Philosophisch-ethische Rezensionen
(Erscheinungsdatum der rezensierten Bücher: 20. und 21. Jahrhundert)

The book is, thus states the author in the preface, an attempt to get to grips with some of the ethical issues confronting our rapidly changing world. In fact it is, indeed, some sort of philosophical science-fiction with themes such as friendship in the future, autonomous cars, whether artificial intelligence will help us to identify criminals or help as analyze illnesses thus making doctors redundant. An what ethical issues arises when we are able to read minds or create artificial wombs, improve humans and livestock genetically? And how far we will go to avoid death in future? And should we embrace posthumanism? Technological advance seems to promise progress and improvement to our life, but, so the editor, is there perhaps a downside? Most of the authors of the small, concise articles of this book are connected with the Uehiro Centre of Practical Ethics specialized in the philosophy of Future Morality. Amazing, entertaining and easy to read also for philosophical beginners the book gains an insight in possible future trends which are already in onset. Often the arguments are as these: There has been an development in this field till this day which was controversial discussed and now is almost accepted by everyone. The new evolution has not really a new quality, but goes only a little bit further and therefore there is no substantial ethical argument against it. Quite a frequent point, but not always. The discussion is profound, but not too profound, thus one gets an overview over future morality themes and forms of argumentation without being molested and bored with too many deviation. A successful approach. The articles are attached to these chapters: Future People, Future Lives, Future Machines, Future Communication, Future Bodies, Future Death. Twenty-four fascinating articles. My explicit recommendation.

Jürgen Czogalla, 23.01.2022