Understanding the Ethical Issues in Cognitive Enhancement for School Performance

When we talk about using tools to boost brainpower for better grades, we need to think about fairness and who can access these tools. Focusing on things like smart drugs and brain-boosting technologies might lead us to forget about other important needs, such as mental health support and differences in wealth among students.

1. How Many Students Use Cognitive Enhancements?

• About 16% of college students in the U.S. said they use prescription drugs to help them study, even though they don't have a prescription (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2020).
• The market for brain-boosting products was worth around $3 billion in 2021, and it is expected to grow to about$5 billion by 2025. This shows that many people are looking for ways to improve their academic success.

2. Who Gets These Enhancements?

• Students from wealthy families have more access to brain-boosting options, making the gap between rich and poor even larger. For example, students from rich families are three times more likely to succeed in school than those from lower-income backgrounds (Pew Research Center, 2021).
• As more cognitive enhancement products are sold, we might end up with a system where only those who can afford these products do well in school. This goes against the idea that everyone should have a fair chance to succeed.

3. What Does This Mean for Society?

• Putting too much focus on brain enhancements can take money away from important services like mental health care. Each year, 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. struggle with mental illnesses, and yet mental health services often receive less funding compared to cognitive enhancement programs.
• Philosophers like John Rawls suggest that we should focus on helping those who are less fortunate before we try to improve the lives of those who are already better off.

In conclusion, while using tools to enhance cognitive abilities can help with school performance, we need to think about fairness and access. We must be careful not to create more inequality in our society. It’s important to balance cognitive enhancements with the need to provide equal support and resources for all students.