Enhancements and Justice: Problems in Determining the Requirements of Justice in a Genetically Transformed Society

, There is a concern that genetic engineering will exacerbate existing social divisions and inequalities, especially if only the wealthy can afford genetic enhancements. Accordingly, many argue that justice requires the imposition of constraints on genetic engineering. However, it would be unwise to...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Lindsay, Ronald A. (Ronald Alan) (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Johns Hopkins Univ. Press 2005
In: Kennedy Institute of Ethics journal
Year: 2005, Volume: 15, Issue: 1, Pages: 3-38
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Summary:, There is a concern that genetic engineering will exacerbate existing social divisions and inequalities, especially if only the wealthy can afford genetic enhancements. Accordingly, many argue that justice requires the imposition of constraints on genetic engineering. However, it would be unwise to decide at this time what limits should be imposed in the future. Decision makers currently lack both the theoretical tools and the factual foundation for making sound judgments about the requirements of justice in a genetically transformed society. Moreover, focusing on the uncertain inequities of the future may result in failure to give priority to more pressing inequities of the present. Especially in a country that recently has enacted tax legislation that will widen existing wealth disparities, concern about the distant threat of a genetic aristocracy appears misplaced.
ISSN:1086-3249
Contains:Enthalten in: Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Kennedy Institute of Ethics journal
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1353/ken.2005.0004