The ethical relevance of the unconscious

Farisco, Michele; Evers, Kathinka

doi:10.1186/s13010-017-0053-9

Cited by 20 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Neuroethics has been extensively engaged in the conceptual analysis of consciousness and related ethical implications, also questioning its supposedly unique ethical relevance and implications for the ethics of non-conscious humans and non-human beings [79,80]. To that extent, it can assist AI ethics in the assessment of potentially conscious AI and in informing relevant regulation.…”

Section: The Conceptual Approach In the Ethical Analysis Of Ai: The P...mentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Contribution of Neuroethics to the Ethics and Regulation of Artificial Intelligence

2022

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Contemporary ethical analysis of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is growing rapidly. One of its most recognizable outcomes is the publication of a number of ethics guidelines that, intended to guide governmental policy, address issues raised by AI design, development, and implementation and generally present a set of recommendations. Here we propose two things: first, regarding content, since some of the applied issues raised by AI are related to fundamental questions about topics like intelligence, consciousness, and the ontological and ethical status of humans, among others, the treatment of these issues would benefit from interfacing with neuroethics that has been addressing those same issues in the context of brain research. Second, the identification and management of some of the practical ethical challenges raised by AI would be enriched by embracing the methodological resources used in neuroethics. In particular, we focus on the methodological distinction between conceptual and action-oriented neuroethical approaches. We argue that the normative (often principles-oriented) discussion about AI will benefit from further integration of conceptual analysis, including analysis of some operative assumptions, their meaning in different contexts, and their mutual relevance in order to avoid misplaced or disproportionate concerns and achieve a more realistic and useful approach to identifying and managing the emerging ethical issues.

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Section: The Conceptual Approach In the Ethical Analysis Of Ai: The P...mentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Contribution of Neuroethics to the Ethics and Regulation of Artificial Intelligence

2022

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“…Both phenomena are potentially paradigm changing in the understanding of recovery of consciousness in the severely injured human brain. Considering these scientific advances, Farisco and Evers ( 2017 ) posited that “the traditional way of depicting the unconscious as a dimension deeply separated from and even opposed to consciousness is misleading and overly simplistic.”…”

Section: Conceptual Revisionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuroscience and Brain Death Controversies: The Elephant in the Room

2018

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The conception and the determination of brain death continue to raise scientific, legal, philosophical, and religious controversies. While both the President’s Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research in 1981 and the President’s Council on Bioethics in 2008 committed to a biological definition of death as the basis for the whole-brain death criteria, contemporary neuroscientific findings augment the concerns about the validity of this biological definition. Neuroscientific evidentiary findings, however, have not yet permeated discussions about brain death. These findings have critical relevance (scientifically, medically, legally, morally, and religiously) because they indicate that some core assumptions about brain death are demonstrably incorrect, while others lack sufficient evidential support. If behavioral unresponsiveness does not equate to unconsciousness, then the philosophical underpinning of the definition based on loss of capacity for consciousness as well as the criteria, and tests in brain death determination are incongruent with empirical evidence. Thus, the primary claim that brain death equates to biological death has then been de facto falsified. This conclusion has profound philosophical, religious, and legal implications that should compel respective authorities to (1) reassess the philosophical rationale for the definition of death, (2) initiate a critical reappraisal of the presumed alignment of brain death with the theological definition of death in Abrahamic faith traditions, and (3) enact new legislation ratifying religious exemption to death determination by neurologic criteria.

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“…This new conceptual model of consciousness is conceptually parsimonious and practically relevant, specifically with reference to the assessment and care of patients suffering from disorders of consciousness. It opens the possibility that what is usually described as the unconscious, which according to ICT is an unaware modality of consciousness possibly characterized by a very basic level of phenomenality, with specific abilities and needs, might be ethically relevant as well [67]. Morevoer, at the ethical level ICT outlines the high level of elaboration and sophistication that the unaware brain exhibits, claiming for an appropriate treatment in clinical context.…”

Section: Studies On Consciousnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuroethics and Philosophy in Responsible Research and Innovation: The Case of the Human Brain Project

2018

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Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)is an important ethical, legal, and political theme for the European Commission. Although variously defined, it is generally understood as an interactive process that engages social actors, researchers, and innovators who must be mutually responsive and work towards the ethical permissibility of the relevant research and its products. The framework of RRI calls for contextually addressing not just research and innovation impact but also the background research process, specially the societal visions underlying it and the norms and priorities that shape scientific agendas. This requires the integration of anticipatory, inclusive, and responsive dimensions, and the nurturing of a certain type of reflexivity among a variety of stakeholders, from scientists to funders. In this paper, we do not address potential limitations but focus on the potential contribution of philosophical reflection to RRI in the context of the Ethics and Society subproject of the Human Brain Project (HBP). We show how the type of conceptual analysis provided by philosophically oriented approaches theoretically and ethically broadens research and innovation within the HBP. We further suggest that overt inclusion of philosophical reflection can promote the aims and objectives of RRI.

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The ethical relevance of the unconscious

Cited by 20 publications

References 35 publications

On the Contribution of Neuroethics to the Ethics and Regulation of Artificial Intelligence

On the Contribution of Neuroethics to the Ethics and Regulation of Artificial Intelligence

Neuroscience and Brain Death Controversies: The Elephant in the Room

Neuroethics and Philosophy in Responsible Research and Innovation: The Case of the Human Brain Project

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