Michael Sandel

In the 2009 Reith Lectures, Professor Michael Sandel argues, in “Genetics and Morality,” that as a society we should not seek genetic enhancement (outside of therapeutic enhancement), because to do so is to lose the appreciation of the giftedness of life, humility, solidarity, and responsibility. Even though the lecture focuses on genetic enhancement, much of what has been shared can be applied to others form of enhancement (biotechnological enhancement, neurological enhancement). What might help to answer a question concerning the difference between the use of botox, gel, and braces is that we need to make a difference not only between therapy and enhancement, but also between the use of an external object (umbrella, medicament . . .)to help a person and engineering a new person with various means.

Furthermore, Sandel acknowledges that much of this discussion is theological in character. He states:

“In order to grabble with the ethics of enhancement, we need to confront questions largely lost from view in the modern world, questions about the proper stance of human beings towards the given world. Since this questions verge on theology, modern philosophers and political theorists tend to shrink from them, but our new powers of biotechnology make these questions unavoidable” (See the recording at 6 minutes 20).

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