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A Survey of Bioethical Problems in Euginics

  • Philosophical Investigation
  • 2006, 20(), pp.185~210
  • Publisher : Institute of philosophy in Chung-Ang Univ.
  • Research Area : Humanities > Philosophy

이종원 1

1숭실대

Candidate

ABSTRACT

This essay aims to examine the origins and the characteristics of eugenics and to survey the problems that result from attempts at eugenics from a bioethical perspective and to offer a solution. Eugenics is a new science of improving the human race inspired by F. Galton. It means "good in birth" in Greek. Recent advances in the understanding of human heredity offered by advances in genetics have prompted a revival in eugenics. Old-fashioned eugenics sought to produce citizens out of a single centrally designed mould. But the new liberal eugenics is state neutrality and voluntary. Therefore eugenicists make mistakes manipulating new baby so that they may produce a perfect baby. The new eugenics has emerged from the various forms of prenatal screening and diagnosis. There are two types of Genetic therapy, one is somatic gene therapy, the other is germ-line gene therapy. Liberals see no moral difference between these two types. But the differences between these are distinct and they raise many ethical problems. Somatic gene therapy is ethically acceptable to cure an otherwise fatal disease. But germ-line gene therapy faces serious objection because of resulting uncertain genetic change in descendants. As a result, attempts at positive eugenics beyond negative eugenics must be prohibited. Positive eugenics programs separate the sorts of people who are desirable and those who are dispensable through the desire of selfish interests involved in these programs.

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