Thinking across species--a critical bioethics approach to enhancement

Theor Med Bioeth. 2007;28(6):509-23. doi: 10.1007/s11017-007-9057-6.

Abstract

Drawing upon a concept of 'critical bioethics' [7] this paper takes a species-broad approach to the social and ethical aspects of enhancement. Critical Bioethics aims to foreground interdisciplinarity, socio-political dimensions, as well as reflexivity to what becomes bioethical subject matter. This paper focuses upon the latter component and uses the example of animal enhancement as a way to think about both enhancement generally, and bioethics. It constructs several arguments for including animal enhancement as a part of enhancement debates, and considers some connections between human and animal enhancement. The paper concludes in a plea for an 'enhancement' to our critical abilities to examine some of the underlying social, moral and ethical assumptions bound up in varied anticipated 'enhanced' futures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agriculture
  • Animals
  • Bioethical Issues*
  • Ethical Analysis
  • Genetic Enhancement / ethics*
  • Humans
  • Social Responsibility*
  • Social Values*