How Should We Think About “Enhancement”?: Beyond the Proponents vs. Opponents Scheme

This paper outlines a new scheme for bioethical arguments of “enhancement” by introducing the concept of “form of life.” Many authors have argued about the morality of enhancement technologies, but their conflict seems unsolvable because there is no common ground to discuss the morality of enhancement as long as they adhere to their approval or disapproval. This paper proposes the concept of form of life as a common ground, and then studies that concept in two parts: reflection on our desire, and philosophical investigation of some forms of life.