The Pursuit of Excellence. Biotechnologies, enhancement and body capital in Portugal

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Publications

Para além das entrevistas logocêntricas: quando o etnógrafo reforça a sua caixa de ferramentas com arte, símbolos e artefactos

Publication . Manfredi, Federica

2022-11Journal article

Open access

Contributions of science fiction to thinking up (im)possible future societies: medical students’ genetic imaginary

Publication . Barbosa, Miguel; Santos, Ricardo

Science fiction has been an inexhaustible source for the creation of technoscientific imaginary that has marked certain historical periods and influenced the production of subjectivity. This imaginary evokes complex ontological, epistemological, political, social, environmental and existential questions on the present and the future. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize the cultural productions accessed by the public to form an opinion about the genetic manipulation of human beings. A survey about sources of information that influence opinions on the genetic manipulation of human beings was applied to 360 medical students (70.8% female). Movies were the most commonly mentioned source of information, followed by books, documentaries, news programs, television series, informational videos, soap operas and videogames. Science fiction was the most frequent genre and dystopian views of the future of humanity predominated.

2023Journal article

Open access

Medicina e cirurgia estética 'étnica': questões biopolíticas e bioéticas da transformação 'racial'

Publication . Pussetti, Chiara

2020Book part

Open access

Envelhecimento ativo e a indústria da perfeição

Publication . António, Manuel

In the last two decades, Active Ageing acquired significant importance in scientific and political forums as a new paradigm of public policies to meet challenges posed by the ageing population. Defined by the WHO as to emphasize society’s responsibility regarding quality of life as people age, the Active Ageing paradigm represents, nowadays, a progressive narrowing of action scope and accountability. In recent years, assuming the logic of individual accountability, it serves as basis for the accusation of individual negligence in not adopting a healthy lifestyle. This study analyses the websites of several Portuguese medical clinics specialized in anti-ageing medicine, where one can find advertisements of the services provided, and, in some cases, opinion articles drawn up by doctors of this medical specialty, for a lay audience. Considering the increasing international dimension of the aesthetic and hormonal enhancement biotechnologies market, the ideal of Active ageing can, today, be at the service of the culture of perfection.

2020Journal article

Open access

"Hoje melhor que ontem, amanhã melhor que hoje": entre práticas de aprimoramento, busca de excelência e ética da produtividade

Publication . Lo Bosco, Maria Concetta

As tecnologias de aprimoramento humano – em inglês, enhancement technologies – referem-se a um conjunto de técnicas e produtos biomédicos usados para melhorar determinadas características e capacidades humanas. Ao longo das últimas décadas, o uso deste conjunto de tecnologias – desde a cirurgia plástica estética e a psicofarmacologia até aos implantes e exosqueletos – representa uma tentativa de alterar determinadas características do ser humano de forma a expandir os seus limites e promover assim o seu desempenho físico e cognitivo. Os avanços da medicina estética, da psicofarmacologia e da nanotecnologia impulsionaram a oferta de técnicas e produtos com fins de aprimoramento e este sector de mercado tornou-se um dos mais ativos e rentáveis da mais ampla indústria do bem-estar (Elliott 2003). O seu sucesso, porém, deve-se não apenas a uma maior variedade de técnicas e produtos disponíveis no mercado e a maior popularização destas intervenções graças à prática de preços bem mais acessíveis do que no passado, mas também a uma maior procura.

2021Book part

Restricted access