Trolley problem: 2035 version
May 27, 2015 at 9:56 am
(This post was last modified: May 27, 2015 at 10:05 am by JuliaL.)
Hypothetical scenario:
Congratulations! Your DARPA funded project is a complete success!
You have discovered and fully characterized two neural subnets in the Allen catalog of the human brain.
1) A sub-ganglion whose configuration and activity fully characterize and implement gender beliefs and behavior.
2) A network which implements unique religious faith.
Fellow researcher, "Bob" has developed nano scale robots which are able to manipulate neurons at the molecular level. Applying these to the above networks gives a capability of fully determining future beliefs and behavior. Correctly used, this process is fully controlled and without deleterious side effects (impossible, I know, but this is my hypothetical.) For example:
1) You can fully convert homosexual desire and behavior to stereotypically heterosexual.
2) You can convert any true believer in any religious faith to any other or remove any religious bias whatsoever, leaving the person atheist.
Is it ethically acceptable to use the nanobots to make the above modifications?
Congratulations! Your DARPA funded project is a complete success!
You have discovered and fully characterized two neural subnets in the Allen catalog of the human brain.
1) A sub-ganglion whose configuration and activity fully characterize and implement gender beliefs and behavior.
2) A network which implements unique religious faith.
Fellow researcher, "Bob" has developed nano scale robots which are able to manipulate neurons at the molecular level. Applying these to the above networks gives a capability of fully determining future beliefs and behavior. Correctly used, this process is fully controlled and without deleterious side effects (impossible, I know, but this is my hypothetical.) For example:
1) You can fully convert homosexual desire and behavior to stereotypically heterosexual.
2) You can convert any true believer in any religious faith to any other or remove any religious bias whatsoever, leaving the person atheist.
Is it ethically acceptable to use the nanobots to make the above modifications?
So how, exactly, does God know that She's NOT a brain in a vat? 
