Presentation Title: “New consent process using philosophy education to solve the MMT problem”

Abstract:

This study will suggest a practical method to the ethical problems that Memory modification technologies(MMT) will cause. With the development of neuroscience technology, the possibility of using MMT that can artificially affect the function and content of memory is increasing, along with various ethical concerns and positive reactions. Expected to help people take self-control of their own lives, this technology aims to be used in the treatment of psychiatric diseases that adversely affect daily life, such as PTSD. On the other hand, it is difficult to ignore the anticipated negative effects of MMT. Such include the issue of one's self-identity and truthfulness, the issue of ethical responsibility, and the social problems that arise from one’s too-easy trauma overcoming. Most of the discussions on MMT are concerned about the expected negative consequences of one’s identity change and rapid behavioral change. However, these discussions have not yet offered any practical solution, and only have called for deeper investigation in the ethics community. Since this technology continues to develop, and there will be people who earnestly need it, it would be a naive opinion to ban MMT unconditionally for the reason that it causes ethical concerns. Instead, it seems to be necessary to find a practical solution that can minimize these anticipated negative effects. However, practical methods applicable in the medical field have yet to be established. Therefore, I considers it necessary for a patient must have time to think about their identity, life, community, and the impact of memory modification before receiving MMT treatment. And supporting this process must be included in ‘respect for patient’s autonomy’. For this process, ‘community of inquiry’ methodology of philosophy education can help. It aims at philosophical thinking itself rather than simply acquiring philosophical knowledge, so it will help patients to actively think about philosophical and ethical issues about problems from MMT treatment and make decision about own problem. Based on this discussion, I propose a novel way of respecting a patient’s autonomy in the MMT problem and a practical methodology using ‘consent based on philosophical thought’.