Overview
- Authors:
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Vojin Rakić
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Center for the Study of Bioethics, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
- The only book dealing with post-humans defined as morally superior beings
- Serves as the first book to cover and define the conception of “ultimate morality”
- Offers a succinct historical elaboration of philosophical stances towards morality and happiness
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Table of contents (9 chapters)
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Morality and Happiness, Psychopathy and Utilitarianism
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About this book
This book deals with good, evil, happiness and morally enhanced post-humans. It offers a succinct historical elaboration of philosophical stances towards morality and happiness, focusing on Kant's ideas in particular. Human augmented ethical maturity in a futuristic version of Kant’s Ethical Commonwealth implies, among else, voluntary moral bio-enhancement (VMBE); consequently, more happiness – as morality and happiness are in a circularly supportive relationship; ultimate morality (UM). UM is in its own way a universal morality. In line with the contention that Kant’s vision of the (not immediate but more distant) future of humanity is one of a cosmopolitan moral order in which humans act virtuously in the broadest possible community, that is, humanity, it is justified to conclude that successful VMBE is conducive to Kant’s vision. In this context the book is of great interest to a broad audience, such as those interested in VMBE and novel conceptions of morality, andthose with an interest in the historical development of morality and happiness, in philosophy (specifically, ethics) and in post-humanity.
Reviews
“Vojin Rakić is a bioethicist who is always worth reading and continues to produce works on important topics. Here he writes about one of the most challenging issues of our times, namely the possibility of using science and technology to permanently change humanity itself. This change Vojin believes will take place at the level of morality. Vojin Rakić argues that the next major step in our evolution will be the development of a (new?) species he believes will be morally superior to existing humans. It will, Vojin argues, be guided by "Ultimate Morality", a concept that will continue to have certain foundations in traditional ethics.” (John Harris)
“Rakić’s book is jammed with refreshing and daring insights about human enhancement. Anyone who’s interested in philosophical debate about the future of humanity should read it.” (Nicholas Agar)
Authors and Affiliations
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Center for the Study of Bioethics, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Vojin Rakić
About the author
Vojin Rakić, Full Professor, is Director of the Center for the Study of Bioethics, Head of the European Division of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics (Haifa), and Director of the Center for Philosophy of the Institute for Social Sciences. Vojin Rakić, Full Professor, is Director of the Center for the Study of Bioethics, Head of the European Division of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics (Haifa), and Director of the Center for Philosophy of the Institute for Social Sciences. He is also Chair of the Cambridge Working Group for Bioethics Education in Serbia. Rakić is also Head of the Serbian Unit of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics. He has a Ph.D. in Political Science from Rutgers University in the USA (1998). He graduated philosophy in Serbia, and has M.A. degrees in European Studies from the Central European University in Prague and from the Department of Political Science of Rutgers University. He worked as Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Higher Education Policy Studies at the University of Twente in the Netherlands (1999–2001). Between 2001 and 2003, he was UN Special Adviser to the Government of Serbia. Since 2003, he works as University Professor in Belgrade. Rakić publishes primarily in English. His publications include various books and edited collections, as well as numerous articles from the domain of (bio-)ethics, and political philosophy (recent publications: articles in the Journal of Medical Ethics, American Journal of Bioethics, the Cambridge Quarterly of Health Care Ethics, Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, Bioethics, Developing World Bioethics, Sexuality and Culture, American Journal of Bioethics – Neuroscience, BioMed Research International, Annals of Internal Medicine, etc.).
