PHI 2396 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Gene Therapy, Abortion Debate, Deontological Ethics
29 Mar 2016
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**not in final, but need this lecture to introduce topic. Resnik thesis before judging the moral significance and consequences of human genetics, we should distinguish the difference btwn genetic therapy and genetic enhancement. The distinction, however, doesn"t mark a firm moral boundary btwn moral and immoral genetic intervention. Genetic therapy is not a threat to normality" but genetic enhancement performed on healthy ppl should be. This approach can"t tell us whether one or the other is moral or immoral: value-laden approach: understanding of health and disease is based on moral, cultural and social norms. Genetic therapy is morally good b/c it helps us fight disease which is considered bad. The answer depends on the scope of our definitions of health and disease. If we accept normal deviations, then genetic enhancement is not inherently wrong and is acceptable as longa s it doesn"t violate other moral norms such as nonmalfeasance, autonomy, etc.
