applied transhumanism

http://judson.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/16/a-commitment-pill/
"A Commitment Pill?"
by Olivia Judson
September 16, 2008
The New York Times

"In humans, the vasopressin receptor 1a gene comes in a number of forms. In the Swedish study, men who had two copies of one particular form of the gene — the variant known as RS3 334 — were less likely to be married, and more likely to report difficulties in their relationships, than other men. Their partners were also more likely to report relationship difficulties.
An experiment suggests itself. It would be fascinating to see whether inserting a “regular” vasopressin receptor gene into the brains of men who have two copies of the “difficulties” variant would ameliorate their problems, insofar as they have them. It would be fascinating to test the extent to which different forms of a single gene affect a man’s behavior."

One of many dissatisfied commenters remarks:

"A pill to promote male bonding behavior? A chemical solution to an ancient psycho-social conundrum? Please."

I mean, if anyone's got a better solution, now's the time.

On the other hand, it is worth pointing out that one could put this pill to a lot of questionable uses. It could be deployed as social policy: a way of ensuring that people not only toed a certain line, but wanted to toe the line. And that's more than a little scary. (But hey, the Party managed it without any fancy chemical tools). Equally, it could find surreptitious use in individual relationships.

What I think is wrong with these uses - what makes them the wrong application - is that they are not based on the choices and values of the individual. In other words, it would be reasonable of me, if I really believed in being very monagamous, and if I were male, and if I had reason to suspect that I was at risk of straying, to apply this method to myself (if you know your Parfit, this is meant to recall the Russian Nobleman). One interesting thought - maybe I'm just in love with the idea of monogamy? Maybe my deliberations have gone wrong already? This is why I say that scientific advances alone won't make us better people. This is another way of saying that the same things that can be wrong with using such a tool on another person could be wrong with using it on oneself.