human enhancement
Improving bodily capabilities
Human enhancement refers to interventions that improve human capacities beyond what's needed to restore normal health—augmenting strength, cognition, longevity, or appearance through technology, pharmaceuticals, or genetic modification.
The term encompasses everything from performance-enhancing drugs to neural implants to gene editing: The ethics of human enhancement remain hotly debated.
Distinguished from medical treatment, which restores normal function, enhancement aims to exceed it.
Cognitive enhancement compounds
- brain trainingMental acuity development
- focusConcentrated attention point
- attentionFocused mental awareness
- neuroplasticityBrain's self-rewiring ability
mental acuity · concentration · problem-solving · working memory · executive function · microdosing
Targeted DNA alteration
- genetic engineeringDeliberate DNA modification
- bioengineeringEngineering applied to biology
- synthetic biologyEngineering novel living systems
- genomicsStudy of entire genetic sequences
stem cells · cloning · cell therapy · nanomedicine · biomaterials · pharmacogenomics · personalized medicine · bioinformatics
Prolonging human lifespan artificially
- anti-agingCounteracting effects of time
- immortalityExemption from death
- telomereProtective chromosome terminus
- caloric restrictionReduced energy intake
rejuvenation · healthspan · cryonics · metformin · biological age · senescence · regeneration · lifespan
Fabricated body part replacements
- bionicsNature-inspired technology design
- implantDevice placed inside tissue
- exoskeletonExternal skeletal structure
- neuroprostheticsNerve-interfacing medical technology
brain-computer interface · artificial limb · cochlear implant · neural interface · bionic eye · chip implant · wearable tech · haptic feedback
Moral philosophy for medicine
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- equalitySame status for all
access · regulation · oversight · justice · dual-use · exploitation · discrimination · safety
Beyond human limitations
- singularityPoint where values explode
- mind uploadingDigitizing a person's consciousness
- superintelligenceHypothetical beyond-human cognition
- transcendenceSurpassing usual limits
Carrying out a task
- strengthPower to exert force
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
- staminaCapacity for sustained effort
- agilityQuickness and ease
recovery · dexterity · coordination · speed · muscle growth · steroids · blood doping · EPO
nootropics
Cognitive enhancement compounds
- brain trainingMental acuity development
- focusConcentrated attention point
- attentionFocused mental awareness
neuroplasticity · mental acuity · concentration · problem-solving · working memory · executive function · microdosing
gene editing
Targeted DNA alteration
- genetic engineeringDeliberate DNA modification
- bioengineeringEngineering applied to biology
- synthetic biologyEngineering novel living systems
genomics · stem cells · cloning · cell therapy · nanomedicine · biomaterials · pharmacogenomics · personalized medicine · bioinformatics · gene therapy
life extension
Prolonging human lifespan artificially
- anti-agingCounteracting effects of time
- immortalityExemption from death
- telomereProtective chromosome terminus
caloric restriction · rejuvenation · healthspan · cryonics · metformin · biological age · senescence · regeneration · lifespan · centenarian
prosthetics
Fabricated body part replacements
- bionicsNature-inspired technology design
- implantDevice placed inside tissue
- exoskeletonExternal skeletal structure
neuroprosthetics · brain-computer interface · artificial limb · cochlear implant · neural interface · bionic eye · chip implant · wearable tech · haptic feedback · augmented reality
bioethics
Moral philosophy for medicine
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
equality · access · regulation · oversight · justice · dual-use · exploitation · discrimination · safety · unintended consequences
posthuman
Beyond human limitations
- singularityPoint where values explode
- mind uploadingDigitizing a person's consciousness
- superintelligenceHypothetical beyond-human cognition
performance
Carrying out a task
agility · recovery · dexterity · coordination · speed · muscle growth · steroids · blood doping · EPO · reaction time
human enhancementdebilitation
Loss of strength or vitality
impairment · deterioration · degeneration · disability · cognitive decline
human enhancementnatural selection
Differential reproductive success
letting nature take its course · evolutionary adaptation · genetic drift · non-intervention
human enhancementnaturalism
Worldview excluding the supernatural
natural limits · Luddism · bodily integrity · primitivism · precautionary principle
human, enhancement, humans, humane, humanly, humanity, humanities, humanize, humanized