Human nature: The very idea Tim Lewens

51Citations
Citations of this article
54Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.
Get full text

Abstract

The only biologically respectable notion of human nature is an extremely permissive one that names the reliable dispositions of the human species as a whole. This conception offers no ethical guidance in debates over enhancement, and indeed it has the result that alterations to human nature have been commonplace in the history of our species. Aristotelian conceptions of species natures, which are currently fashionable in meta-ethics and applied ethics, have no basis in biological fact. Moreover, because our folk psychology finds this misleading Aristotelian conception highly tempting, we are in fact better off if we refrain from mentioning human nature altogether in debates over enhancement. © Springer-Verlag 2012.

Author supplied keywords

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Lewens, T. (2012). Human nature: The very idea Tim Lewens. Philosophy and Technology, 25(4), 459–474. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13347-012-0063-x

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free