Student Enhancement

Pharmaceuticals and Student Enhancement argues whether a student’s use of cognitive enhancing drugs in education is allowed. Cognitive enhancing drugs are used to help aid a student’s mind in order to access higher levels of performance in order to function at more proficient levels. These drugs also help a student focus and concentrate for longer periods of time. Author Gavin Enck argues in favor of cognitive enhancing drugs only if their reasons for using these enhancements are reflective of ideals of human excellence. While some argue that these drugs are used to help students cheat and others argue that these enhancing drugs are simply another type of educational tool, Enck argues that we look closer at the reasons or motivations a student …show more content…
I liked Enck’s determining factor that students are permitted to use cognitive enhancers if their reasons for using these enhancements are reflective of ideals of human excellence. If I were in the same position and was told to determine the three student’s morality of their use of cognitive enhancers, I too would choose the same outcome as Enck. Since Teresa is actually diagnosed with a learning disorder, it is only right for her to use enhancing drugs, since those will help her perform and reach the level she should be at. I am not saying she should take them, that is up to her to decide, but if they will help her with her learning them it would be okay for her to use them. With Edith’s case I also agree she is right to use enhancers because she is just trying to better herself. She is already performing at recommend level and I don’t see anything wrong with her trying to expand her mind even further, so what if it takes enhancing drugs to accomplish that, at least she is trying to improve herself and that too me is a good enough reason. The only way I would disagree with Edith’s case is if leads to addiction of enhancing drugs then I would disagree with her use. If Edith gets to the point where she thinks that the only way to get smarter is with drugs then that would lead to a bad reason and misuse of the enhancing drug. Oliver’s case is different, he chose not to study and pay …show more content…
As for me, I felt an improvement in my thinking skills each time we were assigned a reading assignment. I felt that my thinking skills improved with each reading, since they were all different, with different opinions and thoughts from different perspectives. I found that the assigned reading on TRACS and in the book served as evidence I could use to back up my arguments. Without evidence or validation to my argument they won’t be sound. It helped me understand their position and where they were coming from a little better, even if I didn’t always agree with their opinion. I know feel that everyone will not always agree with what I have to say or what I think and I will not always agree with what other people think or say. I just have to respect, listen and consider their opinion. The group and class discussion also helped improve my critical thinking skills and communication. I sometimes find myself talking over people whenever I disagree, but in this class I had to remember to let others speak as well. I managed to keep an open mind when it came to moral issues. I also questioned everything, when we went into small groups, I would also ask them why they were for or against an issue in order to get their explanation of the