Genetic Enhancement and the Harm Argument: A Critique of the Case against the Transhumanist Intent of Germline Enhancement

  • Michael M. UZOMAH, PhD.
Keywords: Germline Enhancement, Harm, Reproductive Cloning, Transhumanist Intent

Abstract

Germline tinkering is the most contentious between the two forms of genetic engineering because of its inexorable impact on future offspring. For most “harm conscious critics” germline engineering is ontologically evil. Transhumanist genetic engineering is driven by the natural inclination and imperative duty of humans to preserve and perpetuate human species and life. Humans are duty-bond not just merely to preserve life but mere essentially to continually improve the quality of their lives. However, mindful of the possibility of harm that may arise from corrupt intention (that may give room for misappropriation and misapplication) and unintended consequences as a result of the imperfection of this emerging technology, this treatise advocates for a proactive and formidable bioethics and biojuris prudence. It also recommends that when all safety and moral concerns pertaining to human reproductive cloning has been resolved, the principle of caution must be applied. Human reproductive cloning for only reasons that has been universally appraised legitimate and expedient may only be prosecuted where there are strong reasons for thinking the risk of disaster is very minimal, and where the benefit is great enough to override the risk. The method adopted in this treatise is the analytic method

Published
2022-09-08
Section
Articles