Frankenstein and blade runner
... As technology progresses, the future generations would have the ability to alter their genes if they disagreed with their parents choices. Genetic technology is a good example of the rule utilitarianism and provides ethical grounds for Hughes’s position. Hughes states that rule utilitarianism is the theory that people should follow the rule that produces the most good for the most people. If something was available to give people a longer life span, healthier lives, and more options; that would provide happier people. Genetic technologies present the ability to do just that. Hughes also points out that bodily integrity, biological necessity, and social justice are all reasons genetic technology should not be banned. People should be allowed to do whatever they want to their body. Biological necessity should be taken into account. It is clearly a more desirable to have a child who is free from diseases, infant mortality, or blindness. Without disabilities and illness, genetic technologies would make it possible to create a more equal society. People with disabilities have certain limits that can restrict them from equal participation. Genetic enhancement will probably increase social equality by overcoming disabilities by eliminating the problem. A typical concern in regards to genetic engineering is the value of genetic diversity. Hughes disagrees that this would be a problem because diversity is not something that can improve the quality of life or prevent disease. He also believes that if diversity is lost then it can be made up in other ways such being able to control biology. The novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, provides a cautionary tale against Hughes’s view that genetic technology is “natural” and morally acceptable. An overall theme of the novel is the relationship between humans and nature. Victor Frankenstein looked at nature as being there to dominate it. To Victor, nature was something humans are above and meant to defy. He looked at life as purely a technical problem. I think this is also how Hughes is looking at nature. He focuses on the ability to improve nature and be able to pick what color eyes we want our children to have, instead of not picking when and with whom to procreate with. There is no reason to create anything when people have the ability to reproduce. Genetic engineering is a technology that I see no use for because men and women are still able to reproduce. The same goes for the Monster. Victor Frankenstein could have procreated with Elizabeth, but instead he was just trying to defy nature and create something asexually. Because of genetic technology and the Monster, there should be limits to what is developed technologically. Another novel, Blade Runner, provides insight to why Hughes’s position on genetic technology is morally wrong. In the novel, the androids were created to mimic humans, but did not have empathy or feelings. They were created to be slaves and were considered property. Androids were not regarded as persons and were not guided by morals, which made them dangerous. The book illustrates a completely technological dominated society. Humans were considered defective because the Rosen Corporation kept maki...