ABSTRACT
This chapter examines human augmentation in the sense of manufacturing. It shows how the spontaneous trend of human enhancement and anthropotechnics can raise fundamental questions about laws, justice and criminality. Human enhancement is at the same time an old and a new practice. It includes age-old habits such as consuming coffee or alcohol, but the popular understanding of the term is more closely related to practices such as new reproductive techniques, the development of prosthetics or the professional consumption of psychostimulants. The chapter adopts a more concrete and prospective approach, combining elements of sociology, anthropology and philosophy. It explores the implication of justice and law more clearly. The chapter clarifies the kinds of criminalities which may emerge from violations of these regulatory frameworks. It helps to identify telltale sign of tensions, risks and abuses behind the perceived need for rules. Using scientific findings, it is possible to establish a benefit-risk analysis for a given usage.
