Human nature and bioengineering.
In addition to concerns that scientific advances may have profoundly negative consequences for human reproduction (*), there are also concerns about post-conception biological engineering. Bill of Walloworld asks why are rushing to cast aside our nature. (†) C Christopher Hook is also concerned. (‡)
As Hook mentions, transhumanists call for an end to the human race and a new race of beings of their own design. (§)
The US government’s commission on bioethics was headed by Leon Kass. Its report is online. (**)
Arnold Kling says that only totalitarianism could stop the bioengineering revolution. He, too, is worried, but believes it is better to bear the risk (††) except in some specialized areas like baseball, where centralized control is the answer. (‡‡) This appears to miss a significant point. That is, human free will may be inextricably linked to our biological human nature. If we fail to regulate bioengineering, we may irreversibly deprive humanity of freedom.
Jürgen Habermas is apparently rejecting the extreme consequentialist approach of Peter Singer, who has advocated for animal rights. (§§) Habermas calls for a teleological “species ethic.”