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International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Journal | Volume | Article

216853

Natural selection, childrearing, and the ethics of marriage (and divorce)

building a case for the neuroenhancement of human relationships

Brian D. EarpAnders Sandberg Julian Savulescu

pp. 561-587

Abstract

We argue that the fragility of contemporary marriages—and the corresponding high rates of divorce—can be explained (in large part) by a three-part mismatch: between our relationship values, our evolved psychobiological natures, and our modern social, physical, and technological environment. "Love drugs' could help address this mismatch by boosting our psychobiologies while keeping our values and our environment intact. While individual couples should be free to use pharmacological interventions to sustain and improve their romantic connection, we suggest that they may have an obligation to do so as well, in certain cases. Specifically, we argue that couples with offspring may have a special responsibility to enhance their relationships for the sake of their children. We outline an evolutionarily informed research program for identifying promising biomedical enhancements of love and commitment.

Publication details

Published in:

Powell Russell, Kahane Guy, Savulescu Julian (2012) Evolution, genetic engineering and human enhancement. Philosophy & Technology 25 (4).

Pages: 561-587

DOI: 10.1007/s13347-012-0081-8

Full citation:

Earp Brian D., Sandberg Anders, Savulescu Julian (2012) „Natural selection, childrearing, and the ethics of marriage (and divorce): building a case for the neuroenhancement of human relationships“. Philosophy & Technology 25 (4), 561–587.