Why Genetic Enhancement is Unethical
The growing desire for the perfect child and increased pressure and expectations from society have pushed parents toward genetic enhancement--the altering of their child’s genes for the purpose of intellectual and/or physical advances. The scientific advancements, making genetic enhancement possible have resulted in a conflicted society; some people support the new technology, while others argue it should not be used. Philosopher Michael J. Sandel critiques the use of genetic enhancement in his book The Case Against Perfection and constructs a claim examining why genetic enhancement is unethical. Sandel disputes the morality of genetic enhancement with two points: (1) because enhancement leads to a loss …show more content…
He provides two reasons why the Autonomy Argument is not persuasive: (1) because children do not have the ability to choose their own genetics anyway because they are “at the mercy of the genetic lottery.”2 Therefore, they have no more control over their genetic makeup than their parents who could be choosing their genes, and, (2) because some people use therapy to not only cure disease, but “to reach beyond health, to enhance their physical or cognitive capacities, to lift themselves above the norm.”3 Although Sandel does not find this argument to be a reason for concern, he nonetheless explains a possible point to be made with the Autonomy Argument.
Another argument opposing genetic enhancement is the Giftedness View. As stated in Sandel’s Giftedness View, enhancement leads to a loss of appreciation for natural talent. He states that “The natural talents that enable the successful to flourish are not their own doing, but rather, their good fortune...”4 The natural gifts we each receive are unique and enable us to recognize successes and accomplishments that not everyone has the ability to achieve. For example, since not everyone is granted the natural gift of having the ability to cross their eyes or be double jointed, we find those talents …show more content…
4 Sandel, The Case Against Perfection, 91 Furthermore, there are consequences to a lost sense of giftedness. Those in agreement with this view recognize the severity of the consequences. These consequences explain why an appreciation for giftedness is necessary. Among those consequences are a loss of humility, an increased sense of responsibility, and a loss of solidarity.
The first consequence, as observed by Sandel is a loss of humility. If a child is genetically enhanced to be born a strong athlete, he or she will have no modesty for the trait they had no part in gaining. Just think, a child who works hard to be athletic and rival the enhanced child will hold a greater value for their accomplishments. As a result he or she will behave in a more reserved manner.
The second consequence resulting from a loss of appreciation for giftedness is an increased sense of responsibility. Children genetically enhanced to be athletic will have an expectation to stand out among unenhanced athletes. These genetically enhanced children will feel more pressure to excel because their parents, knowing their enhanced genes, will expect them to succeed according to the advances of their
The growing desire for the perfect child and increased pressure and expectations from society have pushed parents toward genetic enhancement--the altering of their child’s genes for the purpose of intellectual and/or physical advances. The scientific advancements, making genetic enhancement possible have resulted in a conflicted society; some people support the new technology, while others argue it should not be used. Philosopher Michael J. Sandel critiques the use of genetic enhancement in his book The Case Against Perfection and constructs a claim examining why genetic enhancement is unethical. Sandel disputes the morality of genetic enhancement with two points: (1) because enhancement leads to a loss …show more content…
He provides two reasons why the Autonomy Argument is not persuasive: (1) because children do not have the ability to choose their own genetics anyway because they are “at the mercy of the genetic lottery.”2 Therefore, they have no more control over their genetic makeup than their parents who could be choosing their genes, and, (2) because some people use therapy to not only cure disease, but “to reach beyond health, to enhance their physical or cognitive capacities, to lift themselves above the norm.”3 Although Sandel does not find this argument to be a reason for concern, he nonetheless explains a possible point to be made with the Autonomy Argument.
Another argument opposing genetic enhancement is the Giftedness View. As stated in Sandel’s Giftedness View, enhancement leads to a loss of appreciation for natural talent. He states that “The natural talents that enable the successful to flourish are not their own doing, but rather, their good fortune...”4 The natural gifts we each receive are unique and enable us to recognize successes and accomplishments that not everyone has the ability to achieve. For example, since not everyone is granted the natural gift of having the ability to cross their eyes or be double jointed, we find those talents …show more content…
4 Sandel, The Case Against Perfection, 91 Furthermore, there are consequences to a lost sense of giftedness. Those in agreement with this view recognize the severity of the consequences. These consequences explain why an appreciation for giftedness is necessary. Among those consequences are a loss of humility, an increased sense of responsibility, and a loss of solidarity.
The first consequence, as observed by Sandel is a loss of humility. If a child is genetically enhanced to be born a strong athlete, he or she will have no modesty for the trait they had no part in gaining. Just think, a child who works hard to be athletic and rival the enhanced child will hold a greater value for their accomplishments. As a result he or she will behave in a more reserved manner.
The second consequence resulting from a loss of appreciation for giftedness is an increased sense of responsibility. Children genetically enhanced to be athletic will have an expectation to stand out among unenhanced athletes. These genetically enhanced children will feel more pressure to excel because their parents, knowing their enhanced genes, will expect them to succeed according to the advances of their