scholarly journals Genetic engineering and gene manipulation: the right (of future generations) to surprise

2021 ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Maria K. Chorianopoulou
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Engineering ◽  
Gene Mutations ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Genetic Enhancement ◽  
Unborn Child ◽  
Gene Manipulation ◽  
Genetic Stock ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The One ◽  
The Right

Genetic engineering is currently at the forefront of biotechnological innovation and aspires to change once and for ever the way we understand and handle human nature. Especially the growth of Eugenics makes us visualise a different world, where humanity will not only dispense itself from the detrimental gene mutations that are accountable for fatal illnesses, but will also ameliorate through prenatal gene manipulation. In the first part of this paper, I will introduce the responsibility-oriented morality of Hans Jonas, who supports vividly all efforts of negative Eugenics but seems sceptical about genetic enhancement, since on the one hand we have no right to decide on behalf of our descendants on what is best for them, and on the other due to his view that the abundance of our genetic stock should not hang on parents’ desires. In the second part, I will correlate these oppositions with Hannah Arendt’s concept of “natality”. Not only do Jonas and Habermas invoke it with applause; “natality” also discloses the very essence of birth, namely that each newborn epitomises total unpredictability and promises to renew human affairs. So, gene manipulation for enhancement purposes seems to encroach on “natality’s” dominion and diminish future autonomy. Finally, I will argue that, if Arendt’s conceptual frame consolidates objections to positive Eugenics, each unborn child holds a right to surprise, the content of which is not limited to an individual level but touches society and humanity.

The Demands of CRISPR’s World

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
J. Benjamin Hurlbut ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Genetic Engineering ◽  
Gene Editing ◽  
Human Life ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Genetic Enhancement ◽  
Germline Gene ◽  
Technical Possibility ◽  
Human Germline Gene Editing

A growing chorus of voices is declaring that CRISPR will revolutionize the ability to control life, including human life. As genetically altering future generations becomes technically realistic, it raises the prospect of genetic enhancement and the specter of eugenics. Prominent scientists are calling for international guidelines to govern human applications of gene-editing technology. They argue that the technical possibility of human germline gene editing makes ethical deliberation urgent. Now that the technology is upon us, the time has come to ask whether we want it. Human germline genetic engineering has long been marked as a morally significant boundary, and in numerous countries it is explicitly prohibited by law. The Oviedo Convention, a legally binding treaty among twenty-nine European countries, prohibits it as a violation of human rights and dignity. Nevertheless, numerous commentators argue that prohibitions made before it was technically possible meant little, and past proscriptions must now be revised.

Tailoring Humans

2019 ◽  
pp. 264-282
Author(s):  
Alexandra Huidu
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Engineering ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Technological Evolution ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Medical Purpose ◽  
Ethical Perspective ◽  
The Right ◽  
Short Time ◽  
Basic Level ◽  
Experimental Stage

What began as an attempt to eradicate serious illnesses seems to have become, in some cases, under the impetus of human imagination and technological evolution, an exercise by which scientists come to compete with the attributes of divinity: augmenting human beings at a basic level that affects the identity of the species. Genetic engineering for medical purposes has created the premises for the existence of technologies that can be used for other agendas, without medical purpose, in order to bioenhance the characteristics of the human individual. The genetic inheritance we leave to future generations is now under our control, because we are able to manipulate our germinal line. Hybrid embryos and chimeric embryos, although still in the experimental stage, can become a reality in relatively short time. But just because we can, do we have the right to do it? Do we need all of this and, if so, to what extent? What are the limits and who or what sets the standards? These are the questions that this chapter addresses from an ethical perspective.

Human Editing: From Geneticization to New Forms of Equality and Identity

2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Olga Popova
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Engineering ◽  
Genetic Modification ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Genetic Enhancement ◽  
Human Species ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
Veil Of Ignorance ◽  
Therapeutic Context ◽  
The Veil

The article analyzes a number of philosophical problems caused by the emergence of the new genetic engineering tool CRISPR/Cas9 and the possible legitimization of genetic engineering technologies, in general. The non-therapeutic context of the use of the CRISPR/Cas9 tool is considered, and in this context the problem of future generations' rights and human species identity is analyzed. Using J. Rawls' idea of the “veil of ignorance”, the problem of the distribution of genetic advantages is analyzed and possible trajectories for its solution are demonstrated. The link between genetic enhancement and new forms of biosociality and inequality is presented. It is concluded that the rights of future generations in the competition of opposing ethical-philosophical attitudes will be problematized both within the framework of defending the attitude to the naturalness and in the context of defending human genetic modification.

scholarly journals As cláusulas pétreas: a possibilidade de revisão constitucional de vinculações de receitas na área da educação

KPGT_dlutz_1 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 585
Author(s):  
Luiz Henrique Urquhart Cademartori ◽  
Noel Antônio Baratieri
Keyword(s):  
Public Education ◽  
The State ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The Other ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Constitutional Amendment ◽  
Right To Education ◽  
Constitutional Evolution ◽  
The One ◽  
The Right

As cláusulas pétreas: a possibilidade de revisão constitucional de vinculações de receitas na área da educação Resumo: O artigo aborda os limites e as possibilidades de alteração de normas constitucionais que garantem vinculação orçamentária para funções típicas do Estado tais como a Educação Pública. O problema é saber se uma emenda constitucional supressiva da referida garantia orçamentária seria constitucional ou não. A hipótese que se suscita neste estudo procura delinear em que medida seria inconstitucional tal adoção, posto que estaria restringindo, indiretamente, um direito fundamental, no caso o direito à educação, mas, ao mesmo tempo, esta simples constatação encontraria entraves sob a ótica de uma democracia intergeracional. Considera-se, de uma parte, o direito à educação é protegido, originariamente, no âmbito constitucional brasileiro como cláusula pétrea, mas, de outra, gerações futuras ou problemas conjunturais governamentais posteriores à 1988 podem questionar a legitimidade de normas fundamentais originadas em contexto sociopolítico anterior. Para o desenvolvimento deste trabalho, primeiramente analisam-se as cláusulas pétreas e os limites ao poder reformador. A seguir, estudam-se as referidas cláusulas e a sua evolução constitucional. Posteriormente, faz-se uma análise da constitucionalidade de eventual emenda que suprima a vinculação obrigatória de receitas para a educação sob o prisma da proibição de retrocesso. Palavras chave: Cláusulas pétreas. Constituição. Educação. Retrocesso. Receitas públicas. Safeguard clauses: the possibility of constitutional reviewing the bonded educational income Abstract: The article deals with the limits and possibilities of altering constitutional norms that guarantee budgetary linkage to functions typical of the State as a Public Education. The problem is whether a constitutional amendment suppressing the standard budget guarantee would be constitutional or not. The hypothesis that arises in this study looks for what is necessary, is not a fundamental right, is not a case, but the same, this is a finding found obstacles from the point of view of an intergenerational democracy. It is considered, on the one hand, that the right to education is protected, originally, it is not very Brazilian constitutional as a stony clause, but, on the other hand, future generations or post-1988 governmental conjunctural problems may question the legitimacy of fundamental norms originated in context previous sociopolitical. For the development of this work, firstly they are analyzed like stone clauses and the limits to the reformer power. Next, they are studied as clauses of clauses and their constitutional evolution. Subsequently, an analysis is made of the constitutionality of any amendment that abolishes the mandatory binding of transfer to the critic of a prison of prohibition of retrocession. Keywords: Constitution. Education. Public income. Regression. Safeguard clauses.

scholarly journals Sustainable sanitation from a multi-layered approach: the case of Costa Rica

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cindy Calvo Salazar
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
National Level ◽  
Interesting Case ◽  
Joint Production ◽  
Environmental Sanitation ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Sustainable Environment ◽  
The One ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Right

The purpose of this article is to present the case of Costa Rica in its recent efforts to achieve sustainable environmental sanitation. Mainly, it is based on a theoretical framework that integrates the notion of environmental sanitation practices at multiple levels: the macro level (environmental and social policies), and at the micro level (community actions and individual daily practices). The context of Costa Rica is taken into account, since it presents an interesting case study in terms of environmental sanitation. On the one hand, it is a country widely recognized for its ecological policies framed within a "green agenda", with high social development indexes. However; on the other hand, it faces increasingly greater challenges in terms of sanitation planning, inter-institutional coordination, legislation, financing and maintenance of current sanitation systems.This article takes up some results of the author's doctorate study, which conducted a mixed-methods approach. The qualitative data were obtained from in-depth interviews with national authorities, locals, community leaders, and heads of households. The quantitative data were obtained from the application of a survey in three different communities with rural, urban, and semi-urban characteristics. At the national level, the main result is a paradigm shift in the conception of health, where the joint production of healthy environments should be paramount, within the framework of the right to live in a healthy and sustainable environment. At the community level, local efforts to protect their natural resources for tourism or productive purposes are highlighted, and at the individual level a mixture of reactive and proactive daily practices is found.

Böckenförde on the Right to Life, Human Dignity, and its Meta-positive Foundations

2020 ◽  
pp. 308-317
Author(s):  
Mirjam Künkler ◽  
Tine Stein
Keyword(s):  
Human Dignity ◽  
Constitutional Law ◽  
Genetic Diagnosis ◽  
The Other ◽  
Unborn Child ◽  
Right To Life ◽  
Abortion Law ◽  
Technological Developments ◽  
The One ◽  
The Right

Part IV contains three articles that reflect Böckenförde’s stance on the right to life, human dignity, and the meta-positive foundations of constitutional law. Over a period of four decades, he repeatedly dealt with the issues of protecting the unborn child on the one hand and women’s right to self-determination on the other. He did so in the context of both abortion law and bioethics against the backdrop of new medical-technological developments, such as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. As in the articles contained in ...

Tailoring Humans

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Alexandra Huidu
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Engineering ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Technological Evolution ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Medical Purpose ◽  
Ethical Perspective ◽  
The Right ◽  
Short Time ◽  
Basic Level ◽  
Experimental Stage

What began as an attempt to eradicate serious illnesses seems to have become, in some cases, under the impetus of human imagination and technological evolution, an exercise by which scientists come to compete with the attributes of divinity: augmenting human beings at a basic level that affects the identity of the species. Genetic engineering for medical purposes has created the premises for the existence of technologies that can be used for other agendas, without medical purpose, in order to bioenhance the characteristics of the human individual. The genetic inheritance we leave to future generations is now under our control, because we are able to manipulate our germinal line. Hybrid embryos and chimeric embryos, although still in the experimental stage, can become a reality in relatively short time. But just because we can, do we have the right to do it? Do we need all of this and, if so, to what extent? What are the limits and who or what sets the standards? These are the questions that this chapter addresses from an ethical perspective.

Mechanisms of Resource Curse and Economic Policy

2007 ◽  
pp. 4-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Polterovich ◽  
V. Popov ◽  
A. Tonis
Keyword(s):  
Real Exchange Rates ◽  
Resource Curse ◽  
Budget Deficits ◽  
Resource Abundance ◽  
Fuel Prices ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Resource Wealth ◽  
The One ◽  
The Right ◽  
Rich Countries

This paper compares various mechanisms of resource curse leading to a potentially inefficient use of resources; it is demonstrated that each of these mechanisms is associated with market imperfections and can be "corrected" with appropriate government policies. Empirical evidence seems to suggest that resource abundant countries have on average lower budget deficits and inflation, and higher foreign exchange reserves. Besides, lower domestic fuel prices that are typical for resource rich countries have a positive effect on long-term growth even though they are associated with losses resulting from higher energy consumption. On top of that resource abundance allows to reduce income inequalities. So, on the one hand, resource wealth turns out to be conducive to growth, especially in countries with strong institutions. However, on the other hand, resource abundance leads to corruption of institutions and to overvalued real exchange rates. On balance, there is no solid evidence that resource abundant countries grow more slowly than the others, but there is evidence that they grow more slowly than could have grown with the right policies and institutions.

Challenges of Media Education Standards in Georgia

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marine Vekua
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Teaching Methods ◽  
International Standards ◽  
The Other ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Journalism Education ◽  
Education Standards ◽  
Modern Media ◽  
The One ◽  
The Right

The main goal of this research is to determine whether the journalism education of the leading media schools inGeorgia is adequate to modern media market’s demands and challenges. The right answer to this main questionwas found after analyzing Georgian media market’s demands, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, differentaspects of journalism education in Georgia: the historical background, development trends, evaluation ofeducational programs and curricula designs, reflection of international standards in teaching methods, studyingand working conditions.

The Taubman/Golandsky Approach to the Violin

Public Voices ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Sophie Till
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Technical Approach ◽  
Piano Technique ◽  
Pedagogical Approach ◽  
New Developments ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Music Making ◽  
Helping Others ◽  
The One ◽  
The Right

Three years ago Sophie Till started working with pianist Edna Golandsky, the leading exponent of the Taubman Piano Technique, an internationally acclaimed approach that is well known to pianists, on the one hand, for allowing pianists to attain a phenomenal level of virtuosity and on the other, for solving very serious piano-related injuries. Till, a violinist, quickly realized that here was a unique technical approach that could not only identify and itemize the minute movements that underlie a virtuoso technique but could show how these movements interact and go into music making at the highest level. Furthermore, through the work of the Golandsky Institute, she saw a pedagogical approach that had been developed to a remarkable depth and level of clarity. It was an approach that had the power to communicate in a way she had never seen before, despite her own first class violin training from the earliest age. While the geography and “look” on the violin are different from the piano, the laws governing coordinate motion specifically in playing the instrument are the same for pianists and violinists. As a result of Till’s work translating the technique for violin, a new pedagogical approach for violinists of all ages is emerging; the Taubman/Golandsky Approach to the Violin. In reflecting on these new developments, Edna Golandsky wrote, “I have been working with the Taubman Approach for more than 30 years and have worked regularly with other instrumentalists. However, Sophie Till was the first violinist who asked me to teach her with the same depth that I do with pianists. With her conceptual and intellectual agility as well as complete dedication to helping others, she has been the perfect partner to translate this body of knowledge for violinists. Through this collaboration, Sophie is helping develop a new ‘language’ for violinist that will prevent future problems, solve present ones and start beginners on the right road to becoming the best they can be. The implications of this new work for violinists are enormous.”

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