Is Human Nature Obsolete ─ Genetic Engineering And The Future Of The Human Condition

As our scientific and technical abilities expand at breathtaking speeds, concern thatmodern genetics and bioengineering are leading us to a posthuman future is growing. Is Human NatureObsolete? poses the overarching question of what it is to be human against the background of thesecurrent advances in biotechnology. Its perspective is philosophical and interdisciplinary ratherthan technical; the focus is on questions of fundamental ontological importance rather than thespecifics of medical or scientific practice.The authors -- all distinguished scholars in theirfields -- take on questions about technology's goals and values that are often ignored or sidelinedin the face of rapid scientific advances and the highly specialized nature of technical knowledge.The essays included represent a rich variety of thought, ranging from finely nuanced philosophicaland theological arguments to historical studies and cultural commentaries. Several explore thehistorical background of today's biotechnology: Timothy Casey traces such developments as theemergence of cybernetic humanity from Cartesian dualism, and Diane Paul presents the history of"positive" versus coerced eugenics. Jean Bethke Elshtain discusses cloning as a "messianic project"to perfect the body and exclude natural diversity -- giving as an example the elimination of DownSyndrome as an acceptable human type -- while Harold Baillie calls for an examination of themetaphysical roots of personhood. Robert Proctor finds no evidence in paleontology for any "essenceof humanity," and Tom Shannon argues against materialist reductionism. Addressing social concerns,Lisa Sowle Cahill finds the possibility of a political solution to the problems raised by geneticengineering in Catholic teachings on social justice, and Langdon Winner looks critically at the"scientific enthusiasts of a posthuman future." Taken as a whole, the book provides a humanisticoverview of a subject too often considered only in its technological aspect.

Timothy K. Casey is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Scranton.