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In a world of seemingly never-ending technological advances, questions of ethics take on even more significance than in the past. Conflicts of interest abound and pressure mounts at every turn for more profits, higher incomes, power and instant gratification leads to the temptation to ignore questions of ethics. This book presents new and interesting research on ethical issues in the modern day.
How does biotechnology touch on human destiny? What are its promises and challenges? In search for a response, the present volume turns to the thought of Hans Jonas, one of the pioneers and founding fathers of bioethics. The continued relevance of his ideas is exemplified by the way Jurgen Habermas applies them to the current debate. The chief promise of biotechnology is to increase our freedom by overcoming the limits of the human condition. The main risk of biotechnology, as both Jonas and Habermas seeit, is to diminish or outright abolish our capacity for responsibility and morality. It is argued that the greater freedom is not simply freedom from constraints but freedom for our destiny: the freedom to be the benevolent, responsible, and spontaneous authors of our lives, capable of communion and love. The touchstone for evaluating any biotechnological procedure has to be this greater freedom.
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An exploration of the philosophical and practical implications of practices such as surrogacy and organ harvesting. Wilkinson questions whether such commercial uses of the body need legislation to outlaw such practices.