ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that the ethics of life enhancement can be deeply affected by the socially-produced identities of the individuals who are (ostensibly) benefited or not benefited by life-enhancement technologies, and by the power over these technologies that is wielded by some at the expense of others. It explores the significance of membership in certain social identity categories for the ethical evaluation of human enhancement technologies. The chapter includes such diverse and wide-ranging processes as fertility enhancements and pregnancy substitutes, pre-conception and prenatal sex selection, cloning, sex/gender changes, breast augmentation, cosmetic surgery, height augmentation, sexual performance enhancers, anti-depressants used as “mood brighteners,” memory improvement, and intelligence enrichment. It shows that questions about life enhancement can be deeply affected by social identity categories. The chapter also shows some aspects of ethics and social policy formation with respect to life enhancement.
