I asked another question that brought this up (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AreQPks1ucZtqL9FcjJDLr7sy6IX?qid=20070122214904AAcQQI2) and I was suprised at the hardline opinions of many. So if technology permitted would it be ethical to involuntarily change the mindsets/personalities of people with high recidivism rates? Maybe just criminals in general?
2007-01-22 17:15:05 · 6 answers · asked by Brandon 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Interesting question.
The challenge would be deciding who gets to design the reprogramming.
Another challenge... would it still be the same person after reprogramming? If not, that would probably not be ethical.
Would the technology allow for changing just the problematic thing? Say, if he was a child molester and the technology could just make him not find children sexually appealing, I would say it would be unethical NOT to do it.
It's certainly a challenging question.
2007-01-22 17:23:01 · answer #1 · answered by Behaviorist 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It would be a good idea, but the do gooders would have a field day with it. I guess it would also depend on how it was done; chemically, surgically...also, you would have to be careful who you were reprogramming. Would it just be the murderers and child molesters or would it be everyone. What about the kid who just stole the candy bar from the store? Lots and lotsof ethical questions. But if it would save the life of someone or prevent a child from having their innocence stolen, I would be all for it.
2007-01-22 17:21:08 · answer #2 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That would be crossing a very thin line. If we as a society say that that is OK for the government to do, then what's to stop them from "reprogramming" everyone who doesn't think exactly like them?
If you doubt this, look what happened in Nazi Germany. The German people allowed their freedom to be given away little by little in the name of a "better society" and before they knew it, they were under the iron rule of one of the most vile dictators known to man.
2007-01-22 17:26:31 · answer #3 · answered by rawson_wayne 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would be the same thing that was done to mental patients against their will with electro shock and lobotomies not so long ago. There are too many innocent people locked up to begin such a thing.
2007-01-22 17:25:28 · answer #4 · answered by columind99 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it would be. The return to prison by convicts is astronomical. If they can't conform to the law why not? I am not speaking of non violent crimes only violent ones ie murder, rape, child molestation etc.
2007-01-22 17:20:37 · answer #5 · answered by tomimegi 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yea. We should lobotomize the dangerous ones.
2007-01-22 17:19:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋