300551 The ethical, legal, and social aspects (ELSA) of performance enhancement biotechnologies for work, study, and leisure (S) (WiSe 2021/2022)

Certain prescription drugs, transcranial magnetic stimulation, brain-computer interfaces, and even genetic modifications are being discussed with regard to their potential to enhance mental performance (so-called “cognitive enhancement” or “neuroenhancement”). This phenomenon has attracted increased media interest in recent years and is now often debated among scientists. It is often assumed that due to increasing performance requirements, stress and the pursuit of success and perfection, an increasing number of people are considering or already engaging in such strategies in order to improve their ability to concentrate, remember, learn and make decisions - whether at work, at university or in their leisure time.

Proponents see these strategies as tools to promote intellectual, technological, economic, and cultural prosperity in the face of globalization and competitive and performance pressures. Opponents criticize their use and the resulting performance improvements as inauthentic and unfair, especially when access to these strategies is unequally distributed.

The goals of our interdisciplinary seminar are to:
- highlight the potential and dangers of substance-based (e.g., Ritalin, modafinil, or caffeine) and non-substance-based (e.g., meditation or brain stimulation) strategies of cognitive enhancement- the focus will be on prescription substances;
- discuss the prevalence of these behaviors in different populations and;
- use empirical studies to talk about sociological, social psychological, psychological, and criminological theories that attempt to explain the use of performance-enhancing drugs (e.g., Social Learning Theory, Job-Demands-Resources Model);
- become familiar with the ethical debate concerning substance use among healthy individuals in general and healthy children in particular (e.g., with reference to fairness norms and equal opportunity);
- discuss prevention strategies and policy implications regarding substance use.

As part of the seminar, we will also explore tasks for future research and discuss ways to address these tasks.

Requirements for participation, required level

Dear all,
if you could not attend the 1st session, but still want to participate, please send me an email as soon as possible!
Please check the Lernraum for updates.
Best regards, Sebastian Sattler