A number of members of the Faculty of Bioethics and UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights, including Dean Prof. Alberto Garcia, Prof. P. Joseph Tham, full professor, and Ana Maria Ganev PhD candidate and #unescobiochair research assistant, participated in the 12th “International Conference on Education in Ethics” held in Mexico City, Mexico on June 19, 2024. The conference was sponsored by the UNESCO Chair in Bieothics and Human Rights, the Centro Anahuac de Desarrollo Estrategico en Bioethics, and the International Association for Education in Ethics.
Alberto García Gómez – Bioaesthetics as an educational strategy
In contemporary culture, which is inclined to graphic and digital communication and to emotional and sensitive experiences, proposing the approach to the universal values and principles of bioethics, through the universal language of art, seems to be an innovative and effective way to educate in bioethics.
Once the foundation and relationship between the good and the beauty is identified, the principles and values of global bioethics and its convergences with personalist bioethics (bioaesthetics) might be analyzed through artistic and aesthetic experience and stimulates designing of new strategies and the realization of pedagogical proposals for education in bioethics, through artistic resources.
Study the relationship and interaction between bioethics and art and the impact of art in human behavior is part of Bioaesthetics aiming to inspire lovers of the arts to appreciate universal artistic language as a possibility for the expression of moral values and ethical principles, with respect for human dignity and human rights, in a globalized and multicultural world. Appreciation and dissemination of this transformative power of the arts in educating in bioethics and its influence on culture, might be an effective tool to inspire and educate ethical biomedical research, clinical ethics, as well as environmental ethics being the main areas of bioethics.
Joseph Tham – Polarization of COVID Vaccines, Analysis and Group Actvities
This lecture was given in the 21st Summer Course Program on “Dialogue, Friendship, and Polarization Bioethics” by the Faculty of Bioethics in 2023. The one-day session focused on the debates on COVID-19 vaccines. We analyzed the SAGE Report (WHO 2014) on vaccine hesitancy, which listed the main cause of polarzation related to trust: Trust in the government, science, pharmaceutical companies, and the new vaccines, and the sources of information related to peer groups and social media. The polarization is less of a problem of lack of information than social identity, sometimes worsened by the echo chamber effect.
In the group activities, students were asked to examine different elements of trust crucial in vaccine hesitancy during COVID-19. The three activities were: 1) compare how the SAGE report coincides with the pandemic of ID 19. 2) The role of social media and fake news. 3) The place of vaccine mandates. The different groups proposed ways of minimizing vaccine hesitancy and polarization in future pandemics by bolstering trust to the rest of the class. The paper and the presentation will look at some these findings and propose how group activities might enhance ethics education.
Ana Maria Ganev – “Morality pills” for Moral Enhancement (psychedelics)
Up until now, moral progress, and in part ethics education, was molded by culture and religion, specifically through “literary morality pills”, such as proverbs, parables and fables, deemed as safe and effective tools for moral enhancement. These literary devices are all forms of condensed philosophy or wisdom aimed at shaping the moral character of the listeners. Nevertheless, such cognitive aids may not be enough for achieving effective and long-lasting moral improvements. Thus, a “chemical morality pill”, particularly psilocybin (the active ingredient of “magic mushrooms”), is currently viewed as a real and tangible biochemical tool for moral enhancement.
Psilocybin, the active ingredient in so-called “magic mushrooms,” appears to occasion profound spiritual experiences and enduring positive personality changes for many users. A growing body of evidence suggests that psilocybin can increase openness, connectedness to others, and nature relatedness. It may reduce authoritarian attitudes and prejudice. By catalyzing mystical states and reshaping personality, psilocybin could help cultivate virtues like empathy, compassion, and ecological concern. Thus this natural psychoactive substance may represent a powerful moral enhancer. However, psilocybin is not a quick fix or magic bullet for moral improvement. Any program of ethical betterment requires sustained effort across multiple fronts. But used judiciously under professional supervision, psilocybin could perhaps give some individuals access to life-changing spiritual insights and moral clarity. It may serve as a catalyst or supplement to advance moral development already being fostered through ethical instruction, contemplative practices, therapy, and life experience. In this way, the best of ancient wisdom and modern science can work together: literary morality pills providing the cognitive content, psilocybin providing a biochemical catalyst.
This paper explores and seeks to understand if and how psilocybin, one of the main psychedelic substances, may represent a viable option for assisting moral enhancement and be considered as a “supplement” for achieving moral progress in a harmoniously integrated way alongside traditional moral education and psychotherapy.
On May 23-24, Humanity 2.0 invited a diverse group of academic, corporate and religious partners from around the world to gather at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in the Vatican to participate in the 2024 Human Flourishing Forum.
Humanity 2.0 is a non-profit organization that is passionate about creating a world in which every individual has the opportunity to flourish. As a panelist for the “Tech Frontiers – Beyond the Doom and Boom Binary” panel, Assistant Professor in Bioethics and UNESCO Chair Research Scholar, Prof. Fr. Michael Baggot, LC, gave a captivating speech in which he explored the future of our society as it intertwines with AI. In Prof. Fr. Baggot’s presentation, he delved into the relationship between the concepts of “doom and boom”, highlighting the importance of recognizing both perspectives as we experience in AI one of the most rapid technological revolutions in history. Prof. Fr. Baggot emphasized that it is essential for our society to understand the ethical implications of AI, and the harmful aspects that it may introduce into our world. For example, he cautioned about the dangers of political manipulation through disinformation and deep fakes, and also highlighted the risks of exploiting human vulnerability for economic gain through artificial intimacy platforms. However, Prof. Fr. Baggot maintains a deep hope for humanity to engage in the ethical use of AI in a manner that helps us achieve the goals of global human flourishing. He provided examples of the benefits of AI in the areas of assisting in complex medical diagnosis and for educational purposes such as online tutoring and translation platforms.
In summary, the 2024 Human Flourishing Forum provided a realistic check on the state of the world, as we work collectively to promote human flourishing to establish a brighter future. Furthermore, the Forum developed a theoretical framework for professionals and specialists to collaborate and engage with each other in their respective areas of expertise. In order to develop a future in which all humans across the world can flourish, cross sectional collaboration is necessary. Flourishing is for everyone, and by everyone.
On June 10-12, the Expanded Reason Institute invited academics from around the world to the Francisco de Vitoria University in Madrid to participate in the 2024 Integral Ecology Congress.
Inspired by Pope Francis’s famous encyclical, Laudato Si, the Integral Ecology Congress sought to explore an all-encompassing vision of ecology and its connection to diverse sectors such as the environment, the economy and our society. As the 21st Century experiences an anthropological and ecological crisis, it is necessary to address these challenges through a multidisciplinary approach.
On the first day of the congress, Professor Lílian Santos, Research Scholar at UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights and Professor of Bioethics at Regina Apostolorum, delivered a presentation exploring gene editing and theology from an expanded perspective. She discussed expanded reason themes from a dual perspective. Specifically, she examined how the global governance of genome editing can be challenged by the ideas of Laudato Si, and conversely explored how Laudato Si can be inspired by genetic knowledge and the possibilities that exist within the field of gene editing. Furthermore, Professor Santos highlighted a number of issues in gene editing that are not covered in the encyclical, such as the de-extinction of some species, the use of gene drives in disease-transmitting species, gene editing in animals for transplantation, advances in hybrids and chimeras, and the rise of biohackers. Overall, Professor Santos’ presentation on expanded reason encouraged both the sectors of gene editing and theology to consider new realities, bringing collaborative approaches to the table.
30-31 May 2024 the Conference “Existential Threats and Other Disasters: How Should We Address Them” was held in Montenegro. The Conference was organized by The Center for the Study of Bioethics, The Hastings Center and The Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics.
Prof. Fr. Michael Baggot, LC, Assistant Professor of the Faculty of Bioethics, gave a speech about ‘Learning to Love Humans in the AI Apocalypse’ & Ana Maria Ganev, UNESCO Chair Assistant Researcher, about ‘Guided or Coerced: The Complex Ethics of Psychedelic Moral Enhancement’
Learning to Love Humans in the AI Apocalypse
Michael Baggot
Abstract
What if the apocalypse looks more like the film Her than the recent Oppenheimer? Perhaps humans will avoid incinerating each other only to dupe themselves into illusory emotional, romantic, and sexual attachments to their own AI inventions. These bonds would disconnect large sectors of society from reality and rid life of the noblest human interactions. New generative AI systems could so convincingly mimic human behavior that many people will settle for ersatz responses to their deepest relational needs.
No sudden explosion would alert humanity to such existential risks. Instead, ever-more sophisticated algorithms would slowly permeate life until intimacy with AI systems becomes as commonplace as joining a social media platform. Yet the steady creep toward submission to simulations is not inevitable. There is still time to dance, sing, feast, and procreate with other human beings. There is still time to meditate, converse, and love. This paper argues that learning to love humans well in the future requires a twofold approach. First, we should relish the fleshly embodiment outside our virtual domains. Shared meals, dance, sports, and religious rituals can remind us of the joys of being animals. Second, we should rediscover the uniquely personal capacities for abstract understanding, self-reflection, judgment, and moral agency that characterize humans as odd but endearing members of the animal kingdom. Personal introspection and philosophical dialogue can reawaken us to the rich subjectivity distinguishing us from our digital devices.
Guided or Coerced: The Complex Ethics of Psychedelic Moral Enhancement
Ana Maria Ganev
Abstract
Due to new technologies and the increasing destructive power of single individuals, traditional moral progress seems not up to the task anymore to prevent a societal collapse or even human extinction. Therefore, there is a recognized need for some support from non-traditional means in order to face modern challenges. A growing body of evidence suggests that a viable and practical way of achieving moral neuroenhancement is the use of psychedelic substances.
The debate around moral enhancement raises important questions about human agency, freedom, and societal risks. While some argue that moral bioenhancement would deprive people of free will or create a faux morality, others contend that compulsory, covert administration could avert catastrophes. Though disagreeing on methods, both sides recognize humanity’s moral limitations. Within this context, psychedelics come to the fore, presenting their own set of moral implications. The profound emotional and cognitive transformations induced by psychedelic experiences, when approached with careful consideration of “set” (mindset), “setting” (environment), and integration, open up new avenues for moral enhancement. Hence advocates propose psychedelics as voluntary moral aids, when other efforts fail. By altering consciousness, psychedelics unsettle notions of agency, virtue, and freedom. This paper delves into the exploration of psychedelics’ moral implications, considering whether they might serve as viable supplements for achieving moral progress. It underscores the importance of approaching them as aids rather than compulsions, thereby preserving the dignity of individual choice and autonomy while offering potential pathways toward a harmonious integration of traditional moral education and psychotherapy.
