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Academy Licence© No. 2/2009
BLACKMARKET
«Super-Human, Trans-Human, Post-Human: The Art of Becoming
Better»

Medical and neurotechnological interventions in the
brain are considered particularly problematic because they intrude
into the organic «seat» of self-consciousness, into «mental/spiritual»
assets – the human being’s individuality and identity – and thereby
touch fundamentally upon human self-understanding. Questions about
the limits of accessibility to the human brain – based on advances
in the neurosciences, one of the major themes for the future – are
raised today primarily on the neurotechnological and pharmacological
level. Even if these neurotechnological procedures apply or should
apply primarily to therapeutic use, potential applications become
apparent that – beyond therapy – serve to improve human performance
capabilities. Enhancements of motor, sensory, and mental skills
become thinkable. These new, controversial possibilities are discussed
in the bioethics debate under the title of «neuroenhancements».
This poses some weighty ethical challenges to society: As with the
human genome, access to the brain is contentious because it can
signify a fundamental «change», «re-figuration», and perhaps even
«manipulation» of the human. It raises questions about the goals
and limits of the «constructibility» of the human, as well as about
what «design» we wish to give ourselves. In order to make young
people, whose future will be affected by these new possibilities,
aware of these questions and problems, the Institute of Medical
Ethics and Medical History and Theater Freiburg are running a collaborative
project on the question of «Gaining Access to the Brain». The goal
of the project is to draw youth through both scientific and artistic
means to examine this problem, in order to develop an awareness
of bioethical dilemmas, and to ground a sensitization to these issues
within society at an early date.
The talks offered in the BLACKMARKET - copyleft dealt
with the development of mankind and society. The question of the
«how» seems to be a driving basis for the human when seeking for
a better understanding of the world, of life – no matter if on a
molecular level or in a philosophical world theory. It reflects
the constant human desideratum for becoming «better». Few would
disagree that «becoming better» seems to be generally desirable
and «good» – but also, few would not stress the contradictory point
that lays within this idea of «better». The possible meanings and
implications of this «how to become better» depends very much on
one's beliefs and knowledge. «Becoming better» seems to be not only
continuous but also disputatious incitement of human activity, that
constantly induces men to change, develop, transform oneself. Despite
the possible moral and ethical abyss' «better» seems to led mankind
to a point where we leave former blueprints of «being human» beyond.
The Freiburg BLACKMARKET - Copyleft tended to collect various details
and perspectives on the idea of «better» in general, hoping that
from the sum of the talks a bigger image of the human desire of
enhancement would evolve.



Fotos: Nina Konarzewski
Full
program only in german - sorry!
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