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Parenthood in the Transhuman Age - An Intellectual Property Model? Sebastian Sethe

10th December 05 . Parenthood in the Transhuman Age - An Intellectual Property Model? Sebastian Sethe. SIBLE Sheffield Institute of Biotechnological Law and Ethics. The University of Sheffield Department of Law. SIBLE. ‘Rothblatt agenda’. S. Sethe. University of Sheffield.

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Parenthood in the Transhuman Age - An Intellectual Property Model? Sebastian Sethe

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  1. 10th December 05 Parenthood in the Transhuman Age - An Intellectual Property Model? Sebastian Sethe SIBLE Sheffield Institute of Biotechnological Law and Ethics The University of Sheffield Department of Law

  2. SIBLE ‘Rothblatt agenda’ S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  3. SIBLE Assumptions 1) No ‘Ludditocary’ – Posthuman entities can, in principle, have autonomy-based rights. 2) No ‘Subhuman’ – Entity is reasonably likely capable of developing to a close approximation of personhood. 3) No ‘Singularity’ – Agency of posthuman entities is subject to reasonable dispute. S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  4. SIBLE Posthuman children S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  5. SIBLE Personhood  Autonomy Personhood ? -- Person (Human) -- Immature person (Child) -- Possibly mature person (Comatose) -- Potentially mature person (Fetus) -- Possibly potential mature person (Ape) -- No person (Slug) -- Adult person HIGH LOW Legal recognition of autonomy S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  6. SIBLE How mature is it? Conclusion 1: Degrees of Personhood NOT: Is it a person? BUT:- Is it a potential person? - How likely could be(come) a person? - How much of a person is it? S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  7. Cognitive Knowledge Emotional Social Personality Physical SIBLE Self-awareness Reflection Logic Deliberation Will Memory Imagination Self-ideal Intuition … • Cognitive S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  8. Data Information Know-how History Cognitive Knowledge Emotional Social Personality Physical SIBLE S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  9. Language Values Morality Etiquette Culture Cognitive Knowledge Emotional Social Personality Physical SIBLE S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  10. Temperament Mood stability Attachment Empathy Cognitive Knowledge Emotional Social Personality Physical SIBLE S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  11. Prudence Flamboyance Discipline Honesty Flexibility Aggression Sensitivity Privacy …. Cognitive Knowledge Emotional Social Personality Physical SIBLE S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  12. Senses Communication Stamina/ Health Tools Cognitive Knowledge Emotional Social Personality Physical SIBLE S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  13. SIBLE Conclusion 2: Degrees of Maturity NOT: Is it smart enough? BUT: How developed is it in… • Cognitive • Knowledge • Emotional • Social • Personality • Physical Maturity S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  14. SIBLE -> Task- specific competence Fundudis 2003, modified S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  15. SIBLE Charting maturity % M A T U R I T Y % TIME S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  16. SIBLE -> Task- specific competence Fundudis 2003, modified S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  17. SIBLE Justifications for legal acknowledgment of the progenitor’s continued parenthood • The ‘authorship’ theory • The ‘best interest’ theory • The ‘reward’ theory • Tradition S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  18. SIBLE Conclusion 3: Degrees of Parenthood NOT: Who is the genetic parent? BUT:- Who has a justified interest? - Who is best suited? - Who has made a contribution? - Who intends to make a contribution? S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  19. SIBLE Intellectual property • Exclusive right to prohibit the exploitation of an idea by others • Not a license to exploit the idea • Novelty requirement • Limited in time and scope • Increasing importance in the knowledge economy S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  20. SIBLE Justifications for legal acknowledgment of intellectual property • The authorship theory • The ‘best interest’ theory • The ‘just deserts’ theory • Tradition S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  21. SIBLE Splitting intellectual property S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  22. SIBLE Splitting parenthood? S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  23. SIBLE Summary Thesis: Degrees of personhood can be legally reflected in degrees of parenthood. This flexible model provides a more useful and reasonable tool for arbitrating rights and responsibilities in relation to (not only) posthuman beings. S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  24. SIBLE ? For discussion • But adults are not fully mature? • Is psychology too anthropocentric? • Our concept of childhood is an artefact of culture. • Children are can be immoral and certainly dangerous. • How to account for the child's perception of dynamic paternity? • Is task-specific competence authoritarian by the backdoor? • Can maturity lapse? • Can we really discard contractarianism? • What about involuntary parenthood? • How do children's rights differ in posthumans? • Resolving disagreements among parents? • Can we really cope with fragmentation? • How to spot neglect? • What about incompetent parents? • How much state intervention? • Why not go fully communitarian? • Are posthumans more or less amenable to parenting? • Should parents be free to ‘author’ just any personality profile? • … S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  25. SIBLE ? indentured childhood? % M A T U R I T Y % TIME S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  26. SIBLE ? Proposal: I. Acknowledge fundamental (‘generic’) rights • F&R assessment of developmental potential • Non- maleficience II. Apportion parenthood • rights and • responsibilities III. Task obligation possible, provided the task is not • causing great discomfort or • damaging development IV. Task/Situation specific competence • Where such competence is likely and • Where fully mature persons particularly value autonomy V. Released into full adulthood if • mature personality is reached and • debts are paid/ committed to S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  27. SIBLE Comments welcome! Collaborations welcome! Many thanks for listening! SSethe@gmail.com FIN references: Shoshana L. Gillers: A Labor Theory of Legal Parenthood ; Yale Law Journal, (2001) Vol. 110: pp.691-724 Katharine K. Baker ; Bargaining or Biology? The History and Future of Paternity Law and Parental Status ; Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy, (2004) Vol. 14, pp.1-69, Trian Fundudis ; Consent Issues in Medico-Legal Procedures: How Competent Are Children to Make Their Own Decisions? ; Child and Adolescent Mental Health (2003) ; Vol.8 pp.18-22 S. Sethe University of Sheffield

  28. SIBLE Charting maturity % M A T U R I T Y % ---------- TIME S. Sethe University of Sheffield

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