Wicked Solutions to Wicked Problems? A Christian Ethical Reflection on Synthetic Biology as Nature Conservation

Abstract

Abstract While a distinction should be made between wicked problems as first defined by Churchman (1967) and Rittel and Webber (1973) and problems that are merely challenging and difficult to solve, in this contribution, I argue that climate change and the resulting destruction of nature could be explained as a wicked problem. One of the proposed solutions to climate change, making use of synthetic biology for nature conservation, has the potential to be classified not only as a wicked solution but as a solution that spawns a number of other wicked problems. I will examine the ethical issues raised by synthetic biology as a wicked solution to this super wicked problem from the perspective of Christian ethics, drawing in particular on the resources available in Christian ecotheology and, specifically, notions of interdependence, relationality, responsible stewardship, and global justice.