Difference Between Cognitive Enhancement And Doping In Sports

Cognitive enhancement and doping in sports are two similar issues that are prevalent in ethical discussions and debates. Cognitive enhancement is the augmentation of the main mechanisms of the mind through the use of resources outside of ourselves. Cognitive enhancement can be achieved through many means, such as drugs, herbal supplements, and/or technology as well as other things that we often don’t recognize as cognitive enhancers. Doping in sports involves the use of an outside resources (such as drugs) to further better athletic performance. Both ways of achieving one’s goals are controversial to many.
The main difference between doping in sports and cognitive enhancement when their value is evaluated is that cognitive enhancement holds
Cognitive enhancement is more valuable, because there it has more to offer society. In most societies, intelligence takes you much farther than physical strength or agility. Intelligence allows one to further their education, which then permits them to have more competitive and well-paying jobs. It is also more socially acceptable to try to enhance ourselves cognitively. Cognitive enhancement also isn’t necessarily illegal or harmful (unless prescription drugs are being abused). Substances such as caffeine and herbal supplements are everyday things that we use without even consciously realizing that we are altering our cognitive state. Doping in sports allows for an athlete to further their career and become more competitive, but there are more risks associated with doping. For example, doping is illegal in sports. When an individual or team is caught doping, they face immediate consequences, which may include: being stripped of their rewards, kicked off of their teams, and public shunning/scrutiny. Doping has also been proven to have negative health side effects such as: hypertension, kidney dysfunction, and being more vulnerable to