The Importance of Genetic Modifications: Why Habermas is Wrong

Stefan Lorenz Sorgner (University of Erfurt)

Thurs 5 Jun, 12.30pm IPLunchtime Seminar: Room 243, Senate House, Malet Street, WC1

The Importance of Genetic Modifications: Why Habermas is Wrong

Stefan Lorenz Sorgner (Erfurt)

Abstract:
Habermas criticized the position that educational and genetic enhancements are parallel events. I, on the other hand, provide reasons in favor of the position that there is a structural analogy between educational and genetic enhancement such that the moral evaluation of these two procedures ought to be analogous, too. I will show that an affirmation of educational enhancement suggests an affirmation of genetic enhancement. By genetic enhancement, in this context, I am merely referring to genetic enhancement by modification, but I am not referring to genetic enhancement by selection, e.g. selecting fertilized eggs after in vitro fertilization and preimplantation genetic diagnosis. In addition, I state selected reasons in favor of the position that both types of enhancement ought to be affirmed. I will progress as follows. First, I will explain the relevance of the question by considering transhumanism and posthumanism. Both are contemporary philosophical and cultural movements, in which the question concerning enhancement is central. Second, I will compare educational and genetic enhancement, whereby I will show that Habermas’ arguments concerning the relationship between genetic enhancement and educative enhancement are implausible.

Admission Free. All welcome.
.
Forthcoming events of the Institute appear here:
http://events.sas.ac.uk/ip/events/list