Our Posthuman Future
| Series: | |
| Publisher: | Profile |
| Subject: | Biotechnology--Social aspects--Forecasting, Social change--History--20th century, Social history--1945, Social norms--History--20th century, Social integration |
| Authors: | Francis Fukuyama |
| Pages: | 256 pages |
| Binding: | Hardcover |
| ISBN: | 9781861972972 |
| Call No: | TP 248.23 F818 2002 |
Is a baby whose personality has been chosen from a gene supermarket still a human? If we choose what we create what happens to morality? Is this the end of human nature? The dramatic advances in DNA technology over the last few years are the stuff of science fiction. It is now not only possible to clone human beings it is happening. For the first time since the creation of the earth four billion years ago, or the emergence of mankind 10 million years ago, people will be able to choose their children's' sex, height, colour, personality traits and intelligence. It will even be possible to create 'superhumans' by mixing human genes with those of other animals for extra strength or longevity. But is this desirable? What are the moral and political consequences? Will it mean anything to talk about 'human nature' any more? Is this the end of human beings?