Primary Goods, Germ-Line Enhancements, and Children

Abstract

Germ-line genetic engineering procedures may influence the lives of untold millions of people far into the future. These techniques change the genetic material that is passed on to offspring and thus have the potential to change the human race as we know it. Because the effects are so enduring, this powerful technique must be used with caution. We must decide how to ethically evaluate potential changes to the germ-line consistently and effectively so that future generations are not harmed. I will show that a concept of traits that any rational person would find desirable in themselves and others (whatever the situation), known as primary goods, is necessary to justify germ-line genetic enhance-ments. Without primary goods, a genetic engineer is in no position to determine which traits should or should not be passed on to future generations. One must then create a list of universally acceptable primary goods and convincing evidence that germ-line genetic pro-cedures will augment them. I will show that the strongest conception of primary goods not only fails to support germ-line enhancements, but provides a compelling argument against it. Primary goods are difficult to enumerate given the variety of unexpected situations a person may encounter in life. However, those making decisions as to which characteristics are transmitted to progeny would have to comparatively evaluate the desirability of different traits. These decisions must be made based on primary goods. Rawls’ list of natural primary goods includes health, intelligence, and self-respect. While listing primary goods is controversial, those who have tried have always mentioned self-respect, which, as I will explain, is prerequisite to enjoying any other goods in life and is the most important primary good for Rawls. I argue that germ-line enhancements, far from promoting primary goods, will threaten them. I begin by making three assumptions about issues central to the discussion of germ-line enhancements. 1) I assume that germ-line genetic engineering will be capable of enhancing human traits. 2) I assume that the definitions of traits such as intelligence can be taken at face value. 3) I finally assume that germ-line enhancements will be distributed justly without prompting a treatment of distributive justice. For the purposes of this discussion I will assume an optimistic view of the potential of genetic engineering to enhance human traits. Only time will tell what is possible through genetic engineering, but at present it is useful to discuss the subject as if it will be nearly omnipotent, since that is the circumstance that grants the most com-pelling arguments in favor of germ-line enhancement

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 90,221

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

  • Only published works are available at libraries.

Similar books and articles

Germ-line genetic enhancement and Rawlsian primary goods.Fritz Allhoff - 2005 - Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal 15 (1):39-56.
Ethical issues in manipulating the human germ line.Marc Lappé - 1991 - Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 16 (6):621-639.
Justice in the genetically transformed society.Colin Patrick Farrelly - 2005 - Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal 15 (1):91-99.
Germ-line Enhancements and Rough Equality.Michele Loi - 2012 - Ethical Perspectives 19 (1):55-82.
Human germ-line therapy: The case for its development and use.Burke K. Zimmerman - 1991 - Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 16 (6):593-612.
Germ-line enhancement of humans and nonhumans.J. Robert Loftis - 2005 - Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal 15 (1):57-76.
Debunking the slippery slope argument against human germ-line Gene therapy.David Resnik - 1994 - Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 19 (1):23-40.
Seeking perfection: A Kantian look at human genetic engineering.Martin Gunderson - 2007 - Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics 28 (2):87-102.
Luck, Genes, and Equality.Dov Fox - 2007 - Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics 35 (4):712-726.

Analytics

Added to PP
2010-09-09

Downloads
17 (#738,848)

6 months
1 (#1,028,709)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Citations of this work

No citations found.

Add more citations

References found in this work

Germ-Line Genetic Enhancement and Rawlsian Primary Goods.Fritz Allhoff - 2008 - Journal of Evolution and Technology 18 (1):10-26.
Justice in the genetically transformed society.Colin Patrick Farrelly - 2005 - Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal 15 (1):91-99.

Add more references