Lesson 11- Group Presentations

The first round of presentations were really interesting and insightful! I was exposed to a myriad of technologies and really learned a lot from my peers.

The topics presented were Designers Babies, Nanomedicine, Space Travel & Tourism and the Plastic Vortex.

In my humble opinion, I really found the designer babies and nanomedicine the more interesting ones. Maybe the other 2 were in the later half of the class so I tend to be less excited.

Designer Babies:

Designer babies are the selective choosing of gametes with genes which carry the desired characteristics to create the ‘ideal’ infant.

Personally, I believe that using reproductive techniques to pick cosmetic traits is inevitable in our democratic society, where freedom and choice is greatly emphasized. The issue is how prevalent would that be in the near future. Can you imagine a society where it is conformed (in terms of looks and talents)? Isn’t it enough with the education system encouraging conformity?

However, it is understandable from the parents’ point of view. They would naturally want the best options in life for their kids. This might include of as Down’s syndrome genes or obesity genes. Every child should be a loved child, but there is no virtue in accident.

Another point to consider is that a super-race of children born to the wealthy enough to afford artificial reproduction.  And that in my opinion is the sort of inequality that would warrant a major cause of concern. Gross exacerbation of social inequality is a grave social harm. In the worse case scenario, it would be akin to a communist world. That is why we need universal healthcare, universal access to any technology which provides a profound enablement.

So where do you draw the line? I believe that a principle quoted by Peter Singer is useful: If you think parents should be punished for taking away that ability away from a child who’s already born, that is probably harm. The issue of ethical relativism then pops into mind. What might be right to some might not be deemed appropriate for the rest of society.

Nanomedicine:

The thought of injecting biochemicals into your bodies permanently would sound gross and inhumanly however, if it would cure the problems and illness. Why not?

The invention of such amazing technology is a blessing to the human race and I think that the people who constantly argue about the ethicality of such issues should put themselves in the shoes of a desperate patient and then ponder and think it through deeply…

Overall I had a fun time in today’s class. I would rate it a 8/10.