Letters From a Frontline Lieutenant
Further Insight:
SUPERHUMANS TOPIC THROUGH THE LENS OF ETHICS AND MORALITY
Before going anywhere near the genetic engineering of humans topic though the lens of ethics and morality, one needs to understand the meaning of ethics and morality. Morality refers to the principles and distinction of right and wrong. Ethics expands on the topic morality. The Merriam-Webster’s dictionary of ethics is, “the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation” i.
Therefore, the question that is laid out here is, “Is the genetic engineering of humans a good or bad thing? Should genetic engineering be done on humans?”. If one were asked these questions, they might find it difficult to answer and indeed, it is. When looking through an issue through the lens of ethics through different beliefs. Each religion such as Catholicism and Buddhism may have different views about the topic. People who do not belong in a religion may have their own way of answering that question. HOWEVER, upon research, there is a common window between people of all faiths.
Ethics and morality are tied with religion. Therefore, much of what is said here is very similar to that of a religious standpoint, especially when it comes to the topic of genetic engineering ii. The surprising answer to the questions, “Is the genetic engineering of humans a good or bad thing? Should genetic engineering be done on humans?” is yes and no. There will be moments when genetic engineering should be put into play and moments when it is immoral to do so.
First, one must distinguish the difference the correct use and misuse of genetic engineering. Then, the next question one will raise is, “What is the correct use of genetic engineering and misuse?”. As discussed in the Catholic Perspective, there is a big difference between the two sides. The correct use is for therapy. When a person has a life threatening genetic disease and they must require a cure. Genetic engineering has a great role here just as medicine helps cure or relieve a person from an illness. However, when performing anything in this field, one must take care that human dignity be maintained iii.
However, the biggest concern of all is that many people will misuse the technology of engineering which is immoral to do. If one was born without diseases or any illness or one can find a more effective cure, there is no need to proceed on to the use of genetic engineering. One should not take advantage of the technology to enhance themselves in any way or for any reason. One potential misuse of the technology is in the field of sports. Some athletes may want to take advantage of genetic engineering to help them gain more muscle and gain fame with the gold medal in their hand; a similar issue to the use of steroid. “Genetic engineering is accelerating and it’s damaging sports,”iv former Norwegian speed skating champion Johann Olav Koss said. Healthy people, especially athletes should exercise and eat healthily if they want to gain muscle and enhance themselves in a natural method. There are so many natural ways to enhance one’s body and genetic engineering is one of them. That is when the “no” part comes in when it comes to ethics and morality of genetic engineering. The public should be informed about this “no, no” factor before this technology becomes even more widespread, creating a catastrophe in society.
In a world where scientific technology is advancing, human beings are chasing after the new technology to enhance themselves, therefore forgetting about the ethics and morality of certain topics. Specifically, with genetic engineering of humans, there are people dying of genetic diseases and require the aid of genetic engineering. Meanwhile there are some people that may take advantage of the new technology to enhance and gain benefit for themselves. There is a yes and no answer to this topic and as discussed, a yes can be granted to those whose life depends on the aid of genetic engineering but a no to those who just want it to enhance themselves. People must try their best to make informed ethical decisions in regards to the topic of genetic engineering as it rises in this day and age.
Therefore, the question that is laid out here is, “Is the genetic engineering of humans a good or bad thing? Should genetic engineering be done on humans?”. If one were asked these questions, they might find it difficult to answer and indeed, it is. When looking through an issue through the lens of ethics through different beliefs. Each religion such as Catholicism and Buddhism may have different views about the topic. People who do not belong in a religion may have their own way of answering that question. HOWEVER, upon research, there is a common window between people of all faiths.
Ethics and morality are tied with religion. Therefore, much of what is said here is very similar to that of a religious standpoint, especially when it comes to the topic of genetic engineering ii. The surprising answer to the questions, “Is the genetic engineering of humans a good or bad thing? Should genetic engineering be done on humans?” is yes and no. There will be moments when genetic engineering should be put into play and moments when it is immoral to do so.
First, one must distinguish the difference the correct use and misuse of genetic engineering. Then, the next question one will raise is, “What is the correct use of genetic engineering and misuse?”. As discussed in the Catholic Perspective, there is a big difference between the two sides. The correct use is for therapy. When a person has a life threatening genetic disease and they must require a cure. Genetic engineering has a great role here just as medicine helps cure or relieve a person from an illness. However, when performing anything in this field, one must take care that human dignity be maintained iii.
However, the biggest concern of all is that many people will misuse the technology of engineering which is immoral to do. If one was born without diseases or any illness or one can find a more effective cure, there is no need to proceed on to the use of genetic engineering. One should not take advantage of the technology to enhance themselves in any way or for any reason. One potential misuse of the technology is in the field of sports. Some athletes may want to take advantage of genetic engineering to help them gain more muscle and gain fame with the gold medal in their hand; a similar issue to the use of steroid. “Genetic engineering is accelerating and it’s damaging sports,”iv former Norwegian speed skating champion Johann Olav Koss said. Healthy people, especially athletes should exercise and eat healthily if they want to gain muscle and enhance themselves in a natural method. There are so many natural ways to enhance one’s body and genetic engineering is one of them. That is when the “no” part comes in when it comes to ethics and morality of genetic engineering. The public should be informed about this “no, no” factor before this technology becomes even more widespread, creating a catastrophe in society.
In a world where scientific technology is advancing, human beings are chasing after the new technology to enhance themselves, therefore forgetting about the ethics and morality of certain topics. Specifically, with genetic engineering of humans, there are people dying of genetic diseases and require the aid of genetic engineering. Meanwhile there are some people that may take advantage of the new technology to enhance and gain benefit for themselves. There is a yes and no answer to this topic and as discussed, a yes can be granted to those whose life depends on the aid of genetic engineering but a no to those who just want it to enhance themselves. People must try their best to make informed ethical decisions in regards to the topic of genetic engineering as it rises in this day and age.
References:
i https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethic
ii http://worldreligionsprojectkelsiecaine.weebly.com/genetic-engineering.html
iii https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3454796/
iv https://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2015/06/23/will-genetic-cyber-athletes-come-to-dominate-sports/
ii http://worldreligionsprojectkelsiecaine.weebly.com/genetic-engineering.html
iii https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3454796/
iv https://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2015/06/23/will-genetic-cyber-athletes-come-to-dominate-sports/