The Morality Of Mind Enhancement

[aptpupil]

The use of mind-enhancing drugs amongst academics and students is now becoming widespread, in order to confer an advantage through improved concentration, ability to thrive on less sleep, and more efficient memory. Drugs such as Modafinil and Ritalin, which allow the individual to stay awake for longer and to focus better are already in use, and apparently being traded on University campuses.

So, is this method of improving your academic performance a perfectly legitimate habit, or, rather like performance enhancing drugs in sport, do they give an unfair and perhaps immoral advantage to the users, leading to better exam results, and ultimately, perhaps an edge in the job market and a greater earnings potential?

[poisonbat]

I don't think anyone should count on these type of drugs to do well in school. Use what God gave you and go with it.

[Haunted]

I believe the body can take only so much pushing and altering before it says WHOA. The old tried and true life habits of not overindulging with too much bad food, bad booze, bad parties etc., combined with good diet and credible hours of sleep and rest along with concentrated hours of study make for a good student and teacher.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

Once upon a time, I was a student, and I had various modules including psychology, to pass in my finals exam before I got my degree in Graphic Communication.

Because psychology lectures were at 9 a.m on a Monday morning it's safe to say that I'd let my studies in this particular discipline...um....'slip' just a tad.

So for the 72 hours before the exam I stayed up and lived on coffee and amphetamines to try to catch up.

When I eventually got to the examination hall I was so effed that I took five attempts to even spell the word 'psychology' and left as soon as was possible, thus failing completely.

I resat the exam a few months later and passed with flying colours but definitely don't recommend them as a study aid.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Jaedpact]

I am only aware of one drug out there that keeps people awake and does not use the traditional augmented amphetamines. It was designed for Old folks and then quickly adopted by the military for our pilots. It is called "Provigil" I think that adderal or ritalin is more readily available on college campuses, which is unfortunate as they are generally more addictive in nature. Those things aside.

I don't think that staying a wake longer is a form of cheating... I mena I am a bit of an insomniac and I would not consider the productive things that I have done while another person was asleep would be considered a cheat as much as it could be called an advantage.

But c'mon your in college just chill a bit and either adhere to the curiculum like a good boy or girl or party it up, like a good boy or girl. I just can't see how well some one could do both... especially when amphetamines are involved.

[Kim L.]

I am only aware of one drug out there that keeps people awake and does not use the traditional augmented amphetamines. It was designed for Old folks and then quickly adopted by the military for our pilots. It is called "Provigil" I think that adderal or ritalin is more readily available on college campuses, which is unfortunate as they are generally more addictive in nature.

Provigil is the brand name for modafinail, and is used for people with narcolepsy, shift workers, people with sleep apnea, and those who have fatigue associated with multiple sclerosis. It's probably also used off-label for the reasons mentioned in previous posts.

[~Ally~]

The use of mind-enhancing drugs amongst academics and students is now becoming widespread, in order to confer an advantage through improved concentration, ability to thrive on less sleep, and more efficient memory. Drugs such as Modafinil and Ritalin, which allow the individual to stay awake for longer and to focus better are already in use, and apparently being traded on University campuses.

I have not heard of this use of Ritalin until now so I will ask around my University tomorrow. I will make it clear this is purely for research purposes, not shady dealings.

Although I'm already an insomniac so I dread to think how I would cope on anything designed to keep me awake for even longer, even for mind enhancing use. I tend to be more creative in the early hours of the morning and can easily research and write 2000 words of an assignment within a couple of hours during this time, so maybe I just don't need drugs. Thankfully, good girls just don't take the risk.

[BlackThorn]

From the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program I was mandatory forced to take about three or four times within my grade school upbringing, a drug is classified by their program as thus...

A DRUG is: Any substance that effects your body or mind in any way, other than food.

Coffee and Marijuana are arguable as foods, while the properties of their most active ingredients can also be considered a drug. I think this is another one of those "Handicapper General" threads, where we're digging to find... what, if we're still human enough to allow competition, or if we all need to be handicapped to the same general specifications?

When I was a kid, I had really bad acne. I took tetracycline pills and such to bring it under control. Does this mean I cheated at the "handsomeness race"? If I drink a cup of coffee in the morning, does that mean I am obtaining an unfair advantage over individuals who aren't in a position to benefit from a regulated dose of caffeine in the morning? What if a sexy tutor fell for me, and offered to carry me through my school troubles, because I had a good complexion? Is that also tipping the "fair" scales you're asking about by the topic of this thread?

"The world is neither fair nor unfair. The idea is just a way for us to understand." (That's a line from a Cure song)

As long as Hitler didn't win, and the Taliban don't get their way, using an advantage to become stronger and more than the sum of your own parts is completely natural, and what pushes the human race beyond it's limits on a daily basis.

Besides, college isn't about actually learning. It's about parroting, or learning to think and evolve for yourself, if you have a good professor. Google will always have the answers. Is the Ritalin gonna help you use them, or not?

[BlackThorn]

Of course, since all computers and AI were outlawed... everyone who was anyone in 'Dune' had their own supply of the Spice.

[Jaedpact]

Well placed Dune reference complete with book cover image.... Plus 15 internets to you sir!