The Morality Pill: The Ethics of Moral Enhancement

People have always used different methods to become morally better, more just and more altruistic. As Socrates, Jesus, and Gandhi taught, education, teaching, self-discipline, edifying reading, and knowledge are means to improve our moral sensitivity. These methods are sometimes effective and sometimes inadequate, especially in a global context where the human species itself is threatened with extinction by environmental disasters, pandemics and the use of weapons of mass destruction. According to some authors, introducing more effective means of morally improving individuals is the only way to avert this terrible prospect. In the future, genetics, neuroscience and pharmacology may allow us to intervene in the biological nature of human beings to strengthen their moral dispositions to act with greater generosity, compassion, altruism and empathy. However, the project of moral bio-enhancement raises many questions, starting with the real and effective possibility of intervening in human traits or dispositions such as emotions, reason or the ability to intuit what is the right thing to do. Not to mention the possible threat to the freedom of choice of individuals who would be forced to behave in a so-called "right" and "good" way. With a cautious but not entirely closed approach to moral bio-enhancement, at a time when there are more doubts than certainties, The Morality Pill guides us to understand the biotechnological developments that may occur in the near future and to begin to think about possible ways of confronting such developments.