New breeds of humans: the moral obligation to enhance.
This paper argues that we have a moral obligation to enhance human beings. It is argued that if one is committed to the moral obligation to treat and prevent disease, one is also committed to genetic and other enhancement in so far as this promotes human well-being. It is argued that this is not eugenic but expresses our fundamental human nature: to make rational decisions and to try to improve ourselves. To be human is to strive to be better.
Savulescu
Julian
J
Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, Littlegate House, St Ebbe's Street, Oxford OX1 1PT, UK. julian.savulescu@philosophy.oxford.ac.uk
D026690:Ethics, Clinical; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005053:Eugenics; D024861:Genetic Enhancement / Q000941:ethics*; D006801:Humans; D028681:Moral Obligations