| Description |
x, 216 pages ; 23 cm |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 169-205) and index. |
| Contents |
The Reach of Genes: Biology, Metaphysics, Morality -- Genes and Disease -- Biological and Personal Identity -- Two Senses of "Life" -- How Genes Influence the Identities of Persons -- Moral Implications -- Genetic Information, Obligation, and the Prevention of Lives -- Genetic Testing, Screening, and Information -- Moral Asymmetry and Harm -- Life Stages -- Should Some Lives Be Prevented? -- Giving Priority to the Worse Off -- Gene Therapy and Genetic Enhancement -- Gene Therapy: Problems and a Paradox -- Access and Allocation Issues -- Genetic Enhancement -- Negative and Positive Eugenics: Is There a Slippery Slope? -- The Morality of Human Cloning -- Biological Factors -- Means and Ends -- Cloning Body Parts -- Eugenics Again? -- Extending the Human Life Span -- Cells and Senescence -- An Evolutionary Trade-Off -- Intergenerational Equality and Fairness -- Prudential Concern About the Future. |
| Summary |
Advances in genetic technology in general and medical genetics in particular will enable us to intervene in the process of human biological development which extends from zygotes and embryos to people. This will allow us to control to a great extent the identities and the length and quality of the lives of people who already exist, as well as those we bring into existence in the near and distant future. Genes and Future People explores two general philosophical questions, one metaphysical, the other moral: (1) How do genes, and different forms of genetic intervention (gene therapy, genetic enhancement, presymptomatic genetic testing of adults, genetic testing of preimplantation embryos), affect the identities of the people who already exist and those we bring into existence? and (2) How do these interventions benefit or harm the people we cause to exist in the near future and those who will exist in the distant future by satisfying or defeating their interest in having reasonably long and disease-free lives?Genes and Future People begins by explaining the connection between genes and disease, placing genetic within a framework of evolutionary biology. It then discusses such topics as how genes and genetic intervention influence personal identity, what genetic testing of individuals and the knowledge resulting from it entails about responsibility to others who may be at risk, as well as how gene therapy and genetic enhancement can affect the identities of people and benefit or harm them. Furthermore, it discusses various moral aspects of cloning human beings and body parts. Finally, it explores the metaphysical and moral implications of genetic manipulation of the mechanisms of aging to extend the human life span. The aim Genes and Future People is to move philosophers, bioethicists, and readers in general to reflect on the extent to which genes determine whether we are healthy or diseased, our identities as persons, the quality of our lives, and our moral obligations to future generations of people. |
| Subject |
Human genetics -- Moral and ethical aspects.
|
|
Human genetics -- Philosophy.
|
|
Genetics, Medical. (DNLM)D005826
|
|
Philosophy, Medical. (DNLM)D010686
|
|
Human genetics -- Moral and ethical aspects.
(OCoLC)fst00963085
|
|
Human genetics -- Philosophy.
(OCoLC)fst00963086
|
|
Bioethik (DE-588)4006791-9
|
|
Humangenetik (DE-588)4072653-8
|
|
Genetica.
|
|
Toekomstverwachtingen.
|
|
Filosofische aspecten.
|
|
Bioethik.
|
|
Humangenetik.
|
| Other Form: |
Online version: Glannon, Walter. Genes and future people. Boulder, Colo. : Westview Press, 2001 (OCoLC)623024595 |
| ISBN |
0813365600 (pbk. ; alk. paper) |
|
9780813365602 (pbk. ; alk. paper) |
|
0813365767 (alk. paper) |
|
9780813365763 (alk. paper) |
| Standard No. |
9780813365602 |
|
