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Ok, but how is that relevant to the discussion about restricting data to prevent unethical eugenics?

by refurb 4y ago

sokoloff 4y ago
Because it’s incredibly difficult a priori to restrict only research that could lead to unethical eugenics without restricting that which could lead to ethically sound, widely beneficial eugenics or even unrelated advances. You can (for example) ban research on things might lead to the development of novel poisons. But that ban is almost sure to prevent the development of some new cancer treatments.
- refurb 4y ago
  What “positive eugenics” do you imagine coming out of research on the genetics of intelligence? I mean one that would generally benefit mankind as a whole?
  - sokoloff 4y ago
    Anything that increases the health outcomes of humans in the long-run would be broadly beneficial and could stem from research that's initially targeted at understanding the role genetics plays in intelligence. That could be breakthroughs in early childhood (or lifelong) nutritional support, eradication of diseases, creating lower susceptibility to some forms of cancer or heart disease, improvements in pedagogy, improvements in general intelligence, lower susceptibility to cognitive decline. Research is not laboring to progressively color in a pre-defined picture, where you can just tell research scientists "don't color in the naughty bits".
    - refurb 4y ago
      How is gene linked to intelligence related to "eradication of diseases, creating lower susceptibility to some forms of cancer or heart disease"? The genes that impact those things aren't being restricted?
      - sokoloff 4y ago
        Do you have a list of all the genes and all the things that they impact, even slightly, alone and in combinations? That list in itself would seem to be extraordinarily valuable, perhaps even Nobel Prize winning. We don't know what unrelated items or generally applicable patterns we might find when we go looking into basic research.
        jl6 4y ago
        As a concrete example, it’s completely plausible that understanding the genetic basis of cognitive ability could inform treatment of dementia.

Ok, but how is that relevant to the discussion about restricting data to prevent unethical eugenics?

by refurb 4y ago

Ok, but how is that relevant to the discussion about restricting data to prevent unethical eugenics?

Because it’s incredibly difficult a priori to restrict only research that could lead to unethical eugenics without restricting that which could lead to ethically sound, widely beneficial eugenics or even unrelated advances. You can (for example) ban research on things might lead to the development of novel poisons. But that ban is almost sure to prevent the development of some new cancer treatments.

refurb 4y ago
What “positive eugenics” do you imagine coming out of research on the genetics of intelligence? I mean one that would generally benefit mankind as a whole?
- sokoloff 4y ago
  Anything that increases the health outcomes of humans in the long-run would be broadly beneficial and could stem from research that's initially targeted at understanding the role genetics plays in intelligence. That could be breakthroughs in early childhood (or lifelong) nutritional support, eradication of diseases, creating lower susceptibility to some forms of cancer or heart disease, improvements in pedagogy, improvements in general intelligence, lower susceptibility to cognitive decline. Research is not laboring to progressively color in a pre-defined picture, where you can just tell research scientists "don't color in the naughty bits".
  - refurb 4y ago
    How is gene linked to intelligence related to "eradication of diseases, creating lower susceptibility to some forms of cancer or heart disease"? The genes that impact those things aren't being restricted?
    - sokoloff 4y ago
      Do you have a list of all the genes and all the things that they impact, even slightly, alone and in combinations? That list in itself would seem to be extraordinarily valuable, perhaps even Nobel Prize winning. We don't know what unrelated items or generally applicable patterns we might find when we go looking into basic research.
      - jl6 4y ago
        As a concrete example, it’s completely plausible that understanding the genetic basis of cognitive ability could inform treatment of dementia.