The emerging technologies of prenatal human genetic enhancement give to third
parties the unprecedented power to design newborn genetic traits such as eye and skin
color, intelligence, and emotional profile. The literature has not provided any answers
to the question as to why these genetic enhancement technologies are prohibited by the
European Biomedicine Convention. This thesis will demonstrate, by way of legal
theory, that the prohibition on prenatal genetic enhancement is thoroughly justified on
grounds that it violates the human right to dignity, as expressed in Kantian philosophy.
In light of Kant’s Philosophy, genetic interventions for designing identity-related
characteristics treat human beings instrumentally, to satisfy the desires of others, as
mere means and not as ends in themselves. This thesis offers a deeper understanding
of the law and policy regarding the prohibition on human genetic enhancement in
order to safeguard future generations in the wake of a brave new world.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TORONTO/oai:tspace.library.utoronto.ca:1807/33236 |
| Date | 20 November 2012 |
| Creators | Harrel, Nir |
| Contributors | Lemmens, Trudo |
| Source Sets | University of Toronto |
| Language | en_ca |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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