The theological ethics of human enhancement: Genetic engineering, robotics and nanotechnology

Manitza Kotze

doi:10.4102/ids.v52i3.2323

Abstract

The recent advances made by biotechnology have been swift and sundry. Technological developments seem to happen sooner than they can be ethically reflected upon. One such trend is the endeavours launched to try and enhance human beings and what it means to be human with movements such as transhumanism, advocating strongly that we should overcome our natural limitations by any means available. With both critics and advocates utilising the expression ‘playing God’, the question of human enhancement is one in which the interplay between church and society comes compellingly to the fore. In this contribution, I wish to examine the bioethical challenges that technologies such as genetic engineering, robotics and nanotechnology raise, specifically from a theological perspective on human enhancement and indicating some paths that future research might take. Christian anthropological views on what it means to be human, especially to be created imago Dei [to the image of God] will provide the doctrinal and theological support to this contemplation.

Highlights

The advances made by biotechnology in recent years have been rapid and very diverse
From genetically engineered crops to the possibilities of reproductive cloning being discussed, technological developments seem to happen sooner than they can be ethically reflected upon. One such trend is the endeavours launched to try and enhance human beings and what it means to be human. This appeals with movements such as transhumanism, advocating strongly that we should overcome our natural limitations by any means available, whether that is changing the makeup of our genes through genetic engineering, using nanotechnology to, for example significantly prolong our lifespan, and robotics to improve our current constitution, or even in its most extreme form, to upload our consciousness into supercomputers
Viewing enhancement from an eschatological perspective, examining whether we might perceive enhancement as a form of continuous creation, or humanity stepping up to our calling as co-creators, for example would be an especially fruitful path that future research could take. To conclude this contribution, cn view of the issue of human dignity discussed previously as it is related to being created in the image of God, I would like to put forward one last aspect to be kept in mind in thinking about human enhancement from a theological perspective

Summary

Introduction

The advances made by biotechnology in recent years have been rapid and very diverse. From genetically engineered crops to the possibilities of reproductive cloning being discussed, technological developments seem to happen sooner than they can be ethically reflected upon. I wish to examine the bioethical challenges that technologies such as genetic engineering, robotics and nanotechnology raise, from a theological perspective on human enhancement.

Results

Conclusion