Taylor C., Dell'Oro R. (eds.): Health and Human Flourishing. Religion, Medicine and Moral Antropology

(1)

Med Health Ca:r and Philos

DOI 10. 1007/si 101 9-008-91 33-3

Q

open1rs*ess

Short

literature

notices

@ The Author(s) 2008

Harri.s,

J.: 2W7,

Enkancing Evolatictn: The

Ethicai

Case

for

Makirtg Better People. Princeton: Princetoe University

Press.

260 pages.

1SBN

978-06911

12W43.

Price:

€

26.99^

John

Flarris' new

book

"Enhancing

Evolution"

is

pro-voking

and thought'provoking since

it

makes

an

"ethical

case for making beiter people" (iritended as an eihical, not

a policy proposal).

lt

is provoking since

it

deals

with

two hotly debated ethical problems: the question

of

enhanciag

human beings and the moral status

of

the human embryo,

and

it

deals

with

these

problems

in

a

clear

language

attacking

a lot of

deeply rooted

moral

intuitions

surrounding human nature or the value of the given. Harris'

claims must be provocative since he claims that enhancing

p€rsons

is

a

moral

dus

because enhancing

a

life

of

a

perscn _{orthe person

itself-Harris

does not make a clear

distinction here)

me*ns

making

&at

life

better

for

that

persoa herself. And

it

is a moral

dtty,

at least prima facie,

to enable persons to lead better §ves" Although Harris does

not

discuss

hie own

meta-ethicai stance

in

detail,

it

is

obvious that he does not accept deontological argustents as

sound moral arguments. Thus he attacks philosopbers

like

Michael

Sandel

or

Jiirgen

Habermas

criticising

tleir

arguments as inconclusive

or

unclear and not universally

accessible (the reader must get the impression that

in

this

book

oniy

the meta-ethical staace

of

Harris is accepted as

universally acceptable).

As

a

liberal, Harris

accepts that other persons (among

them

prominert

philosophers

like

George Annas, John

Finnis

or

l,eon

Kass,

to

mention

a

few)

will

reject

enhancement

for

themselves,

but

reftises

to

accept that

these thinkers want to prescribe what other persons should

be allowed

to

do on the basis

of raiionaliy

not justif,able

premises.

Relying

on

human

nature

is,

according

to

Harris,

no

piausible basis

for

making

enhancement

unethical.

On

the

one hand, evolution

is

a

process

wherein each

stage

of

development

is

contingent

and

subject to random change.

On

the other hand evolution's

results can,

if

enhancement is possibie at ail, be enhanced.

Since

making

p€rsons'

lives a

better

life for

them

is

a

moral duty,

enhancing

evolution

is

ethically

mandatory

and the evolutionary given human nature is

of

no intrinsic

vaiue^

Moreover, since evolution

itseif

will

not

shrink

from

overcomitrg obstacles, theu preserving human nafure

cailnot be

moraily

mandatory.

For

sure, some

of

the

arguments

in

this book

are not

elaborated

carefully

enough.

For

example,

Haris

rejects

potentiality-based arguments presupposing

a

notion of

potentiality

which would

make

this

norion

useless

for

science,

_{too (cf. ?p. 97 and}

166

ff.).

lf I

am

right

in

assumiag

that biolcgy

csrnot do without

a

notion of

potentiality,

this

result

is

unwelcome

and

I

cannot see

how

Harris

ca:n

avoid

this

without

weakening

his

objections against

using the notion

of

potenfiality

in

biomedical

ethics.

But Harris'

plea

for

enhancement is

not

only

provoking.

lt

is really

thought-provoking since

it

dem.onstrates

how

deep

the

philosophical

issues are

and

that we have

to

address

them

if

we

warrt

to

make

explicit

all

the

metaphysical, meta-ethical

and

ethical

premises

all

participants

in

the

debate

rely

on.

But

without zuch

philosophical

reflection

a

serious

and

fruitful

discussion

wili

not be

possible.

lt

is

among the

merits

of

this

extraordinarily

well

written

book

to

make

this

visible.

Michael _Quante

Cologrw, Germany

(2)

::;tiirrttl{ [ 17 .IO SàJuanbaSuoc IET3OS àr11

8ut:aprsuo:

,Jo oldtJuud ,(-rutrrrurie.rd

àrI

:aldrcuud r.Jgrtr

u

soanportur aqs os Surop

uI

'r^àJuànbesuoJ puu 'suuaru

'spo3

alrnp:,ta

ol

q)uorddE éJua8.1a^uoJ

u

se ssarpllrl]

pfle

d'.[erirneag

Jo

rusrl -dtrurrd aql sesn 3ur11gt5-xlr:14 srs,{1euu

ltrrqto

arg rod rlourrè^Jalul :rlnedr:rarp Sur,rordror

ur

slradsu

iiruru go

auo

,{iuo aq

-(uru slrlauaSocuru,mqd e.roJe.raql'ltreumoJr^ue

prm's3pnlnle'aruuildtuoe

aqri s.lolJuJ Il?rlIàlxe uo èJo[urarllJru ù-puadop uortrrs^relur Il?tr -rnl) Jo lJaJ.Ja aiLL 'adÀloue8 oql

;o

acuanbasrro:r ,{lÌlssalàlt

r:

(scsu.rstp lusnucouoru

'3'a)

sesur o-ruJ

ur

,{1tro

sr

ad,(1 -ouaqd èqI prru

arnlruts

VNCI eql

uorl

aiqrcrldxe

lou

eru sarlrado"rd luafrorua eJurs 'ua{Blsrrx r^t sJOlauEJBd Jrlaua8 dlucl ot sarlrlenb uprxnq Jo uorltrnpa.r aq1 '{dr.raqt aÀrlraJ.}a roJ eruapr^e lesilsrJels

iluo

8ur,rur1

f,q ,(tryaIduo,

snour -roua

u*

.{jl^§

pep

ot surl oJuarJs teq} sàpnlruos

èrls

'S]sel cir afiaEocu -rsnTqd 3o uoq u riidde 1e ciurlc prm dSolodorrpueor +:ur-ruqd 'sorlaue8 .1o punorÉ1cuq l:r1rllràrf,s

eqt

slueserd

roqìnt

aqÌ 1s.ug :slrucl ururu o^\t Jo slsrsrroJ

ìooq

aq.J. 's:llauaSoorumqd

uo

uorssn:srp

:rtlqnd pue

ogrluarJs snot-r'as

E

ol

s1srss€ plrl? s.moJ

puu

sàdoq

'srrorsl,\ Jrlsllua.run

srètunoJ

eqs sis,tluue qidap-ur srrll

Sulqsilqncl{g

'aeil

}o lutod

Ff,ripe tm ruo,IJ ruaql sélÈnle^e puB slurluelod slr soleturlse 'ècna -rJs ,.d.eu

slql

lo

iJu

.Io aluls

:ql

saroidxa 3ur11o1g-xru1,g

tmIlIJ'eulJlperx

puu srrlauo3',(3o1oruurmr1d Suturqruos r{J.ruosèJ

Jo plag

Surpuedxa

uu

st

sctlauaSocurulurl4 '06'6L ò:eor.rd 919968928t-8t6 ,qgg1 'sa8ud 61g '3e1ra1 .LI-I ;url.r3g 'uouvrtvA "tàq)»'q,)Lta? lltu s8unSwsl sap aplad»^y alp§tL! 1à ptffi 3\ ]§lDtca\JSltDryJ§'ila§§?n4' a'q Jr^13i, lotg's js ejtta 3 - oyout.nlq

d

pun 4 uaua7 otiaw)Dxl

d'

LO1Z

:-I

8url1oig-xrur§

i1u1

'autoy rurz ocsaJuuJd

'(z

'd) .,Butur:aru Jo srsautuuu! eqÌ

ol

luarrrlnuruo, E,!

st

slrrl]aorq Sutpwis:apun -IoJ

Iool

lurluesse

uu sr

arxnlo^

snp

asuas sltil

uI

'seJdrJuucl luiururru pu? IEsJe^rsn ot ilrluJors.+o ,,ror] -Jnpal oril

ùl

èlùpiirie ue sept,ro-tcl pue 'Suiqsi-irrog iruriinq Jo

plla

tloilrpuoJ nElunrl erll .]o ènrrA

irslirBlrr aql

$1 Lrorl -ualle sill?s

lJ

'scr(Iaorq il?rrorlue^rro3

Jo

qJnttl satcrrfiuop )1rrìl ruslJur[rurur Ir;-roru

oql

ìsnn:.3r.r sa]uqàp

qlpaq

orlqnd ro-] uorlnquluo:

ltmpodur

uu sr

{ooq

sigl

'uorsnlluor

rrl

(.tgZ

dl

,.ssudluoo u tnoqlr,lÀ tsaroJ lr?-roru {.il1p 1l ur uieuroJ puu ,ratrrè

llilr

a&\ 'sr ueru tuq,$-Jo Eapr la,reelt u

tnoqlil6

's{u.Lr pèltl8eturun

IIIIs

rrI dnaleru lucrÉo1orq .mo

r3tlu ot

.reuod aq1 a.\eq ara 'a$o,ln Jo Jàlleq

rog,,

:8uraq Jìo asorit uo peseq èq lsnru srrqla Jo sLrosueJ aql ]Erll Surssa"rls 's8uraq uuium{ Jo alrè.Ièp ur pull srlrpaorq .rol onlÈ^ lecrSolodo-rqrue rIr,4A suolsr-rTruoo s.tru.rp onr.riailad

{q

rroutlqrt}uo3 1EUU eqJ

'srlqleolq

p:or8oloeql p:oi1cu.rd r: Éurdoya,tap "roJ Jro^JascJ rlcrJ 1] sE sadg

la untpnlg

putè, 'uln,tzitoN tilntàN ruor.1 8url1nsa-r 'uotlrpcr1 lurros JrlorlluJ èrIl .Io enlu^ atp stq31it13rq IITTIEJ

aiaos

'riJ.ruasu qlllraq .ro

'rrur

rltluaq

go

uorsr,rorcl

èql

'saJroqJ tuèruJuo-rJ lr?npi^rpur eJE

feql

.rerlleq.4ò 'suor§rJep (illEeq

liu

.roJ Lrorlupl{noJ

erl] sa

rreas sr JèrIèq

slqJ

'(8ZZ

'd)

..poC (pt1l uorrrn Furàte qtlna lnq ',trou puu aJaq èqi ur

lou-èJrl

uuiunq go uoil:e3red IInJ aql .ro-I pallrisap ,(1o1urut11n pur: 'p1.ro,tr r^rrll Jo s.rolraJJoJ aq ol pal[ùJ '-roleoJc 8trr,to1 e Jo saJnleèrl

ellrl1

su suutunq s^\orl dSolodo-rrpur:

p:riSoioaril

uurlsr-rLIJ

y,.

:ssudruo.r iu.rou

lno

8ur1u:tlriuJ

Jo

aJuul.rÒdur

oqt

lnoqu

salr.r.tt\ 'erunyo,t

eql

Jo

srotrpeoc

aql

Jo

auo

'ro1,{u1 Io.ruJ

'§

1md u1 'po1u'Jul?l èq lou IIr.Ae sè3rorl3 Àcr1od rpp;aq a-rnlnj terfi os sriouilur8erur l-EJorrr-Jo uorsuudxa aB sesodord IoLuuH

iq

ratduqf, aluuÌrlinuad eq1 'scrqleorqgo slfiar.rodruùc irroos

pirt

itrnilnt

àqi qtr,rÀ stJedsu

plr8oloatil

Éuuuduror (Solodorqrur lalros pue Iunxas.]o suotsuaurrp aql seururuxè ',{1rp:uogr:1c-r uo

't

uBcJ

'(egt

'd)

..parulsuoc ,{1pr -nò^rlunpr^rpur ,(ruouolnu pur: .(1rluuolluj

u

,(tuuopr rrulunrl saJnpè.I uel-+o ool,, qJrq,^d 'sJrtllaorq puìl atlrJrporu soJurrriuop leqt ,{3o1odcl.rqlw atp Enrtuolleao -+o rnoÀu-J ur sr lq8nus,(1 'esues FzJoru u Sttrua4e,tu: ptrE oll8olurp

e

Éu[lsriqulsa .ro-;

la,tod

aql puu dllirqir,rarrjn;\ uo uor1i?lrparu e sesodotd :;LIEZ 'ssarrllr Jo Surueeru aqt lnoqu slJoga-r

squrool

',{1rpqe-raup,r .go

lderuor

srp sazileuu

f

uud

's8uraq uerunq

Jo

sanla^ Jts^ut.t|Lil sB uees Jq plnoLIS [1r-r3a]ur puu f lru3rp ,(q,tt tril:1dxa o1 {.4 puu11o11 puu

irwrullohl

',(sutulng

iq

suorlnqr.rlnor erp 'lrud ptroJas arll

ul

'lo-IltroJ -Jo slrrurl aql Jo-] rrorssnduror arp puE eunl-roJ Jo sapnlrssr3r^ orp uèo,/y\]eq uorlsru.IE nErunri erll saz,{1uue oq,la 'esreJ

'1

,{q puc 'drrlsuorlula-r tuailud-rolJop

eqt

ur ssèulnlqlilt

puu

rusrp:nld

ilo

puoinseg

{q

asoql o.re suorlnquluo3

raqlo

'oJO.llèC Àq pessa:rppu sT scrqleorq roJ

rlrulalol

s1r pnu ,(3o1odo:q1ue luciSoloarll Jo saiJupunoq

etll

tnoqu ooltsonh

erg

sgud g

olrrr papl^rp

sr

lxal

or.lJ 'senssr qlluàrl orlqnd

;o

Snrpuuls.rcpun eqt roJ puu e--rrlou.rd lurrurl3 ur ,i1r1rqu.laupr,r go eruld aql

làpisuo,

ir1 ràpue.r aql ejulntnIls 1et11 sluarun3lu a.r.rleroaord sluasard

{ooq eqJ 'Saf,rrLras

rpleaq :r1qnd 3o ,(ra,r.r1ep

aqi

puu rlJiussor rlllùerl ot rlceo:ddr: uE to{LrtsuoJ ol

iool

eql su pàsn sr ,{Soiodolpuu pcr3o1oar11 'uonrpurl

rrloriluJ

uuiuog èrll

{i.} IeaddÈ ,{eqì 'prra srql

oJ

'apelu aq uBr srrqlaorq lnoqe suorsrrap qrrqrd. riSno-rql sual cql sl: qtluJ rrtrlsr.rliJ oql rro snJoJ sloqinu èi{J 'poD

ol

rlollulè-l ur i-rolsrq uerunq puu prrr{uulunll Io Jt1[1]^

erlj

LlllrÀ peu.reruos

sr

,LSolodo,rqtuu

lucrSoloaql

'solìrq3p ,(cr1od

ot

prru 'splarl

qJ.reasa-r

pue

lEJrurlJ

'lucrperuorq

01 a{utll

$u3

f,SoFdorqtuu

1ecr8o1o:qt

rcqt

uorlnq

-uluor

rril

Sui,roldxa s.{tsse go uorlJelloJ B sr

looq

srr{J_ '66'aa

3

:errrd

'9610I068EI-8t6

NiISi

'sa8ud

967

ss3rd ,,(trsra,Lru11 uarolaS:oa3

:JC

'uoÌSurqsu^{ 'iSoyodo-rtptry lD.toW

puD 'aw)tpdW

'uot74ay

'3att1sr

-.tn(\!

tlDutt?H pltD qUDaH :('spe)

'5

o.rg,llog

"3

.ro1.rc1 s?:rrlou eJnlD.rSlrJ Ì.i(xls