Call for Papers "Living with human enhancement – ethical, social, and psychological dimensions"
In Nature - Humanities and Social Sciences Communications
Submission deadline 27. November 2026
Human enhancement refers to biomedical, technological, digital, neurocognitive, or genetic interventions aimed at improving human capacities beyond what is typically considered species-typical or necessary for health. These include pharmacological enhancers (e.g., stimulants), neurotechnologies (e.g., brain–computer interfaces), implants (e.g., RFID chips), gene-editing techniques (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9), as well as hybrid systems integrating biological and artificial components, with the intention to augment human traits, abilities, or experiences and to improve physical, cognitive, emotional, or moral performance.
Human enhancement raises profound philosophical, psychological, social, and political challenges that are becoming increasingly urgent as the accelerated progress of AI, machine learning, and automation reshapes the landscape of enhancement technologies. Yet much of the debate has remained speculative. Today, however, technological developments render the prospect of human redesign far more tangible, calling for a remapping of the field of enhancement and transhumanist studies.
This special issue aims to explore and reframe the psychological, sociological, philosophical, ethical, cultural, and political dimensions of human enhancement.
We welcome original research articles from across the social sciences and humanities—including psychology, cognitive science, social psychology, sociology, anthropology, media studies, philosophy/ethics, and Science and Technology Studies (STS)—addressing, but not limited to, the following topics...continue reading