L'obsolescence Programmer

Should we fear progress ?

Progress grows day after day, experiences after experiences. We are always looking for new technology that will advance science or the world and it is not ready to stopping. The same researchers dedicate their time to this ... Thus, one might ask "Should we fear progress and why?" We will initially "negative examples illustrating progress" and a time secnond "positive examples illustrating progress".

To begin with, I'd like to speak about Applied Genetic manipulation to gender selection.

We saw in the paper "Genetic Manipulation and Gender Selection" that In the US, the Los Angles Institute of Fertility offers to couples to select the sex of their babies and that is not natural. A true scientific device now allows parents to choose the sex of their babies. The technique is called PGD. preimplantation genetic diagnosis. It is offered to couples by the Los Angeles Fertility Institue.

The detection of the major genetic diseases can certainly be considered as a progress, if such diseases can be treated, even cured.

Yet, we may also wonder if eugenics is not far from this. The selection of the best qualities to improve the human race might be tempting at some point.

Indeed, if we can choose the sex of her child, we may in the future choose the skin color, the color of her hair out of her eyes ... We then exceed ethical issues, which is not desirable. It is possible for them to choose the sex, the physical appearance and the genetic predisposition of their future child. This has become the natural way of engendering children in this society. In this scene, the process of genetic selection is presented as a real advantage for the children and parents. It is considered as the best possible start in life.

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