SARADNJA, OSEĆAJ ZA PRAVDU I NEUROPOBOLJŠANJE
COOPERATION, A SENSE OF JUSTICE, AND NEUROENHANCEMENT

Summary/Abstract: In this paper we shall explore the neurobiological basis of human cooperation, as well as some biomedical means for enhancing cooperation capacities that are already available, or that will be available in the near future. For that reason we will pay special attention to the role that hormone oxitocin (Oxt) plays in inducing trust among humans. Some recent experiments in neuroeconomics suggest that increase of the level of oxitocin in human brain increases readiness for cooperation. We shall argue that these experiments are crucially important for the enhancement debate, especially on the topic of moral enhancement. Nevertheless, we will raise several objections against the straightforward use of these experiments in pro-enhancement arguments. The first problem, that is biomedical in its nature, concerns the issue of side effects. The second problem is that increased readiness for cooperation may result in some unintended consequences both on individual and societal level. Finally, we will address the political problem of finding an adequate institutional response to the possibility of moral neuroenhancement.

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