Wesley J. Smith argues that rapid advancements in biotechnology threaten to erode human dignity by treating people as commodities. The text examines the ethics of embryonic stem cell research, somatic cell nuclear transfer for cloning, and the commercialization of human reproductive materials. Smith critiques the ideology of transhumanism, which seeks to use genetic engineering and cybernetics to move beyond biological limits. He details how corporate interests and utilitarian bioethics prioritize scientific progress over the intrinsic value of the individual, potentially creating a caste system based on genetic quality.
This book serves readers interested in bioethics, public policy, and the intersection of science and morality. It provides a framework for understanding complex legislative debates regarding medical research and reproductive technologies. Readers walk away with specific arguments to challenge the normalization of human engineering and a clearer understanding of how current laboratory practices influence future legal rights. The book equips those concerned with civil liberties to identify the risks of a society governed by technological masters and biological upgrades.
Outward-looking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Evidence Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2004
- Language
- EN
