Abolitionism (bioethics)

Abolitionism is based on the utilitarian ethics of Jeremiah Bentham ^[4] . The abolitionist manifesto of the British utilitarian philosopher David Pierce, The Hedonistic Imperative ^[5] serves as a source of theories of this movement, as well as a demonstration of how abolitionist philosophy can be translated into reality.

Many people consider the achievement of the highest possible level of happiness the most important aspect and the primary goal of their life ^[6] . Studies show that there is a “basic level of happiness” ^[7] , to which a person returns over time, regardless of what happens to him / her, regardless of income level ^[8] and events that, according to most people, able to make them happy or sad for a long time, such as winning the lottery or the death of a close relative.

According to the theory of evolution , people have evolved through natural selection and follow genetic imperatives that aim to maximize reproduction ^[9] , not happiness. As a result of this selection, the level of human happiness is biologically limited. Pierce in his manifesto theorizes that people can overcome the genetic predisposition to depression and suffering through scientific advances, especially in areas such as applied neuroscience, biotechnology, nanotechnology , genetic engineering and psychopharmacology. Based on this scenario, abolitionists consider the very possibility of suffering as an undesirable aspect of human nature and believe that people are able and should reprogram their brain to achieve the maximum level of happiness throughout life. Some believe that this can be achieved not only through technologies already being developed, such as genetic engineering, but also thanks to technological advances that may become possible in the future, such as loading consciousness .

Abolitionism proceeds from the premise that emotions are physical, not spiritual , and thus, by making changes to the human brain, one can radically change the way people perceive life. Abolitionists believe that although biological evolution has not made all people happy, technology can take its place and ultimately create a new type of posthuman that only feels happiness and does not experience unintentional suffering, while preserving and possibly even improving its external functionality.

In 2006, Catherine Erto and his colleagues published the results of a study ^[10] , indicating the possibility of treating or preventing depression by manipulating genes. Mice born without a gene encoding potassium channel expression in neurons associated with depression have a resistance to depression (according to standard behavioral measurements in a rodent model) comparable to that of ordinary mice exposed to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) ^[11] .

The neuroscientist Richard Davidson has developed reliable methods for the objective assessment of affective states using functional magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography, demonstrating that happiness can be measured ^[12] . Davidson’s technological innovations also provide a more accurate measure of happiness than subjective questionnaires.

• Davidson, Richard J., Daren C. Jackson, and Ned H. Kalin. Emotion, Plasticity, Context, and Regulation: Perspectives from Affective Neuroscience (Eng.) // Psychological Bulletin. - American Psychological Association, 2000. - Vol. 126, no. 6 . - P. 890–909. - ISSN 0033-2909 . - DOI : 10.1037 // 0033-2909.126.6.890 . Archived March 4, 2016.
• Easterlin, Richard A. Will Raising the Incomes of All Increase the Happiness of All? (English) // Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization. - Elsevier, 1995 .-- Vol. 27. - P. 35-47. - ISSN 0167-2681 . - DOI : 10.1016 / 0167-2681 (95) 00003-B . Archived March 5, 2016.
• Ettinger, RCW Youniverse: Toward a Self-Centered Philosophy of Immortalism and Cryonics . - Boca Raton, FL: Universal Publishers, 2009 .-- 428 p. - ISBN 9781599429793 .
• Heurteaux, Catherine, Guillaume Lucas, Nicolas Guy, Malika El Yacoubi, Susanne Thümmler, Xiao-Dong Peng, Florence Noble et al. Deletion of the Background Potassium Channel TREK-1 Results in a Depression-Resistant Phenotype (Eng.) // Nature Neuroscience. - Nature Publishing Group, 2006. - No. 9 . - P. 1134-1141. - ISSN 1097-6256 . - DOI : 10.1038 / nn1749 .
• Konsorski-Lang, Silke, and Michael Hampe. The Design of Material, Organism and Minds: Different Understandings of Design . - Berlin; London: Springer, 2010 .-- 156 p. - ISBN 9783540690023 .
• Lykken, David, and Auke Tellegen. Happiness Is a Stochastic Phenomenon (Eng.) // Psychological Science. - Sage Publications, 1996. - Vol. 7, no. 3 . - P. 186-189. - ISSN 0956-7976 . - DOI : 10.1111 / j.1467-9280.1996.tb00355.x .
• Mancini, Lewis. Brain Stimulation to Treat Mental Illness and Enhance Human Learning, Creativity, Performance, Altruism, and Defenses Against Suffering (Eng.) // Medical Hypotheses. - Eden Press, 1986. - Vol. 21, no. 2 . - P. 209-219. - ISSN 0306-9877 . - DOI : 10.1016 / 0306-9877 (86) 90012-5 .

• Abolitionist project
• The hedonistic imperative
• BLTC Research