Abstract
Biomedical technology has realized several kinds of human enhancement. Among them, enhancement of our cognitive performance is remarkable. There are already several supplements, for example, caffeine for staying awake and DHA for better memory. However, the present drugs for enhancing our intelligence, so called smart drugs, are completely different from such supplements. Smart drugs are artificially synthetic chemicals that are used in order to improve cognitive performance. They are developed for medical use, but they similarly affect healthy persons. For example, smart drugs can improve a person's ability to pass university entrance exams. However, strong drugs have strong side-effects, and radical enhancement of intelligence gives rise to many ethical issues. Therefore, to assess the ethical implications of cognitive enhancement, in this paper, we will consider the merits and demerits of cognitive enhancement. Firstly, we will outline the current situation on cognitive enhancement. Secondly, we will consider its merits and demerits. In conclusion, we will examine whether cognitive enhancement by smart drugs is ethically admissible.
