Psychedelics for Moral Bioenhancement in Healthy Individuals—A Violation of the Non-Maleficence Principle?

The author argues that using psychedelics such as psilocybin for moral bioenhancement lacks good justification from both neuropharmacological and bioethical perspectives. The hallucinogenic properties and risk of adverse psychosis undermine their suitability for enhancing morality. There is no sound bioethical basis for this use, and in healthy individuals it would violate the principle of non-maleficence. Unless new non-hallucinogenic derivatives are developed or unequivocal evidence of moral enhancement emerges, an indication for psychedelics in moral bioenhancement is untenable.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Several authors have advanced the idea that psychedelics such as psilocybin might be effective means for achieving moral bioenhancement (MBE). Here, I discuss some reservations on this assertion from both neuropharmacological and bioethical perspectives, and surmised that there is little, if any, good justification for such a claim. The indication of psychedelics for MBE is undermined by their hallucinogenic properties and the risk of adverse psychosis. There is also a lack of sound bioethical basis for using psychedelics to enhance morality. Based on our current understanding, the use of psychedelics specifically for MBE in healthy individuals would violate the ethical principle of non-maleficence. Unless there is unequivocal demonstration that psychedelics could enhance morality, or that new non-hallucinogenic derivatives become available, an indication for psychedelics in MBE would be untenable.