Unit 7: Intergenerational Issues (ETHICS)

Intergenerational Issues: Glover - What Sort of People Should There Be?

What is Glover's text about and what is his thesis?

Glover's text is about what kind of people there should be and how genetic engineering could be used. He sees that the stance against genetic engineering that "we should stop trying to play God" is used by those who do and don't believe in God. His thesis is that we shouldn't fear the risk of genetic engineering. He's for genetic engineering and suggests that we should accept it.

Intergenerational Issues: Glover - What Sort of People Should There Be?

Glover asks: “If we can make positive changes at the environmental level, and negative changes at the genetic level, why should we not make positive changes at the genetic level? What makes this policy, but no the others, objectionably God-like?” (46) What is Glover’s answer? Do you agree?

Glover answers that genetic changes can have more drastic consequences and can support the extreme case of playing God where people have control over others' lives. I agree because making genetic modifications to people can have many adverse effects and has a higher potency than modifying the environment.

Intergenerational Issues: Glover - What Sort of People Should There Be?

In a nutshell: what is the objection about that we should not be playing God?

The objection that we should not be playing God states that a small group of people shouldn't be able to dictate the lives of many others. He argues that people should be able to make their own decisions about their lives and bodies.

Intergenerational Issues: Glover - What Sort of People Should There Be?

What are the reasons why a genetic supermarket subject to some central regulations may be preferable to purely central decisions regarding the engineering of human beings?

A genetic supermarket subject to some central regulations may be preferable because it would allow parents to choose their children's characteristics instead of having the child affected by forces outside of their family (media, neighborhood, peers, etc).

GATTACA

What are the main topics the movie addresses?

Genetic modification

Stereotypes applied to people with medical conditions or mental illness

Burden of being expected to amount to nothing and the burden of being expected to become everything

Talent vs Work Ethic

GATTACA

What are the philosophical questions the movie raises?

Is it morally right for parents to want their children to be perfect or the best version of themselves?

Is it wrong to expect so much or so little from someone based on their genetics?

How far should one go to pursue their dreams and aspirations?

Can genetic modification make someone truly "perfect"?

GATTACA

How realistic do you think the movie is in presenting the topics and questions?

I believe the movie is realistic in the sense that it predicts genetic modification. For instance, in the scene where Vincent's parents can choose their ideal child and sibling for him, they can choose the sex of the child, much like parents can do now. Also, I think the movie was on the mark with how society would perceive others if we were to condition generations of people to strive to be genetically "superior" to others.

Intergenerational Issues: Liao - Selecting Children: The Ethics of Reproductive Genetic Engineering

What does Liao mean by reproductive genetic engineering?

By reproductive genetic engineering, Liao means the genetic editing that is used for research purposes and/or for developing treatments for diseases. This selects and creates new beings, and can be used for therapeutic purposes.

Intergenerational Issues: Liao - Selecting Children: The Ethics of Reproductive Genetic Engineering

Briefly summarize the main arguments for and against the moral permissibility of reproductive selection. State the advantages and weaknesses of each of the positions.

Perfectionist View: Supports the practice of reproductive genetic engineering so that one can be born with immunity to all natural born diseases, it is morally obligatory to use what technology we have to give humans the best life possible

Libertarian View: Supports the practice of reproductive genetic engineering, stating that we should be allowed to engage in the selection of modifying any being within ethical reasoning. There are two versions: permissive and life worth living. Permissive says it’s a moral right, while life worth living allows for any child to be who they are with the protection of having a worthwhile life.

Human Nature View: Does not support reproductive genetic engineering because it believes that it will cause us to lose our humanity and push people to want to be the same ideal human being. States that we shouldn’t interfere with nature and what makes us human.

Motivation View: Does not support reproductive genetic engineering, believes that the practice of selecting one’s genes can fall into the control of others and give extreme power to people who oversee the process

Intergenerational Issues: Liao - Selecting Children: The Ethics of Reproductive Genetic Engineering

What are the factors an adequate theory of the ethics of reproductive genetic engineering should take into account?

The factors an adequate theory of the ethics of reproductive genetic engineering should take into account are the likeliness of having the best life for a child, reproductive liberty, the effect it could have on the human species, moral agency, human flourishing, and appropriate motivation.

Changing DNA can affect future generations

Negative is removing defects while positive is adding improvements

Kwame Anthony Appiah - What will future generations condemn us for?

Three signs will expose whether future generations will condemn a present practice

1. The first is that there is a viable argument against that practice

2. Second is that the defense of the practice fails to use moral position and rather uses the history of tradition

3. Lastly, people will choose to be ignorant about the truth of the practice which could make them face evils

For prison: research has shown the immoral treatment of prisoners, the defense of prison points to its necessity in the past, and many choose to ignore the adverse effects incarceration has on inmates

For industrial meat production: Studies back in the 18th century showed that animals were being tormented in the meat industry, people don’t use moral justification to defend the industry, and many turn a blind eye to the truth of the industry because it puts food on their table

For the institutionalized and isolated elderly: Elders are restricted from human contact and kept away from families, we rarely defend the situation anyway, and we put it out of our minds when we can

For the environment: We know the harm done by deforestation, pollution, greenhouse gases, etc., defenders believe we need to use natural resources for our survival and fail to address moral concerns, and we often turn a blind eye to the issue