1. Enhancements of physical, cognitive, or motivational characteristics might be brought about through genetic engineering of embryos orgametes, implantation of laboratory-grown tissues and organs, human/machine interfacing (including nanotechnologies), and pharmacological interventions.
2. For some relevant literature, see: Harold W. Baillie and Timothy K. Casey, editors (2004)Is human nature obsolete? Genetics, bioengineering, and the future of the human condition(Cambridge, MA: MIT Press); Leon Kass (2000) ‘The Wisdom of Repugnance,’ inThe Human Cloning Debate,2ndedition, ed. Glenn McGee, pp. 68-106. (Berkeley, CA: Berkeley Hills Books); and Erik Parens, editor (1998)Enhancing Human Traits: Ethical and Social Implications(Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press).
3. Two prominent examples include Jurgen Habermas (2003)The Future of Human Nature(Cambridge: Polity) and Francis Fukuyama (2002)Our Post-Human Future: Consequences of the Biotechnology Revolution(New York: Ferrar, Straus & Giroux).
4. ‘Hard-wired’ here does not mean deterministic. Rather, it is used to convey either the idea that the dispositions in question are recalcitrant to modification by training, education, and acculturation (hence the adjective ‘hard’) and also that their existence is more innate than learned.
5. Norman Daniels (forthcoming) ‘Can anyone really be talking about ethically modifying human nature?’ In Julian Savulescu and Nick Bostrom, editors,Enhancement of Human Beings(Oxford: Oxford University Press).