ABSTRACT
Neurogenomics will present many bioethical challenges as it expands its knowledge. We agree with Ellen Zhang that the bioethical concerns of neurogenomics are similar to those involved in genetic engineering in general. She analyzes the idea of neuroeudaimonics as an aid to help us navigate through the challenges presented by neurogenomics. However, this idea is not compatible with Christianity because (1) the concepts of suffering and happiness from a Catholic perspective seem to be in conflict with the Buddhist’s views. In Buddhism suffering has to be minimized to achieve happiness, whereas in the Catholic tradition, suffering is part of the journey to gain ultimate happiness, so it is accepted with a sense of hope and (ironically) some level of happiness, as explained in the previous section when talking about the beatitudes; and (2) it seems that there is a possibility to fall into a reductionist view of the brain, and ultimately of the human being. The objective of this paper is to analyze the topic of neuroethics using the same logic used by Dr. Zhang, and we will begin our analysis from Aristotle’s Eudaimonics, taking the Western road of Christianity, to finally discuss the idea of neuroeudaimonics from a Catholic perspective.
