Udoskonalanie gatunku ludzkiego − problemy definicyjne i argumentacyjne
Human enhancement: problems of definition and argumentation

Summary/Abstract: This article surveys the main issues of definition and argumentation relating to the debate over human enhancement. We note the existence of a sort of notional cascade: seeking to provide a definition of enhancement, authors attempt to distinguish it from therapy. Defining therapy requires the notion of normality, which in turn refers – explicitly or implicitly – to the notion of human nature. In this article, 1) we present the complexity and lack of clarity displayed by definitions of enhancement 2) we analyse the main arguments in favour of distinguishing the notions of ‘therapy’ and ‘enhancement’, 3) we analyse the notion of normality, 4) we refer to problems of interpretation relating to the notion of ‘human nature’, 5) noting that fears over human enhancement are grounded on the phenomenon known as neophobia, we explore that phenomenon in one of its manifestations, 6) we outline the issue of criteria for the categorisation and classification of methods of enhancement – a problem embroiled in a number of implicit assumptions.

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