Abstract
Biotechnology is at the intersection of science and ethics. Technological developments are shaped by an ethical vision, which in turn is shaped by available technology. Much in biotechnology can be celebrated for how it benefits humanity. But technology can have a darker side. Biotechnology can produce unanticipated consequences that cause harm or dehumanise people. The ethical implications of proposed developments must be carefully examined. The ethical assessment of new technologies, including biotechnology, requires a different approach to ethics. Changes are necessary because new technology can have a more profound impact on the world; because of limitations with a rights-based approach to ethics; because of the importance and difficulty of predicting consequences; and because biotechnology now manipulates humans themselves. The ethical questions raised by biotechnology are of a very different nature. Given the potential to profoundly change the future course of humanity, such questions require careful consideration. Rather than focussing on rights and freedoms, wisdom is needed to articulate our responsibilities towards nature and others, including future generations. The power and potential of biotechnology demands caution to ensure ethical progress.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barbour IG (1993) Ethics in an age of technology. HarperCollins, New York
Center for Responsible Nanotechnology (nd) Benefits of molecular manufacturing. http://crnano.org/benefits.htm. Cited 19 October 2006
de Grey A (2006) Scientist ponders eternal youth. http://cbs11tv.com/health/health_story_001195918.html. Cited 16 June 2006
Florman S (1981) Blaming technology: the irrational search for scapegoats. St Martin’s Press, New York
Habermas J (2003) The future of human nature. Polity Press, Cambridge
Jonas H (1984) The imperative of responsibility: in search of an ethics for the technological age. University of Chicago Press, Chicago
Jonas H (2004) Ethics and biogenetic art. Soc Res 71(3):569–582
Kass L (2002) Life, liberty & the defense of dignity: the challenge for bioethics. Encounter Books, New York
O’Mathúna DP, Scott PA, McAuley A, Walsh-Daneshmandi A, Daly B (2005) Health care rights and responsibilities: a review of the European Charter of Patients’ Rights. Irish Patients’ Association, Dublin. www.dcu.ie/nursing/patients_rights.shtml. Cited 20 October 2006
Pearson H (2002) Your destiny, from day one. Nature 418:14–15
President’s Council on Bioethics (2004) Monitoring stem cell research. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC
Schuurman E (2005) The technological world picture and an ethics of responsibility. Dordt College Press, Sioux Center
Schwartz B (2004) The paradox of choice: why more is less. Harper Perennial, New York
World Health Organisation (2005) World health report 2005. http://www.who.int/whr/2005/en/index.html. Cited 3 November 2006
Acknowledgement
Thanks are expressed to John Bryant for critically reviewing the manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
O’Mathúna, D.P. Bioethics and biotechnology. Cytotechnology 53, 113–119 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10616-007-9053-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10616-007-9053-8