title: Moral enhancement requires multiple virtues.
abstract: Some of the debates around the concept of moral enhancement have focused on whether the improvement of a single trait, such as empathy or intelligence, would be a good in general, or in all circumstances. All virtue theories, however, both secular and religious, have articulated multiple virtues that temper and inform one another in the development of a mature moral character. The project of moral enhancement requires a reengagement with virtue ethics and contemporary moral psychology to develop an empirically grounded model of the virtues and a fuller model of character development. Each of these virtues may be manipulable with electronic, psychopharmaceutical, and genetic interventions. A set of interdependent virtues is proposed, along with some of the research pointing to ways such virtues could be enhanced.
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D000533:Altruism; D002605:Character; D066279:Courage / Q000941:ethics; D004645:Empathy / Q000941:ethics*; D028663:Ethical Theory; D024861:Genetic Enhancement / Q000941:ethics*; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D019359:Knowledge; D035863:Moral Development; D009014:Morals; D012935:Social Justice / Q000941:ethics; D013695:Temperance / Q000941:ethics*; D028722:Virtues