PhD Research Project
- Cyborg, Mensch-Maschine, Mensch 2.0: Diskurse zum Thema Human Enhancement (Working Title)
Human Enhancement is a topic that is and has been integral to human life: How can you use the surrounding tools to increase physical and/or psychological abilities? What can you do to beat the competition and gain an advantage over the rest? How can I best overcome personal or physical weaknesses hindering me from keeping up with my peers? In recent years, we have seen fast developments in the field of technological, scientific development – think all the refineries available for prosthesis, implants, neuro-enhancers etc. The dissertation project will focus on one part of these human enhancement technologies, the so called cochlear implant, a hearing device designed for the deaf and the hard of hearing. Although it can be beneficiary for some users, others see the possible dissolution of their own “culture of the deaf”. How the cochlear implant is perceived within the community with all its ethical implications is a constant topic of debate – but how does the community feel about cochlear implants in the wake of interest for human enhancement? This is only one of the questions the dissertation project will deal with.
Supervisior