Bioethics and the Brave New World
Published:
Jan 28, 2021
Keywords:
Bioethics; Holocaust; Human Rights; Moral Luck; Genome Editing; Gene Drive; Moral Enhancement; Brave New World
Abstract
This editorial essay introduces the field of Bioethics as a discipline born from the intersection of fascination and urgent necessity. The author outlines the historical and philosophical reasons that make Bioethics indispensable in the modern era, particularly as a response to the atrocities of the Holocaust and the subsequent rise of the human rights movement. Protopapadakis explores the "moral luck" inherent in scientific advancement and the ethical dilemmas posed by emerging technologies such as genome editing (CRISPR/Cas9) and moral enhancement. By referencing Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, the text warns of a future where technological power might outpace moral wisdom, emphasizing the role of Bioethics in safeguarding human dignity against the risks of biological determinism and systemic cruelty.
Article Details
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Protopapadakis, E. D. (2021). Bioethics and the Brave New World . Ηθική. Περιοδικό φιλοσοφίας, (13), 7–12. https://doi.org/10.12681/ethiki.25962
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- No. 13 (2020)
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