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Article: Dr. Frankenstein meets Lord Devlin: genetic engineering and the principle of intangible harm.
- Article from:
- The Monist
- Article date:
- October 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Hegeler Institute. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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I. THE PROSPECT OF HUMAN REDESIGN
At some point in the future, we may be able to use sophisticated forms of biomedical technology to redesign and modify human bodies. It may become technologically feasible to make extensive changes to our body tissues and overall morphology. We may be able to redesign our organic functioning, including that of our complex neurophysiology (with its associated or supervenient mental states).
If some of this can be done, we may find many reasons to redesign ourselves--or, more likely, the next generation of human beings. We may, for example, seek to increase the maximum human life span, to shape our psychological ...