Friday, August 17, 2007

Engineering the post-humans

The Case Against Perfection: Ethics in the Age of Genetic Engineering - Michael J. Sandel - Books - Review - New York Times Annotated

This is the real problem with self-engineering. It seizes control of humanity so radically that humanity can no longer judge it. We can’t be certain it’s diminishing us. But we can’t be certain it’s perfecting us, either. Sandel got it half right, which ain’t bad. Nobody’s perfect.

I like this comment. I think what he's saying is that the effect of bioengineering will be so far beyond what we now understand that we, as humans (as opposed to what we'll become), won't be able to judge. This clinging on to 'humanity' is a fear of the unknown. And besides that, and along with that, it has the smell of religion to it. Even, thinking about it now as I write, Saletan doesn't escape it since he uses the word 'perfect'. Remove all that shit from it (it being bioengineering) and you're left with breathtaking possibilities. And I'm not saying we shouldn't be careful. - post by spoedniek