6 ms·

Not the OP, but I think there are ethical concerns about genetic manipulation that do not amount to catastrophizing (e.g. 20th century eugenics is back!).

mcculley 4y ago
Maybe the conflation is the problem for me. I don’t see how research or even consensual application necessarily leads to “20th century eugenics”.
- SoftTalker 4y ago
  I don't see how it doesn't. Look at human history.
  - mcculley 4y ago
    I remain unconvinced that the inevitable existence of e.g., designer babies will inevitably lead to forcing people to have them.
    - SoftTalker 4y ago
      Forcing no, but those who could afford to do it would engineer superior children, and society would rather quickly devolve into a caste-type social system or worse.
      - mcculley 4y ago
        It is inevitable that more people will be able to exert more control over their reproduction. I agree that this is likely to amplify the human tribalism that already causes so many problems. I still don't see how that inevitably leads to “20th century eugenics” nor why we should discourage or fear research.
      - Nasrudith 4y ago
        You haven't had children, have you? They don't neatly fit into plans or develop to top down desires.Thinking the children will be superior is extreme arrogance even if it all works out and they are born immune to cancer. It puts too much faith in one advantage determining all. Under that catastrophic social model the elite should have been descendants of the elite from before the Bronze Age collapse, and heavy cavalry should have maintained their combat effectiveness over the masses even during the Infantry Revolution.
- dalmo3 4y ago
  Consensual application is a huge assumption based on recent history.
  - mcculley 4y ago
    The existence on non-consensual application would not change my opinion on the value of research.
- HTTP418 4y ago
  Simple put people think "its a slippery slope". Every step closer to the evolution of a new technology makes people think about all the bad ways it could be used. Many past leaders in chemistry probably thought their advances would lead to the holocaust. Its not bad to think/talk about the possible negative consequences of bringing a new technology into this world.
kristopolous 4y ago
If we get designer babies along with curing cancer I say "so be it". Laws can be written to limit its use if we find it morally objectionable
BurningFrog 4y ago
The problem with old school eugenics was that it wasn't consensual. Like forced sterilizations and abortions. If gene tech can make future generations healthier and smarter with informed choice by the parents, those future generations will look back in horror at the barbaric pro death & disease lobby of the 2020s.

mcculley 4y ago

Maybe the conflation is the problem for me. I don’t see how research or even consensual application necessarily leads to “20th century eugenics”.

SoftTalker 4y ago
I don't see how it doesn't. Look at human history.
- mcculley 4y ago
  I remain unconvinced that the inevitable existence of e.g., designer babies will inevitably lead to forcing people to have them.
  - SoftTalker 4y ago
    Forcing no, but those who could afford to do it would engineer superior children, and society would rather quickly devolve into a caste-type social system or worse.
    - mcculley 4y ago
      It is inevitable that more people will be able to exert more control over their reproduction. I agree that this is likely to amplify the human tribalism that already causes so many problems. I still don't see how that inevitably leads to “20th century eugenics” nor why we should discourage or fear research.
    - Nasrudith 4y ago
      You haven't had children, have you? They don't neatly fit into plans or develop to top down desires.Thinking the children will be superior is extreme arrogance even if it all works out and they are born immune to cancer. It puts too much faith in one advantage determining all. Under that catastrophic social model the elite should have been descendants of the elite from before the Bronze Age collapse, and heavy cavalry should have maintained their combat effectiveness over the masses even during the Infantry Revolution.
dalmo3 4y ago
Consensual application is a huge assumption based on recent history.
- mcculley 4y ago
  The existence on non-consensual application would not change my opinion on the value of research.
HTTP418 4y ago
Simple put people think "its a slippery slope". Every step closer to the evolution of a new technology makes people think about all the bad ways it could be used. Many past leaders in chemistry probably thought their advances would lead to the holocaust. Its not bad to think/talk about the possible negative consequences of bringing a new technology into this world.

kristopolous 4y ago

If we get designer babies along with curing cancer I say "so be it". Laws can be written to limit its use if we find it morally objectionable

BurningFrog 4y ago

The problem with old school eugenics was that it wasn't consensual. Like forced sterilizations and abortions. If gene tech can make future generations healthier and smarter with informed choice by the parents, those future generations will look back in horror at the barbaric pro death & disease lobby of the 2020s.