Human enhancement

against that enhancement is always wrong because it will change or destroy human nature by stating “I will argue that there is nothing wrong, per se, with altering human nature” (Buchanan, 142). Buchanan believes it will neither change nor destroy human nature by containing the “bad as well as good characteristics and there is no reason to believe that in every case eliminating some of the bad characteristics would so imperil the good ones” (Buchanan, 142). Therefore, altering enhancements will…

Chapter Five: Conservatism and Enhancement In chapter five of Allen Buchanan’s book, Beyond Humanity? He attempts to cover the concerns that conservatives have on genetic enhancement. He argues that if conservatives believe that human nature (and cognition) is imperfect then there is room to suggest that we should be finding way to safely improve our cognitive abilities. He begins with acknowledging the opposition’s concern for the topic he further argues in chapter five where he draws on the…

morally good. On the other hand, an enhancement is an improvement or extension of some capacity, although they are measured on different scales. This is when the concept of transhumanism enters. Transhumanism is a philosophy that we can become better humans through technology. The question then arises: What does it mean to be a better human, and what is an average human? Based on the Daniels scale, we can consider a healthy person (physically or mentally) is the human norm. Consuming…

Since the existence of mankind, people tried to purify humans to create the perfect race. It was a popular movement and gained great popularity during the 20th century but later died down. Animals were bred to benefit specific human needs. A German Shepard, for example, to help shepherds herd their cattle. Also livestock and crops are modified to benefit farmers by generating more profit. With modern technological advancements, people are able to change the gene structure of animals and plants…

that gene enhancement is morally objectionable, genetic enhancement, for the purposes of attaining a competitive advantage through increased potential in intelligence, athleticism, or attractiveness, etc. should not be viewed as morally illegitimate, because the consequences and intentions of gene enhancement can be morally justified through John Stuart Mill’s Principle of Utility and Emmanuel Kant’s Categorical Imperative. Walter Glannon argues four reasons as to why gene enhancement is…

Transhumanism and the Techno-Millennial Imagination, 1626-2030” and “The Human Condition Hurts: We’d Be Fools Not to Better It” by James Hughes, the readers are able to gain an educational and factual perspective on a very theoretical topic. The difference in the implementation of the “hook”, the jargon used, and the context in time the supporting research is based on allows for each reader to gain the knowledge required to look at human bio-technology in a more accepting manner. From the stark…

pinpoint what awaits the human race in the future. One possibility about a hypothesized turn of events that is primed to take place in the future is known as the Singularity, which is contingent upon the belief that technological machines will surpass humans in terms of intelligence and population size. In his text The Singularity is Near, Ray Kurzweil outlines his predictions for the future of humankind, in which he discusses his optimistic view that an amalgamation between humans and machines…

categorized humans into the altered embryos; perfect humans and “faith babies”, the less than perfect humans. In the movie Gattaca, only the superior humans have vast career opportunities and places to fit in life. The lead character, Vincent, dreams of becoming an astronaut, but is unable to because he isn’t a perfect human. In a society like this, many issues would form. The idea of natural selection and artificial selection can ruin the potential and equality of humans. The altering of…

society fair, taking care of others, and to keep society on the track towards good. For a citizen to make society fair, he or she must know what that entails. The society should be a fair place for all; a place where disabled humans are no longer seen as less than normal body humans. There would be no more Paralympics and Olympics only the Olympics to show who is the best athlete on a fair playing field. In order to create a level society, the citizens should take care of one another. The rich…

food, plants, humans, and drugs. Although genetic engineering could create major problems dealing with ethics and defects due to insufficient knowledge, it also opens doorways to extending and bettering mankind’s existence. Genetic engineering is off to a rough start, with many people thinking of it as unethical and unimaginable, but more research is done on it every day so that in the future we can use it for our benefit. Genetic engineering can help reduce the negative impact humans have on…