Comments on: Treating the Sex Offender

By: Iain Brassington

Iain Brassington — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 09:54:00 +0000

Yeah. The JH line (crudely put) is that cognitive enhancement is more important than, and can seed, moral enhancement; the IP/ JS claim is that cognitive enhancement is separable from moral enhancement and problematic without it. I agree that the two are separable, but I do lean more towards John’s claims on this all the same.
I’m not sure what the athletic analogy adds, though.

By: Divine

Divine — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 08:54:00 +0000

This is interesting indeed. I am agreed on the central questions posed but only if the drugs are, as presumed, used to treat or suppress a ‘pathology’. But what if there’s no pathology? Then most of the concerns of determinism and punishing the ‘ill’ may be rendered otiose. Drugs are not necessarily used to treat pathologies but for all kinds of purposes including performance enhancement. So, might we say then than moral enhancement as employed is a misnomer and that it might be more appropriate to call it ‘cognitive performance enhancement’. That is if we, by our social construct agree that the sociallly desirable goal is ’less or no sex offence’. In which case the drugs will be employed to enhance performance to reach that desired goal. That raises a number of new questions. What about the use of performance enhancement drugs in sports where the socially desired ends are coming in first? I guess Harris’s take on enchancement in sports might have a cutting edge here. Also, if we use these cognitive performance enhancement drugs to suppress sexual desires etc how certain are we that having those fantasies is not socially desired? By the way, if we use drugs to alter people’s behaviour are they still respobsible for their actions? If not, even if the socially desired ends of that behaviour is morally desirable, will it be appropriate to call that a moral action simply because a morally desirable end has been achieved? And finally, will it be appropriate to call such behaviour a morally enhanced one? Just thoughts, and unfortunately more questions and no answers from me. Sorry about that.

By: Theosc

Theosc — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 21:09:00 +0000

… and what if there is no ‘pathology’ at all (remember those ‘regressed gays?), but the problem is all a social control construct?

Will you good doctors continue to assist in it?

The OSC
Mod Edit: Given the topic of the post, and the fact that you’re using a pseudonym, I’m not going to let your link through unless and until you tell us what “The OSC” is. Say more, and I’ll consider allowing it.