According to Goering, what is a lesson that cosmetic genetics can learn from cosmetic surgery?
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It seems that genetic engineering is truly about to go from science fiction to science fact. Advances in the field, such as CRISPR technology, show us that fixing a human being on the level of genetic coding is not a mere possibility but a practical reality soon to be fully realized. This means that diseases caused by genetic coding can now be "corrected" by recoding or re-editing the genetics involved. Diseases such as Sickle-cell anemia, Tay-Sachs syndrome, or breast cancer can be coded out of an individual's physical existence in utero. Most people would probably agree that such technology should be used to rid our species of deadly, painful diseases. But what about using it to "customize" a child or improve a child's well-being by manipulating genetic code to improve health, beauty, and/or intelligence? Do you think this is morally acceptable from a Kantian point of view? Discuss with some reference to the Second Formulation of the Categorical Imperative. By the way, you don't have to agree with Kant's point of view, just show that you understand Kantian ethics.
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What's really wrong with designer babies? Have you ever heard someone, like grandma, suggest that you should not marry someone of some particular quality? "...because then your children will come out like that!" Don't marry a short person, or your kids will be short. Don't marry a stupid person, or your kids will be stupid. Don't marry a person of this or that race, or your kids will be this or that color. Putting aside the likely racism of the latter comment, is there anything wrong with taking any of this advice? If you could take action to ensure or greatly increase the likelihood that your child would have blue eyes and be tall (or whatever positive qualities you choose), would you do it or would you think it wrong? Is this any different from being extra selective in our choice of mate? Is this any different from what we do after birth to mold and sculpt our children into the form we hope they become? For example, many parents read to their kids as infants, or only let them play with "brain-enhancing" toys. They enroll them in early learning programs for music, art, dance, and academics. They get braces on their teeth. They petition to have their child go to this rather than that school, etc. In all cases, we are trying to control (or greatly influence) an outcome either by careful selection (filtering) or by careful modification. Is this wrong? Are these more common methods any different from pushing back the selection/modification process to the stage of embryo development? Or have we just gotten better at taking our grandma's advice?
Should penile augmentation, vaginal rejuvenation, and other such cosmetic medical procedures be legal or illegal? Do individuals have a right to pursue experimental genital surgeries for which the benefits are unclear and the risks are very high?
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