Psychostimulants : beyond medical uses anthropotechnical uses
Enhancing mind appears as a very common expectation of humanity. Since the eighties a new response has been emerging with the widespread use of psychostimulants. By a philosophical approach, this paper examines general public books devoted to present “smart drugs” (USA) and “psychostimulants” (France). The first result is the success of these books. It denotes that the phenomenon is socialy important. Secondly, the presentations and the contents of these books express both a pragmatical and professionnal use and a kind of dream of science, of genius accomplishment. Thirdly, these books clearly target healthy persons. In that case, medications are used for “anthropotechnical” aims and not for medical purposes. Thus, such a phenomenon contributes to the change of the conception of humanness. Psychostimulants involve positive and negative potential aspects. On the one hand, improving intelligence and increasing memories are positive purposes. On the other hand, toxicity and addiction are not unsignificant problems, especially under the professional stress of performance.