Transcript Document

10th December 05
Parenthood in the Transhuman Age
- An Intellectual Property Model?
Sebastian Sethe
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The University of
Sheffield
Department of Law
Sheffield Institute of
Biotechnological
Law and Ethics
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‘Rothblatt agenda’
University of Sheffield
S. Sethe
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Assumptions
1) No ‘Ludditocary’ – Posthuman entities
can, in principle, have autonomybased rights.
2) No ‘Subhuman’ – Entity is reasonably
likely capable of developing to a close
approximation of personhood.
3) No ‘Singularity’ – Agency of posthuman
entities is subject to reasonable
dispute.
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S. Sethe
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Posthuman children
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S. Sethe
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 Autonomy
Personhood ?
HIGH
LOW
Person
(Human)
-- Adult
person
-- Immature person (Child)
-- Possibly mature person (Comatose)
-- Potentially mature person (Fetus)
-- Possibly potential mature person (Ape)
-- No person (Slug)
Legal recognition
of autonomy
University of Sheffield
S. Sethe
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Conclusion 1:
Degrees of Personhood
NOT: Is it a person?
BUT: - Is it a potential person?
- How likely could be(come) a person?
- How much of a person is it?
How mature is it?
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S. Sethe
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Cognitive
Knowledge
Emotional
Social
Personality
Physical
University of Sheffield
Self-awareness
Reflection
Logic
Deliberation
Will
Memory
Imagination
Self-ideal
Intuition
…
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Cognitive
Knowledge
Emotional
Social
Personality
Physical
University of Sheffield
Data
Information
Know-how
History
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Cognitive
Knowledge
Emotional
Social
Personality
Physical
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Language
Values
Morality
Etiquette
Culture
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Cognitive
Knowledge
Emotional
Social
Personality
Physical
University of Sheffield
Temperament
Mood stability
Attachment
Empathy
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Cognitive
Knowledge
Emotional
Social
Personality
Physical
University of Sheffield
Prudence
Flamboyance
Discipline
Honesty
Flexibility
Aggression
Sensitivity
Privacy
….
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Cognitive
Knowledge
Emotional
Social
Personality
Physical
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Senses
Communication
Stamina/ Health
Tools
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Conclusion 2:
Degrees of Maturity
NOT: Is it smart enough?
BUT: How developed is it in…
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Cognitive
Knowledge
Emotional
Social
Personality
Physical
Maturity
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-> Task- specific competence
Age (years)
Pre birth
0-6
7-8
Person competent
Mother
Parents/guardian
Parents w/ child participating
9-11
12-14
14-17
Parent w/ child jointly
Child w/ parental ratification
Child
18+
Child is adult
Fundudis 2003, modified
University of Sheffield
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Charting maturity
%
M
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U
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%
TIME
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-> Task- specific competence
Age (years)
Pre birth
0-6
7-8
Person competent
Mother
Parents/guardian
Parents w/ child participating
9-11
12-14
14-17
Parent w/ child jointly
Child w/ parental ratification
Child
18+
Child is adult
Fundudis 2003, modified
University of Sheffield
S. Sethe
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Justifications for legal acknowledgment of
the progenitor’s continued parenthood
1)
2)
3)
4)
The ‘authorship’ theory
The ‘best interest’ theory
The ‘reward’ theory
Tradition
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S. Sethe
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Conclusion 3:
Degrees of Parenthood
NOT: Who is the genetic parent?
BUT: - Who has a justified interest?
- Who is best suited?
- Who has made a contribution?
- Who intends to make a contribution?
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S. Sethe
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Intellectual property
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Exclusive right to prohibit the
exploitation of an idea by others
Not a license to exploit the idea
Novelty requirement
Limited in time and scope
Increasing importance in the
knowledge economy
University of Sheffield
S. Sethe
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Justifications for legal acknowledgment of
intellectual property
1)
2)
3)
4)
The authorship theory
The ‘best interest’ theory
The ‘just deserts’ theory
Tradition
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Splitting intellectual property
Main author
Second author
Researcher
Proofreader
Publisher
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Splitting parenthood?
Foster mother
Birthmother
Grandparents
Scientist
Father
University of Sheffield
S. Sethe
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Summary Thesis:
Degrees of personhood
can be legally reflected in
degrees of parenthood.
This flexible model provides a more useful
and reasonable tool for arbitrating rights
and responsibilities in relation to (not only)
posthuman beings.
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S. Sethe
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For discussion
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But adults are not fully mature?
Is psychology too anthropocentric?
Our concept of childhood is an artefact of culture.
Children are can be immoral and certainly dangerous.
How to account for the child's perception of dynamic paternity?
Is task-specific competence authoritarian by the backdoor?
Can maturity lapse?
Can we really discard contractarianism?
What about involuntary parenthood?
How do children's rights differ in posthumans?
Resolving disagreements among parents?
Can we really cope with fragmentation?
How to spot neglect?
14. What about incompetent parents?
15. How much state intervention?
16. Why not go fully communitarian?
17. Are posthumans more or less amenable to parenting?
18. Should parents be free to ‘author’ just any personality profile?
19. …
University of Sheffield
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indentured childhood?
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TIME
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Proposal:
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I. Acknowledge fundamental (‘generic’) rights
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F&R assessment of developmental potential
Non- maleficience
II. Apportion parenthood
rights and
responsibilities
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III. Task obligation possible, provided the task is not
causing great discomfort or
damaging development
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IV. Task/Situation specific competence
Where such competence is likely and
Where fully mature persons particularly value autonomy
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V. Released into full adulthood if
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mature personality is reached and
debts are paid/ committed to
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FIN
Comments welcome!
Collaborations welcome!
Many thanks for listening!
[email protected]
references:
Shoshana L. Gillers: A Labor Theory of Legal
Parenthood ; Yale Law Journal, (2001) Vol. 110:
pp.691-724
Katharine K. Baker ; Bargaining or Biology? The
History and Future of Paternity Law and Parental
Status ; Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy,
(2004) Vol. 14, pp.1-69,
Trian Fundudis ; Consent Issues in Medico-Legal
Procedures: How Competent Are Children to Make
Their Own Decisions? ; Child and Adolescent
Mental Health (2003) ; Vol.8 pp.18-22
University of Sheffield
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Charting maturity
%
M
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U
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%
Cognitive
Emotional
Knowledge
Social
Personal
Phyical
Debt
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University of Sheffield
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