Beyond Humanity?

A level-headed discussion of ethical issues raised by prospects of biotechnological enhancement. Enhancement is itself a neutral if not a positive word and it is certainly true that human beings have always wanted to improve their mental, physical and emotional capacities. The author begins with a classic statement of anti-enhancement, showing how the science is in fact wrong. He also contends that the debate is less between pro-and anti-enhancement as between anti-enhancement and anti-anti-enhancement. A great deal of rhetoric is thrown about. What we need, and what the author brings, is clarity, dividing his analysis into eight sections on character, human nature, consequences, justice, potential abuses and the risk of a new eugenics. There is nevertheless a potential hubris in the engineering metaphor, which is based on a mechanistic understanding of the complex systems of nature. This entails risks of unintended consequences when systemic effects are not taken into account. In any event, there is always a cost benefit analysis to be conducted.