Abstract
Debate between bioliberals (who adopt a permissive view about human enhancement) and bioconservatives (who oppose it) often fails to be constructive, since bioliberals are often dismissive of the conservative values to which bioconservatives frequently appeal. As a result, bioconservative opposition to enhancement remains poorly understood by bioliberals. This chapter attempts to increase this understanding first by identifying conservative values underlying bioconservative opposition to enhancement, and second by considering on what grounds bioconservatives might object to the biological enhancement of bioconservative values. By identifying grounds that appeal to values shared by both bioconservatives and bioliberals, it aims to provide a platform on which human enhancement can be constructively debated by bioliberals and bioconservatives. The chapter closes by focusing on John Stuart Mill’s arguments in favour of originality as possible support for bioconservative argument.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | The Ethics of Human Enhancement: |
Subtitle of host publication | Understanding the Debate |
Editors | Steve Clarke, Julian Savulescu, C. A. J. Coady, Alberto Giubilini, Sagar Sanyal |
Place of Publication | Oxford UK |
Publisher | Oxford University Press |
Pages | 145-159 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Edition | 1st |
ISBN (Print) | 9780198754855 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2016 |
Keywords
- John Stuart Mill
- bioliberals
- bioconservative