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118Doing Things with Thoughts: Brain-Computer Interfaces and Disembodied AgencyPhilosophy and Technology 32 (3): 457-482. 2019.Connecting human minds to various technological devices and applications through brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) affords intriguingly novel ways for humans to engage and interact with the world. Not only do BCIs play an important role in restorative medicine, they are also increasingly used outside of medical or therapeutic contexts (e.g., gaming or mental state monitoring). A striking peculiarity of BCI technology is that the kind of actions it enables seems to differ from paradigmatic human a…Read more
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64Minding Rights: Mapping Ethical and Legal Foundations of ‘Neurorights’Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics 32 (4): 461-481. 2023.The rise of neurotechnologies, especially in combination with artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods for brain data analytics, has given rise to concerns around the protection of mental privacy, mental integrity and cognitive liberty – often framed as “neurorights” in ethical, legal, and policy discussions. Several states are now looking at including neurorights into their constitutional legal frameworks, and international institutions and organizations, such as UNESCO and the Council of Eur…Read more
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Hacking the Brain: Dimensions of Cognitive Enhancement. ACS Chemical NeuroscienceACS Chemical Neuroscience 3 ( 10). 2018.
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33Rethinking the Right to Freedom of Thought: A Multidisciplinary AnalysisHuman Rights Law Review 22 (4): 1-14. 2022.In recent years, there has been increased academic interest in the human right to freedom of thought (RFoT). Scholars from various disciplines are currently debating the content and scope of this right. In his annual thematic report of 2021, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief paid explicit and comprehensive attention to the RFoT, encouraging further clarification of the content and scope of the right. This paper aims to contribute to this end, setting the stag…Read more
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26Forensic Brain-Reading and Mental Privacy in European Human Rights Law: Foundations and ChallengesNeuroethics 14 (2): 191-203. 2020.A central question in the current neurolegal and neuroethical literature is how brain-reading technologies could contribute to criminal justice. Some of these technologies have already been deployed within different criminal justice systems in Europe, including Slovenia, Italy, England and Wales, and the Netherlands, typically to determine guilt, legal responsibility, or recidivism risk. In this regard, the question arises whether brain-reading could permissibly be used against the person's will…Read more
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1The Future of Freedom of Thought: Liberty, Technology, and Neuroscience (edited book)Palgrave Macmillan. 2020.
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140Forensic Brain-Reading and Mental Privacy in European Human Rights Law: Foundations and ChallengesNeuroethics (2): 1-13. 2020.A central question in the current neurolegal and neuroethical literature is how brain-reading technologies could contribute to criminal justice. Some of these technologies have already been deployed within different criminal justice systems in Europe, including Slovenia, Italy, England and Wales, and the Netherlands, typically to determine guilt, legal responsibility, or recidivism risk. In this regard, the question arises whether brain-reading could permissibly be used against the person's will…Read more
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47Gesundheit oder Glaubhaftigkeit? Auswege aus dem traumatherapeutischen DilemmaEthik in der Medizin 32 (1): 65-83. 2020.Der Beitrag arbeitet ein Problem der psychotherapeutischen Praxis – den Konflikt zwischen konfrontativer Traumatherapie und Strafverfahren – und das daraus resultierende traumatherapeutische Dilemma unter rechtlichen und therapeutischen Gesichtspunkten auf und skizziert einen Vorschlag, wie es in vielen Fällen gelindert werden kann. Das Dilemma erwächst aus dem Umstand, dass Traumatherapie die Glaubhaftigkeit von Zeugenaussagen unterminiert, da es ihre Bestätigung durch die Aussageanalyse aus me…Read more
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14Health or credibility? Overcoming the dilemma of trauma therapyEthik in der Medizin 32 (1): 65-83. 2020.ZusammenfassungDer Beitrag arbeitet ein Problem der psychotherapeutischen Praxis – den Konflikt zwischen konfrontativer Traumatherapie und Strafverfahren – und das daraus resultierende traumatherapeutische Dilemma unter rechtlichen und therapeutischen Gesichtspunkten auf und skizziert einen Vorschlag, wie es in vielen Fällen gelindert werden kann. Das Dilemma erwächst aus dem Umstand, dass Traumatherapie die Glaubhaftigkeit von Zeugenaussagen unterminiert, da es ihre Bestätigung durch die Aussag…Read more
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88Brain-computer interfaces and personhood: interdisciplinary deliberations on neural technologyJournal of Neural Engineering 16 (6). 2019.Scientists, engineers, and healthcare professionals are currently developing a variety of new devices under the category of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). Current and future applications are both medical/assistive (e.g., for communication) and non-medical (e.g., for gaming). This array of possibilities comes with ethical challenges for all stakeholders. As a result, BCIs have been an object of both hope and concern in various media. We argue that these conflicting sentiments can be productive…Read more
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875The Future of Neuroethics and the Relevance of the LawAmerican Journal of Bioethics Neuroscience 10 (3): 120-121. 2019.Open Peer Commentary, referring to "Neuroethics at 15: The Current and Future Environment for Neuroethics".
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19Differences in the Interior Design of Prisons and PersonsAmerican Journal of Bioethics Neuroscience 9 (3): 170-172. 2018.The target article by Birks and Buyx (2018) contributes to an (as yet) strikingly undifferentiated debate on the coercive use of neurointerventions or neurocorrectives for rehabilitative purposes i...
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34Introduction: Political Implications of Moral EnhancementNeuroethics 12 (1): 1-3. 2016.What should we do if climate change or global injustice require radical policy changes not supported by the majority of citizens? And what if science shows that the lacking support is largely due to shortcomings in citizens’ individual psychology such as cognitive biases that lead to temporal and geographical parochialism? Could then a plausible case for enhancing the morality of the electorate—even against their will –be made? But can a democratic government manipulate the will of the people wi…Read more
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46Power to the People? Voter Manipulation, Legitimacy, and the Relevance of Moral Psychology for Democratic TheoryNeuroethics 12 (1): 55-71. 2016.What should we do if climate change or global injustice require radical policy changes not supported by the majority of citizens? And what if science shows that the lacking support is largely due to shortcomings in citizens’ individual psychology such as cognitive biases that lead to temporal and geographical parochialism? Could then a plausible case for enhancing the morality of the electorate—even against their will –be made? But can a democratic government manipulate the will of the people wi…Read more
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95Moral Enhancement and Mental FreedomJournal of Applied Philosophy 33 (1): 88-106. 2015.Promotion of pro-social attitudes and moral behaviour is a crucial and challenging task for social orders. As traditional ways such as moral education have some, but apparently and unfortunately only limited effect, some authors have suggested employing biomedical means such as pharmaceuticals or electrical stimulation of the brain to alter individual psychologies in a more direct way — moral bioenhancement. One of the salient questions in the nascent ethical debate concerns the impact of such i…Read more
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Universität HamburgDepartment of Philosophy
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany