Response paper to: The Value of Science” (621) by Feynman and “Inescapable Eugenics” (658) by Kitcher. INSTRUCTIONS are attached. However, you can build off of or include elements to my original post, but it must be edited/altered to meet the assignment instructions. The article are available online. Please use additional sources. 4 pages. APA format. The attached document can give more guidance but the above information is all you need.
My response
I believe Dr. Philip Kitcher’s position on eugenics is clear. As stated in the text, “once we have left the garden of genetic innocence, some form of eugenics is inescapable” (pg. 668). Kitcher also discusses the benefits and drawbacks of using eugenics to assess an individual’s quality of life, but cautions against using eugenics as objective evidence.
Personally, I oppose the idea of purposefully modifying a person’s genetic makeup in order to improve its quality. This is especially the case as it pertains to my children or anyone else who cannot consent to such practices. However, I believe that we should use eugenics to make informed decisions about an individual’s medical care and strategies for early intervention. With that being said, if given the opportunity, I may consider eugenics for myself, but only if I were given the option to choose what is altered. I believe in the balance of nature and with altering the balance comes consequences. For every one addition, something must be taken away to ensure the balance remains. For example, I may opt to improve my intellect, but I would not do so to sacrifice my creativity. Therefore, one must ask themselves, is it worth the risk?
To expand further, one could argue that not everyone has the mental or physical capability to give consent, posing another ethical or moral quandary. Such as who has the proper authority to make these decisions?
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