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Showing posts from August, 2012

Humanity is unfit for the future unless we consider genetic engineering

Genetically enhance humanity or face extinction - PART 1 from Ethics of the New Biosciences on Vimeo . Genetically enhance humanity or face extinction - PART 2 from Ethics of the New Biosciences on Vimeo . Julian Savulescu presents at Sydney's Festival of Dangerous Ideas In his talk at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas (Sydney Opera House), philosopher and bioethicist Julian Savulescu examines the nature of human beings as products of evolution, in particular their limited altruism, limited co-operative instincts and limited ability to take account of the future consequences of actions. He argues that humans' biology and psychology are unfit for the kind of society we live in and we must either alter our political institutions, severely restrain our technology or change our nature. Or face annihilation by our own design.

Improving the genetics of offspring

Intervening in the making of babies will be the most important issue facing the next generation.  We will have the capacity to change behavior that undermines social and personal wellbeing.  A later Q & A version of Prof Savulescu's persuasive argument for genetic modification. http://media.philosophy.ox.ac.uk/bioethicsbites/Savulescu.mp3