Faster! Stronger! Less Human!
from the says-who? dept
Salon is running a review of a book by Bill McKibben called Enough: Staying Human in an Engineered Age. The books sounds like a typical neo-luddite tract complaining about what will happen if scientists do what they're trying to do. There have been a lot more books like this one lately, and they're beginning to get tiresome. The arguments don't even seem that interesting any more. His biggest complaint seems to be that genetically engineered children will start acting like "clones" and won't be individual enough to really be human. I'm not sure where he's getting his info from, but there's a very large part of environmental factors that go into what makes a person who they are - and that doesn't change if their genes are any different. He also points out that if a child is genetically bred to be a good musician, they'll never feel like they made it on their own when they get into Julliard. Say what? Does this mean that the child of two virtuoso musicians won't feel the same satisfaction for getting into Julliard? After all, they were also "genetically bred" by having two parents who were accomplished musicians. Genetic breeding occurs any time two people combine their genes to create a child anyway.
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What about obsolescence of talent?
In an era of cars thumping rap music, cell phones going off everywhere, trucks roaring their engine brakes at 3am, having a delicate sense of hearing is a liability, not an asset.
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nature vs nurture
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Re: nature vs nurture
Given the context in which I learned of the Declaration of Independence, it seemed obvious that this was a philisophical statement on a form of government.
Thanks for opening my eyes to the wide diversity of understanding in the world. Who'd of thunk it? "Created equal" means we all have the same smarts? Astounding what you can miss because you actually GOT the point of the history lesson.
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Re: nature vs nurture
When Jews dominated basketball in the 1920s, sports commentators of the time used to say that Jews have a genetic advantage in the sport because of their shrewdness, hustle, and teamwork. How many Jews are in the NBA today? So it is with black athletes; the NBA is increasingly recuiting European athletes over African-Americans who are growing more middle class and tame. There are plenty of sports (bicycling, juggling, skiing, gymnastics, power lifting) where there should be more African champions if their genes are really better. But there are almost no African athletes in those sports. The economic argument holds no water for juggling or gymnastics; basketball is far more expensive.
It could be that much of "intelligence" is a cultural phenomenon based on competition, motivation, and nurture.
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Re: nature vs nurture
It's not that I believe environment has no influence; however, I think the environment can only bring forth or repress attributes present within a genetically established framework.
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Re: nature vs nurture
It's not that I believe environment has no influence; however, I think the environment can only bring forth or repress attributes present within a genetically established framework.
I think you misread my statements as well. I agree that environment helps bring forth or repress attributes within a genetically established framework - though, in general, I believe that framework is pretty wide.
My point is just that the idea that "genetically engineered" kids wouldn't feel comfortable with their achievements is ridiculous. They're still achieving them.
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