Ethics Meets Neuroscience

Abstract What is neuroethics? This chapter begins with the case of a sex offender who developed deviant desires following brain surgery. Should he be held fully accountable for criminal activity that resulted from his treatment for epilepsy? The case illustrates one kind of issue that lies at the intersection of ethics and neuroscience. A preview of subsequent chapters demonstrates the breadth of neuroethics. The book’s main aim is to provide a unified take on this burgeoning field, with serious attention paid to both the philosophical issues and scientific evidence. So the chapter ends with an appendix describing some basic philosophical and neurobiological concepts necessary for navigating neuroethics.