What exactly is the perfect human being, and how do we define this when society and technology continues to revolutionize every aspect of what has traditionally been defining features of humanity? As humans continue to push the boundaries of science, biotechnology will give us the power to decide our biological future. The emerging biotechnology of genetic modification will pave the way to enhance human’s capability. Imagine a generation who will grow up not having to suffer the stigma and terror of AIDS, and who will not experience Tay-Sachs because a method to prevent these diseases have been manufactured. Until recently, all this would have been mere science fiction. Although these developments promise to result in a more effective and advance …show more content…
It is apparent that every human experiences life uniquely and differently. To a certain point, genes variation is the basis of diversity of a species. Different ways of life have different strengths and weaknesses. Yet, when a gene sequence is statistically common, we call the trait normal. However, the word normal does not simply imply being statistically superior, but rather even moral superiority. In addition, a unique gene variation that leads to a certain trait would be deemed a mutant - a word that not only implies statistically uncommon, but also inferior and to a certain extent, repugnance to society (Buck v. Bell). However, such judgements are meaningless. Simply because an enhancement or disabling trait are merely words that measure the fitness ability in a particular environment. If the environment is altered, then the meaning of the words could perhaps be reversed as well. The arrival or departure of genes may increase, decrease or even have absolutely no effect on an individual’s ability, depending on the situation. What is considered a disability in one circumstance can be an advantage in other contexts. Evolution is not perfect, even for its specific environment, because every change also requires change in response (476, Freeman). We do not exactly what traits will be valuable for future challenges we face and what traits won’t be. Therefore, there is certainly no such thing as a perfect
What is a perfect human? Human perfection may be measured by physical ability or intellectual achievement; however, it may also be measured by strength of character, and in this realm humans may often fall short. Weakness of character, shown through various character flaws, causes most of the hardships in life.
(Ed.), Opposing Viewpoints. Human Genetics. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press. (Reprinted from U.S. News & World Report, 2009, March 23) Retrieved from https://ez1.maricopa.edu:2048/login?url=http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?
When James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the structure of DNA in 1959, they could not have known that their discovery would one day lead to the possibility of a human factory that is equipped with the capabilities to mass produce perfectly designed, immortal human beings on a laboratory assembly line. Of course, this human factory is not yet possible; genetic technology is still in its infancy, and scientists are forced to spend their days unlocking the secret of human genetics in hopes of uncovering cures for diseases, alleviating suffering, and prolonging life. In the midst of their noble work, scientists still dream of a world—a utopia—inhabited by flawless individuals who have forgotten death and never known suffering. What would become of society if such a utopia existed? How will human life be altered? Leon Kass, in Life, Liberty and the Defense of Dignity: The Challenge for Bioethics, acknowledges genetics technology’s greatness, and applauds it for its invaluable, benevolent contributions to mankind. However, Kass argues that if left to their devises and ambitions, geneticists—with the power of their technology—will steal away society’s most precious asset; genetic technology will rob society of its humanity. Genetic technology can, and will, achieve great things, but unless it is regulated and controlled, the losses will be catastrophic and the costs will far exceed the benefits.
In this paper, I will argue that genetic therapies should be allowed for diseases and disabilities that cause individuals pain, shorter life spans, and noticeable disadvantages in life. I believe this because everyone deserves to have the most even starting place in life as possible. That is no being should be limited in their life due to diseases and disabilities that can be cured with genetic therapies. I will be basing my argument off the article by “Gene Therapies and the Pursuit of a Better Human” by Sara Goering. One objection to genetic therapies is that removing disabilities and diseases might cause humans to lose sympathy towards others and their fragility (332). However, I do not believe this because there are many other events and conditions in society that spark human compassion and sympathy towards others.
With the progression of modern biotechnology, there is much contentious debate affecting ongoing developmental affairs. Controversy aligns itself with cautious thoughts on the appropriate amount of enhancement that can be applied before it undermines the “gifted character of human power and achievement (Sandel).” Michael Sandel, author of The Case Against Perfection argues through political discourse that the passion to master all of the science dominion through the use of such technology is largely flawed by our interpretations of perfection.
Have you ever wondered what it is exactly that makes us human? Is it the mistakes we make, or maybe our opposable thumbs? I believe there are many things that make us human, one of which includes our biological programming to die at some point in time. Death is something every human is aware of and every human embraces eventually. Philip K. Dick’s dystopian texts “The Electric Ant” and “A Little Something for Us Tempunauts” both use death as a means to illuminate that we are human; death reminds humans that we are not eternal. In these short stories, Dick speaks through the eyes of his protagonists who have been stripped of their humanity and describes the significance behind their individual choices to seek death.
Being a person, thinking and acting as a Human Being, showing qualities that make us, Human. But what does it mean to be Human? Symbolic cognition, the ability for one entity to show empathetic emotion towards another. ‘Blade Runner’ explores the philosophical themes of what it means to be human, emphasising the difficulties humans have appreciating what makes them human along with the emotional and social complexity necessary to identify a person. The question regarding our humanity, or ‘what it is to be human’ is one of the most important questions to be addressed in Blade Runner, and in today’s society. In this essay I will argue that researching into what it means to ‘be human’ is a quite complex task, because of the various philosophical and biblical concepts - where an individual is a spirt simply experiencing the world in a material form. In order to support my statement, I will give examples of how ‘Blade Runner’ relates to different theoretical frameworks I will discuss in this essay.
Today, realising that genes and environment cooperate and interact synergistically, traditional dichotomy of nature vs. nurture is commonly seen as a false dichotomy. Especially operant conditioning, i.e. the learning of the consequences of one's own behavior can lead to positive feedback loops between genetic predispositions and behavioral consequences that render the question as to cause and effect nonsensical. Positive feedback has the inherent tendency to exponentially amplify any initial small differences. For example, an at birth negligible difference between two brothers in a gene affecting IQ to a small percentage, may lead to one discovering a book the will spark his interest in reading, while the other never gets to see that book. One becomes an avid reader who loves intellectual challenges while the other never finds a real interest in books, but hangs out with his friends more often. Eventually, the reading brother may end up with highly different IQ scores in standardized tests, simply because the book loving brother has had more opportunities to train his brain. Had both brother received identical environmental input, their IQ scores would hardly differ.
"I'm only Human," is a response everyone hears when someone makes a mistake. Does that mean humans are in heritably fallible? Or are we fallible because of society? In Mexico it is polite to greet someone by kissing them on the cheek, in the United States it is considered an invasion of personal space. Personal traits make up society, nevertheless there are characteristics that is common throughout all of our species. People's identity is formed through their moral behavior and conscience, making them human.For centuries humans functioned by morals and conscience, but in today's society we have a social order. The government and those in power help formulate our opinions and are utilized to keep us in check. The fundamental aspect of humans is morality and their relationship in society due to their interaction based on conscience efforts to keep order.
What does it mean to be human? Is it the millions of cells that you’re composed of? Or is it something more? In George Orwell’s book 1984, through the use of his protagonist, Orwell looks at what it really means to be human. In a world that is built on destruction and manipulation, Orwell takes a look at how a totalitarian government affects humankind and a person’s ability to stay “human”.
Genetic engineering has also opened the doors for humans to choose the different various traits they wish their offspring to feature by unnaturally selecting them. The unnatural selection of humans may have begun as a result of a new type of discrimination due to genetic screening (Cummins 4).
“The common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights - for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture - is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition of all other personal rights is not defended with maximum determination.” -- Pope John Paul II
One of the biggest questions asked by not only researchers, but everyday people as well, has been the question of what makes we as people human. Being human consists of a complexity of definitions and factors that coexist with one another to make up who we are as people, and through anthropology, being human is studied very carefully in order to provide an answer to this question. Aspects such as language and communication, self-conceptualism, and bipedalism all correlate to what consists of being human, and while some of these can relate to other species, human beings use them in uniquely different ways that enhance our functioning in the world. Anthropologists have researched the complexity of human beings for centuries and throughout this
The purpose of this essay will be to discuss whether human nature is good, or evil, or both good and evil, or neither good nor evil. To facilitate the following discussion, human nature here would be defined as the distinguishing characteristics we born with, that we tend to have naturally without the influence of external factors. The definition agrees to Xunzi’s, that nature is what is given by Heaven: one cannot learn it; one cannot acquire it by effort. This essay will explain that the deepest essence of human nature is self-preservation and reproduction, which cannot be truly classified into good or evil. It is followed by how we are diverged to behave goodly or badly, argument against the “good nature theory” and different between self-preservation with greed and aggression.
What makes us human? What is it that we are made up of? I know a human has a body made up of two legs, two arms, two eyes, a nose, a mouth, and two ears, but that is not what makes us human. Human beings are made up of feelings, the ability to think, communication, and many other elements. Feelings show the way we feel between each other and is the reason for our survival. The ability to think is so important because just because we can think doesn’t always mean we do think. Communication is essential to human society. These are some of the elements I consider to be the most important of being human. Feelings, is something that makes us humans. Feelings, is one important element that makes us humans because that is how we can relate how others feel and that is the