When two become one: singular duos and the neuroethical frontiers of brain-to-brain interfaces
Advances in brain–brain interface technologies raise the possibility that two or more individuals could directly link their minds, sharing thoughts, emotions, and sensory experiences. This paper explores conceptual and ethical issues posed by such mind-merging technologies in the context of clinical...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2024
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| _version_ | 1811139338933633024 |
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| author | Zohny, H Savulescu, J |
| author_facet | Zohny, H Savulescu, J |
| author_sort | Zohny, H |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | Advances in brain–brain interface technologies raise the possibility that two or more individuals could directly link their minds, sharing thoughts, emotions, and sensory experiences. This paper explores conceptual and ethical issues posed by such mind-merging technologies in the context of clinical neuroethics. Using hypothetical examples along a spectrum from loosely connected pairs to fully merged minds, the authors sketch out a range of factors relevant to identifying the degree of a merger. They then consider potential new harms like loss of identity, psychological domination, loss of mental privacy, and challenges for notions of autonomy and patient benefit when applied to merged minds. While radical technologies may seem to necessitate new ethical paradigms, the authors suggest the individual-focus underpinning clinical ethics can largely accommodate varying degrees of mind mergers so long as individual patient interests remain identifiable. However, advanced decisionmaking and directives may have limitations in addressing the dilemmas posed. Overall, mind-merging possibilities amplify existing challenges around loss of identity, relating to others, autonomy, privacy, and the delineation of patient interests. This paper lays the groundwork for developing resources to address the novel issues raised, while suggesting the technologies reveal continuity with current healthcare ethics tensions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-25T04:04:30Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:05436c35-6947-4d6d-99ca-49cc9c1e2ca0 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-25T04:04:30Z |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:05436c35-6947-4d6d-99ca-49cc9c1e2ca02024-05-24T10:21:16ZWhen two become one: singular duos and the neuroethical frontiers of brain-to-brain interfacesJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:05436c35-6947-4d6d-99ca-49cc9c1e2ca0EnglishSymplectic ElementsCambridge University Press2024Zohny, HSavulescu, JAdvances in brain–brain interface technologies raise the possibility that two or more individuals could directly link their minds, sharing thoughts, emotions, and sensory experiences. This paper explores conceptual and ethical issues posed by such mind-merging technologies in the context of clinical neuroethics. Using hypothetical examples along a spectrum from loosely connected pairs to fully merged minds, the authors sketch out a range of factors relevant to identifying the degree of a merger. They then consider potential new harms like loss of identity, psychological domination, loss of mental privacy, and challenges for notions of autonomy and patient benefit when applied to merged minds. While radical technologies may seem to necessitate new ethical paradigms, the authors suggest the individual-focus underpinning clinical ethics can largely accommodate varying degrees of mind mergers so long as individual patient interests remain identifiable. However, advanced decisionmaking and directives may have limitations in addressing the dilemmas posed. Overall, mind-merging possibilities amplify existing challenges around loss of identity, relating to others, autonomy, privacy, and the delineation of patient interests. This paper lays the groundwork for developing resources to address the novel issues raised, while suggesting the technologies reveal continuity with current healthcare ethics tensions. |
| spellingShingle | Zohny, H Savulescu, J When two become one: singular duos and the neuroethical frontiers of brain-to-brain interfaces |
| title | When two become one: singular duos and the neuroethical frontiers of brain-to-brain interfaces |
| title_full | When two become one: singular duos and the neuroethical frontiers of brain-to-brain interfaces |
| title_fullStr | When two become one: singular duos and the neuroethical frontiers of brain-to-brain interfaces |
| title_full_unstemmed | When two become one: singular duos and the neuroethical frontiers of brain-to-brain interfaces |
| title_short | When two become one: singular duos and the neuroethical frontiers of brain-to-brain interfaces |
| title_sort | when two become one singular duos and the neuroethical frontiers of brain to brain interfaces |
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