published in the Spanish language discussing perspectives and ethical issues around neuroenhancement. We analyzed the content for (1) the terms used to convey the concept of “neuroenhancement” and (2) the ethical concerns raised. Our results show a wide range of Spanish terms used to refer to neuroenhancement, as well as important differences on the scope and concerns raised. These results invite further research regarding cross-cultural perspectives on neuroenhancement and neuroethical discussion.
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Notes
Here, we are using the term Western culture to refer to a heritage of social norms, ethical values, customs, beliefs, and political systems originated in Europe and which nowadays comprise USA, Canada, Western Europe, and Australasia.
The third substance mentioned in the study was coffee. Coffee as well as energy drinks are often considered as neuroenhancer, albeit ones that are not widely debated in the neuroethical literature, probably given that they are both legal and socially acceptable.
From here on in, we employ the term “Hispanic” to refer to cultures of Spanish speaking origin, which includes Spain and parts of Latin-America (Central, South America, and the Caribbean, but excluding Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana).
We thank one of our reviewers for pointing this relevant consideration.
While distinctive regional variations in linguistic expression exists among Hispanic societies, the common epistemic understanding or meaning of “neuroenhancement” and “ethical concern” was invariably assessed in the official language of each culture, as defined by geopolitical space.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Laura Trujillo and Celizbeth Colon for their work as research assistants with this project, and Libby Bogdan-Lovis for her proofreading comments.
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Cabrera, L.Y., Herrera-Ferrá, K. ¿Neuroensanchamiento?: Concepts and Perspectives About Neuroenhancement in the Hispanic Literature. J Cogn Enhanc 4, 82–93 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41465-019-00131-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41465-019-00131-w