With the bicentenary of the publication of Mary Bysshe Shelley’s book on human enhancement approaching in 2018, it may be worth reviewing the dramatic bioethical challenge faced by Dr Frankenstein.
You may recall that Dr Victor Frankenstein assembled an eight-foot, highly intelligent, powerful male humanoid. His creation escaped but returned to plead for a female companion. With her he would emigrate to “the vast wilds of South America”. However, the good doctor fears that their progeny would compete with humankind. “A race of devils would be propagated upon earth who might make the very existence of the species of man a condition precarious and full of terror.”
So he destroys his female project. Did he make the right decision? Would these creatures really have destroyed the human race?
An article in the journal BioScience has crunched the numbers for us using “competitive exclusion” theory. It turns out that had the couple escaped to South America, they would have multiplied and spread, and eliminated us within 4000 years – 4,188 years to be exact. So, at least within a framework of utilitarian ethics, Frankenstein was right. He deserves the gratitude of BioEdge readers
Michael Cook
Editor
BioEdge
| This week in BioEdge | |
by Michael Cook | Nov 05, 2016
Gaétan Dugas helped investigators but did not bring the disease to the US
by Xavier Symons | Nov 05, 2016
Cambodia has become the latest South East Asian nation to ban commercial surrogacy.
by Michael Cook | Nov 05, 2016
Even the province's health minister is surprised
by Michael Cook | Nov 05, 2016
A British academic questions the progressiveness of genetic engineering
by Michael Cook | Nov 05, 2016
Dr Norman Barwin is being sued by former clients
by Xavier Symons | Nov 05, 2016
Abortion by prescription now rivals surgery in the US, according to 2014 Planned Parenthood data.
by Xavier Symons | Nov 05, 2016
Washington DC City Council voted to legalise euthanasia on Tuesday.
by Michael Cook | Nov 05, 2016
Leading editor responds to his critics
by Michael Cook | Nov 05, 2016
Zoltan Istvan's policies sound odd, but at least he lays his cards on the table
BioEdge
Suite 12A, Level 2 | 5 George St | North Strathfield NSW 2137 | Australia
Phone: +61 2 8005 8605
Mobile: 0422-691-615
Email: michael@bioedge.org
New Media Foundation | Level 2, 5 George St | North Strathfield NSW 2137 | AUSTRALIA | +61 2 8005 8605
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario