Citation

Gillett G. J. Med. Ethics 2006; 32(2): 79-83.

Affiliation

Professor of Biomedical Ethics, University of Otago, Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand. grant.gillett@stonebow.otago.ac.nz

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/jme.2005.012583

PMID

16446411

PMCID

PMC2563338

Abstract

Neuroscience and technological medicine in general increasingly faces us with the imminent reality of cyborgs-integrated part human and part machine complexes. If my brain functions in a way that is supported by and exploits intelligent technology both external and implantable, then how should I be treated and what is my moral status-am I a machine or am I a person? I explore a number of scenarios where the balance between human and humanoid machine shifts, and ask questions about the moral status of the individuals concerned. The position taken is very much in accordance with the Aristotelian idea that our moral behaviour is of a piece with our social and personal skills and forms a reactive and reflective component of those skills.

Language: en